FRSP_SOW_304846B_Object_Treatment.docx

Task Order

Scope / Statement of Work (SOW) Conservation Treatment of Firearms, Swords, and Artillery Shells Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

PMIS 304846B

Scope / Statement of Work

Task Order / Project Title:

Conservation Treatment of Firearms, Swords, & Artillery Shells

Park / Park Unit:

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

PROJECT DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY:

Description

This project will provide professional conservation treatment for 46 objects surveyed during the 2022 museum object assessment completed by the Historic Architecture, Conservation and Engineering Center (HACE) of the National Park Service. Objects to be conserved include firearms or parts of firearms, swords, artillery shells or fragments, breastplates, and scabbards.

OBJECTIVES:

A contracted conservator will treat the 46 objects. The conservator will produce treatment reports with photos for each object. The reports will be electronically delivered. All work will be performed in accordance with NPS/ American Institute for Conservation (AIC) standards.

BACKGROUND:

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (established as Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park) commemorates and interprets four major battles of the American Civil War: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. Located midway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, along the Rappahannock River, the Fredericksburg area became the most fought-over ground of the war, resulting in more than 100,000 casualties and devastation to the local communities.

The national military park contains nationally significant historic properties present at the time of the battles, including the plantation landscapes and structures of Chatham used by the Union Army as a headquarters and hospital and the plantation remnant at Guinea Station, containing the outbuilding in which Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson died in 1863.

SPECIFIC WORK / TASKS:

Major Duties and Responsibilities of Contractor:

· Have demonstrable experience in the conservation of nineteenth-century firearms, swords, and artillery shells.

· Perform conservation treatment:

· Conservator will provide all necessary supplies and equipment.

· All conservation treatment will take place at the selected conservator’s facility. The National Park Service may make site visits to the contractor’s facility to inspect the progress of work as coordinated with the contractor.

· The contractor will be responsible for the safety of the firearms, swords, and artillery shells during the entire performance period.

· Provide written treatment report. Separate treatment reports are required for each object. At a minimum, these reports will include: identification information regarding the object; a detailed description of the actual treatment methodology and materials; before and after photographs; results of any testing conducted; discussion of the treatment; further recommendations, if any; information regarding graphic documentation; summary of treatment time (in hours), and certification that the work was conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). The Treatment Reports must be accompanied by digital before, during, and after treatment photographs in accordance with AIC Standards and Guidelines. The NPS will own copyright to the images and report produced under this contract.

· The contractor will examine objects to determine the nature and cause of deterioration and tests and selects appropriate conservation techniques for treatment.

· The contractor will develop treatments in consultation with the park curator regarding final appearance and intended use of the object, and provide written documentation for the examination and condition analysis phase, treatment proposal phase, and following approval of the object’s custodian (usually the park curator through the park Superintendent), the final treatment phase in a comprehensive dossier for each object treated, with complete photographic documentation of the object before and after treatment, and during treatment, if warranted.

· The contractor will draw from professional experience and practical research in selecting professionally established treatment techniques, and in developing new treatment methodologies, including selection of conservation solvents, reagents, compounds, materials, and application techniques. Treatment procedures often involve extremely delicate techniques requiring highly developed hand skills and mature professional judgement in determining the appropriate extent of intervention, and the desired final appearance of extremely valuable and irreplaceable objects.

· The NPS will own copyright to the images and reports produced under this contract.

Packing/Transport Requirements

· The contractor will be responsible for packing and moving the objects. All objects will be packed in appropriate archival material and boxes.

· The Contractor vehicle shall have dual drivers with knowledge and experience specialized in museum object handling.

· Other than for compliance with transportation regulations, fueling or comfort breaks, vehicles shall not make stops during the park to conservation facility transport.

· Objects shall be transported by the Contractor directly to/from the conservation facility with no interruption of climate or security protection.

· Transit of the packed collection to the conservation facility shall be by the Contractor-provided vehicle on road surfaces only. Ferry transit of vehicles is not permitted.

Qualifications

· The contractor must be a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). Professional Associates of the AIC are approved by a panel of their peers for meeting the highest professional standards for conservation.

· The contractor must have demonstrated experience treating historic firearms and other military objects.

· The contractor must have at least 10 years of experience as a professional conservator.

· To be considered technically acceptable, potential contractor is required to provide at least three (3) past job references that address the above criteria with submission of bids. Failure to provide references is unacceptable and potential contractors who fail to submit references will not be considered.

· The contractor must have personal liability insurance for their business.

NOTE: The conservator shall provide all labor, equipment, supplies, lodging and transportation necessary for completion of work.

Government Furnished Property:

SPECIAL CONDITIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

· Contractor to adhere to all OSHA procedures and guidelines.

· Contractor will consult with Contracting Officer Representative during the project to ensure treatments are done in a timely and efficient manner.

· Contractor to adhere to all local ordinances, such as allowable work time and noise ordinances.

APPROVED CONSERVATION FACILITY:

The contractor conservation facility must meet National Park Service and the American Alliance of Museum standards for museum collections. The facility must have 24-hour security, museum-quality environmental control, fire detection, and limited access.

Performance and Pay Schedule

All work specified shall be completed no later than six months (182 days) after the date to proceed has been issued. The contractor may submit an invoice upon completion of treatment and approval by the COR.

Invoicing shall be in accordance with the DOI ELECTRONIC INVOICING Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements – Internet Payment Platform (IPP) (September 2011).

Selection Criteria

Selection of the most technically qualified consultant will be based on the criteria defined below, and best value to government. Weights are presented in parentheses.

· Specialized experience – Experience and knowledge of painting conservation. (40%)

· Key personnel – Resumes for key personnel shall be provided for review. Key personnel are hereby defined as those employees whose estimated labor hours represent more than 15% of the total labor hour estimate. (30%)

· Past performance –Client points of contact shall be provided to serve as references. (30%)

Contacts Hank Elliott Acting Museum Curator Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP 120 Chatham Lane Fredericksburg, VA 22405

(540) 693-3200 x6030

Teri DeYoung, Curator/COR National Park Service Northeast Museum Services Center Charlestown Navy Yard, Bldg I Charlestown, MA 02129 857-270-4703 Teri_DeYoung@nps.gov image1.jpg