Brochure Text 2009.doc

PUBLIC BUILDINGS HERITAGE PROGRAM

SCOPE OF WORK

For a Senior Architectural Historian

I. BUILDING INFORMATION

Historic Building Brochure text writing and editing is required for twelve (12) properties. Prior to the project start date, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will select the sites from among its inventory of more than 400 historic properties. At least one building from each of GSA’s eleven geographic regions will be selected, and the structure types will include federal courthouses, post offices, custom houses, monuments, and other federal buildings. For more information on the brochures, and to see a list of buildings that have been highlighted since the series began in 2001, go to http://www.gsa.gov/historicbuildingposters.

The tentative list is:

· John O. Pastore Federal Building, Providence, Rhode Island

· Robert C. McEwen U.S. Custom House, Ogdensburg, New York

· African Burial Ground Memorial, New York, New York

· William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Scranton, Pennsylvania

· U.S. Courthouse, Tallahassee, Florida

· Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Port Huron, Michigan

· Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

· U.S. Custom House, Houston, Texas

· U.S. Custom House, Denver, Colorado

· James A. Walsh U.S. Courthouse, Tucson, Arizona

· Federal Building, Anchorage, Alaska

· U.S. State Department Building, Washington, DC

The above list is subject to change and any of the above buildings may be substituted with other GSA-owned buildings, provided that the total number of buildings remains the same. GSA will provide the architectural historian with the final building list before the project start date.

II.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

GSA requires text be written and edited for historic building brochures for twelve properties as part of the Public Buildings Service’s Public Buildings Heritage Program. This program is designed to inform the tenants and the general public of the history, architecture and community impact of our landmark federal buildings. This is the ninth set in a series of brochures about historic GSA buildings.

The objectives of the brochures are to:

· Foster appreciation of the historic and architectural significance of GSA’s heritage buildings;

· Promote the preservation and restoration of heritage buildings;

· Encourage public use of and investment in heritage buildings;

· Encourage tenant agency sensitivity to historic spaces, materials and features;

· Promote an understanding of cultural symbolism in public buildings;

· Foster appreciation for the federal government’s contribution to American culture, economy and daily life; and

· Promote partnership between the federal government and community organizations.

The objectives of this project are to:

· Evaluate merit and veracity of existing information and add the professional input of a Senior Architectural Historian;

· Write clear, concise, engaging, and easy to understand brochure text;

· Ensure accuracy of facts and architectural terminology in the text; and

· Ensure the text is consistent with existing brochures in this series.

Documentation compiled by graduate student interns will be provided to the Architectural Historian by GSA’s Center for Historic Buildings. Sources might include: National Register nominations, Historic Structures Reports (HSR), and Building Preservation Plans (BPP) previously prepared for these buildings. Photographs from GSA, the Library of Congress and the National Archives may be utilized. GSA will provide copies of relevant HSRs and BPPs. The architectural historian is not expected to perform site visits.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Writing, research, and editing services include, but are not limited to:

· Evaluate sources compiled by graduate student interns (HSRs, BPPs, and National Register nominations) and determine if additional research is needed. Utilize Public Buildings Service records at the National Archives and Records Administration and other sources to complete building research and check facts. Up to six hours of additional research time, per building, should be included as a separate line item in proposals.

· Prepare print-ready text, verify facts, and incorporate additional research and professional perspective. Confirm summary building facts, including the building name, date(s), architect(s), and architectural style, with GSA regional contacts to ensure they are consistent and accurate.

· Coordinate with GSA Project Manager regarding text content, format and volume. (see attached “Public Buildings Heritage Program Brochure Text General Guidelines, March 15, 2007”) The text format should be identical to that utilized in previously released brochures, and follow the Chicago Manual of Style.

· Subjects addressed in the text include:

- Significant, unique or innovative aspects of a building’s design, spaces or materials.

- Cultural/architectural symbolism associated with the building.

- History of building use and occupancy.

- Significant events or individuals associated with the building.

- Current/recent preservation work on the building.

· Verification of information from other offices within GSA Central Office, the GSA Regional Historic Preservation Officers, as well as GSA field and building management offices to resolve questions. GSA will provide a list of regional contacts that the architectural historian should contact directly to obtain missing information or resolve discrepancies in secondary sources. High-quality, professional photographs, which will be provided to the architectural historian prior to the submittal of the final text, should be utilized to confirm that architectural descriptions are accurate and current.

· Project Coordination

· Provide text to the GSA Project Manager for review and comment.

· Revise as necessary to address GSA comments.

· Review and Editing

· Review and edit final brochure text, including photograph captions written by GSA project manager.

IV. DATA SOURCES

Sources for text may include the following:

· Historic Structure Reports/Building Preservation Plans for the buildings;

· GSA Regional and Central Office staff, GSA annual reports and internal documentation;

· Historic American Buildings Survey photographs and written histories;

· Photographs; and

· National Register nominations.

V. OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES

A price per brochure is also requested for 1 to 3 additional brochures, to be determined by the Government, meeting the requirements described above. This option may be exercised at the discretion of the Government, as funds permit, in whole or part.

VI. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The GSA Project Manager may issue oral or written instructions to clarify this scope of work. Under no circumstances accept instructions, interpretations or orders that would affect price, period of performance or other provisions of this contract without written notification signed by the Contracting Officer.

VII. SCHEDULE OF SUBMITTALS

A. Draft Building Facts (20%) – Provide draft of brochure “Building Facts” three weeks after notice to proceed.

B. Draft Text (50%) – Provide draft text four weeks after acceptance of Building Facts submission.

C. Revised Draft Text (70%) – Provide revised text, incorporating GSA comments, two weeks after acceptance of Draft submission.

D. Final Text (80%) – Provide final text, incorporating GSA comments, one week after acceptance of Revised Draft submission. Final text must be received by December 31, 2007.

E. Final Review (100%) – Review and provide final edits of brochure layout, which will include text, photographs, and captions. Date of final review is dependent upon graphic designer and is anticipated to be in March/April 2009. Contractor must submit edits to GSA within 5 business days of receipt of final layout.

GSA will review each submission within ten business days of delivery to GSA. If the review indicates that any of the work is of unacceptable quality, the contractor will be asked to resubmit the work at no additional charge to GSA.

VII. FEE AND PAYMENT

A. Draft Text – 25% of contract value after acceptance of Draft Text.

B. Revised Draft Text – 50% of contract value after acceptance of Revised Draft Text.

C. Final Text – 75% of the contract value after acceptance of Final Text.

D. Final Review – 100% of the contract value after acceptance of Final Review.

VIII. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

One (1) year after contract award

IX. COORDINATION

Direct all correspondence and submissions to:

Contracting Officer’s Representation (COR) If needed, site access shall be coordinated through the appropriate regional or field office (data will be supplied as needed).

EVALUATIONA CRITERIA

(Senior Architectural Historian Services)

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Factor 1: Technical

This criterion measures the offerors plan for managing the project, key personnel qualifications, and the proposed lines of communication.

Organizational Structure:

Corporate Structure and Depth – The offeror shall submit an organizational chart for its team for this project, showing organizational positions. This chart shall show lines of authority within the organization, as well as lines of communication connecting the project organization, the corporate organization and the Government. Offerors shall describe their plans for securing and maintaining the key personnel and resources necessary to complete this project.

Key Personnel – The offeror shall identify a maximum of five (5) key positions in their organization they intend to utilize for the project and shall provide a rationale for selecting these positions as being “key”. The offeror shall provide resumes for its key personnel. Resumes (maximum of two pages) must document education and recent and relevant experience.

Minimum Qualifications – Key personnel must meet the Department of the Interior professional qualification standards for Architectural Historian, and have three years experience in research and writing in the field of American architectural history. Experience must include preparing National Register for Historic Places nominations and other publications and reports for public buildings with ceremonial interiors. Knowledge of historic federal buildings with ceremonial spaces is preferred. At least one individual identified as key personnel should hold a graduate degree in historic preservation, architectural history, or a related field. The Offeror should provide three (3) writing samples prepared by key personnel assigned to this project.

Management Plan and Schedule:

This criterion measures the offerors demonstrated understanding of the project through a proposed management plan, identification of key personnel, and proposed schedule.

Offerors shall submit a narrative management plan describing how the offeror intends to execute the work.

Factor 2: Price The total evaluated price will not be rated or scored but will be evaluated for reasonableness.

Factor 3: Past Performance.

This criterion measures the relevancy of the offerors past experience to the requirements of this project. Offerors shall provide a list of seven relevant projects that have like or similar requirements over the past five years. In addition, this criterion measures the quality of the offerors past performance for similar projects as defined herein.

Information should include the following:

1. Company name

2. Complete mailing address

3. Point of contact - name and title

4. Point of contact - phone number and email address

5. Description of client’s expectations and the services rendered to client

6. Timeframe in which those services were provided

7. Detailed client feedback

· Technical Proposal: The Contractor’s technical proposal must be separate from the price proposal. The Contractor’s technical proposal must address the evaluation criteria above.

· Price Proposal: The Contractor’s price proposal must be separate from the technical proposal.

The Government intends to make an award on best value. When combined, technical is more important than price.

The Contractor must submit proposals to Demetria C. Brown, Contract Specialist by email at demetria.brown@gsa.gov, or by fax to (202) 208-7413.

Proposals are due on or before 12:00 p.m., e.s.t., Monday, September 8, 2008.

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PUBLIC BUILDINGS HERITEGE PROGRAM Scope of Work for an Architectural Historian