RFI Art Restoration.pdf

Overview

This is not a solicitation, but rather a Request for Information (RFI) to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes ONLY.

This request does not constitute a Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor does this issuance restrict the Government's acquisition approach. There is no solicitation available at this time. Contractor proposals will receive no response. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only and shall not be used as a proposal. Contractors and/or institutions responding to this RFI are placed on notice that participation may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The Government will neither award a contract solely on the basis of this synopsis nor will it reimburse the contractor for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response to this notice. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

This RFI is being conducted to identify potential sources that possess the data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to provide conservation/restoration treatment to approximately nine hundred seventy-four (974) original art works owned by the Department of the Air Force.

1. Below is an outline containing a description of the conservation/restoration treatment requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey.

2. If you desire to participate in this RFI and market research after reviewing these documents, provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.) Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business and any potential competition barriers.

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research.

Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to AFDW/PK as indicated on pages 3-6 of this RFI.

Purpose

This RFI is being conducted to identify potential sources in determining if a future contract effort can be competitively awarded and/or awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis. If the Government decides to award a contract for this or related effort, a solicitation will be published and posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Government will use this information solely to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for this procurement.

The Government is interested in all small business concerns.

Description

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to provide art conservation/restoration services for Department of the Air Force Art heritage assets. The assets consist of paintings, works on paper, mixed media, textile and some sculpture. The oldest pieces date from World War I to more contemporary artwork from the 2000s. They range in size from one square foot to 36 square feet. There are framed and unframed pieces.

Some pieces will be deaccessioned prior to the start of any restoration/conservation treatments with the amount not expected to exceed 1 to 3% of the total. Due to sample mold testing conducted by the government, contractor can assume that all pieces stored in the storage location are affected by mold to varying degrees. Some artworks also have moisture and fire damage.

This survey covers the following items:

Artworks Flat Files Racks Total Mostly with support and framed (Contractor assume 33% glazing)

593 593

Predominantly WWII works on paper without support or framing.

381 381

Total Pieces 974

AMC = Acquisition Method Code

AMSC = Acquisition Method Suffix Code

AMC 3 = Acquire, for the second or subsequent time, directly from the actual manufacturer.

AMSC B = This part must be acquired from a manufacturing source(s) specified on a source control or selected item drawing as defined by the current version of DoD-STD-100. Suitable technical data, Government data rights, or manufacturing knowledge are not available to permit acquisition from other sources, nor qualification testing of another part, nor use of a second source part in the intended application. Although, by DoD-STD-100 definition, altered and selected items shall have an adequate technical data package, data review discloses that required data or data rights are not in Government possession and cannot be economically obtained. If one source is available, AMCs 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If at least two sources exist, AMCs 1 or 2 are valid.

The creators of these artworks are various and date from 1916 to the late 2000s. The artist most likely will not be available for consultation. These art pieces constitute a wide range of styles.

The Government does not possess any art conservation historical technical data in support of this requirement.

Contractor shall furnish all expertise, labor, materials, support equipment, tools, storage, and services. The contractor is responsible for safely maintaining all artwork turned over to their custody as well as provide all equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility.

Contractor furnished service/treatment will be to bring the artwork as close as possible to its original state and the artistic intent.

Contractors responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements.

Short Description of Program:

The Department of the Air Force Art collection is an art heritage program that captures the stories and missions of the Air Force and Space Force through the universal language of art and makes them available to the military and wider public.

Interested contractors must have ample experience in the field of art conservation and restoration with the ability to provide examples of past contracts and projects and acquired certifications and professional qualifications.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Part I. Business Information

Provide the following business information for your company and for any teaming or joint venture partner/s.

• Company/Institute Name:

• Address:

• Point of Contact:

• CAGE Code

• Phone Number:

• E-mail Address:

• Web Page URL:

• Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 712110

Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

o Small Business (Yes / No) o Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) o Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) o 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) o HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) o Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No) o Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No) o Central Contractor Registration (CCR). (Yes / No)

• A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

Part II Capability Survey Questions and Requested Information

General Capability Requested Information

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

3. Describe your company’s experience providing conservation and restoration services and any supporting data. Identify what systems, processes, resources, expertise is available to provide these services and outcomes of past delivered services.

4. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your services/products from being a viable solution to our requirement?

5. For the Art Conservation/Restoration Services; what is your company’s current maximum production capacity per month for this particular type of requirement? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase capacity in the event of an immediate need do to mission requirements.

Conservation Services Requested Information

1. Describe your capability and experiences in the repair/conservation/restoration of artworks.

2. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ?

Please provide a description of your quality control process.

3. Demonstrate your ability and experience in field of conservation/restoration, which are currently utilized in the commercial or military environment by providing the following information on the same or similar:

Contract Number Procuring Agency Contract Value Professional Certifications/Peer Group Memberships Number of assets worked on

4. Describe your capabilities and experience and other service processes/procedures that may be applicable.

5. Discuss your process for addressing any issues and making any adjustments that may arise out of the requirements of this effort.

6. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-process balance and completion status to your customer.

7. Include a detailed listing of facilities, manning and equipment, including locations and quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

8. How will your organization address the absence of technical data?

9. State any technology insertion ideas for the item that would be suitable for this effort.

10. Discuss any improvement, item replacement to include asset disposal recommendations for actions that may be better suited to address a particular artwork?

Requested information

1. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve problems?

2. Describe you company’s past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact.

3. Describe your ability to provide art conservation/restoration services.

4. Describe your testing ability to determine the condition(s) of the artwork and recommended treatment plan.

5. Describe your ability to test assets, provide test plans, and test data/results.

6. Describe testing equipment used to perform such testing or if it will have to be outsourced.

7. Describe your level of expertise and confidence to provide these services.

8. Do you anticipate the need for any Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)? If so, please provide detailed information.

9. On a specific note, has your company had any working involvement with other government (specifically military) agencies? If so, please provide detailed information.

Commerciality Questions:

1. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement?

2. If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. Government and general public?

3. Describe your standard warranty and liability policies for services furnished to the government similar in nature to this requirement.

Submissions in response to this SSS

1. Responses must be submitted to AFDW/PK, hannah.dent.1@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 PM Eastern, Monday 16 June 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.

2. Files may not exceed 5 MB and must be submitted in Adobe PDF format.

3. If the response includes proprietary information, mark the information in accordance with regulatory guidance.

4. Please do not include company brochures or other marketing information.

All correspondence related to this RFI must be submitted electronically; phone calls will not be accepted. Correspondence regarding this RFI may be submitted to AFDW/PK, hannah.dent.1@us.af.mil no later than Monday 4:00 PM Eastern, 16 June 2025.

mailto:hannah.dent.1@us.af.mil mailto:hannah.dent.1@us.af.mil