RFI-SSB-CAO-02132025-0001.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)/ Sources Sought Notice

RFI-SSB-CAO-02132025-0001

Architect of the Capitol

Conservation of Murals and Paintings in the United States Capitol Building and Other

Legislative Facilities

(This is not a Request for Quotation; this is ONLY for market research purposes)

Notice Type: Request for Information (RFI)

Agency/Office: Architect of the Capitol / Supplies, Services & Material Management Division

Location: U.S. Capitol Campus, Washington D.C.

Suggested NAICS Code: 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers- Art restorers, Painting restorers, Conservators (i.e., art, artifact restorers)

1.0 Description:

The Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Supplies, Services, and Material Management Division

(SSMMD) is issuing Request for Information (RFI) to request responses from interested capable parties. This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes to gain knowledge of potential sources capable of satisfying a potential requirement.

Responses to this notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. A solicitation is not currently available and this notice does not guarantee a solicitation will be released in the future.

The Curators Office within the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) anticipates a continuing need for conservation of historic murals and painting in the U.S. Capitol Building and surrounding

Legislative Branch Buildings. The AOC has a requirement for qualified contractors with specialized experience and workforce to restore, conserve, and maintain numerous historic works of art through the U.S. Capitol Complex.

2.0 Project Title:

Conservation of Murals and Paintings in the United States Capitol Building and Other

Legislative Facilities

3.0 Background:

Embellishing the walls and ceilings of the United States Capitol are fine art and decorative murals, starting with those by Constantino Brumidi and others in the second half of the nineteenth century and in the twentieth century by Elmer Garnsey, Joseph

Rakeman, Allyn Cox, and others. The materials and techniques for the murals include oil on canvas, oil or tempera on plaster, and fresco. Oil on canvas murals also decorate meeting rooms in the Longworth House Office Building and Russell Senate Office

Building.

With the implementation of a long-term conservation program in 2014, the Curator’s

Office in the last eleven (11) years, has assessed, monitored, and repaired several murals and paintings. The purpose of the Curator’s on-going efforts is to continue the conservation program, which is primarily for the conservation of historic fine art and decorative wall and ceiling murals but serves to allow for the conservation of framed oil on canvas paintings as needed. Both murals and paintings are historic and worthy of conservation by a fine art painting conservator.

4.0 Scope of Work:

4.1 Requirements for Assessment

The contractor shall perform the following work to assess murals and paintings in various rooms and public spaces in the U.S. Capitol and other legislative facilities:

• Review historic documentation and any existing conservation reports and studies provided by the Curator.

• Survey plaster in the area of murals to be conserved, using non-invasive techniques. Document any areas where plaster is found to be friable, detached, or unstable. Propose a consolidation treatment plan with materials and methods proved effective on plaster of similar age and consistency.

• In consultation with the Curator, extract and analyze samples and make small exposure windows to more fully understand the presence, location, medium, and condition of the original painted surface.

• Conduct small cleaning tests to determine the best method and materials to remove grime, discolored varnish, or overpaint.

• Submit per “AOC Guidelines for Conservation Reports and Photo

Documentation” a summary report and treatment recommendations with price estimate for any additional testing needed.

4.2 Conservation Services Tasks

Conservation services may include the following tasks:

• Consolidate friable, detached, or unstable plaster substrate of murals using methods approved in advance via writing by the Curator.

• Consolidate any lifting paint without significantly changing the appearance of the original.

• Remove grime and any layers of overpaint and discolored varnish. Apply a reversible barrier coating over the original layer.

• Fill and in-paint losses using reversible and stable pigments.

• Apply clear, non-yellowing and reversible matte protective coating as appropriate, in consultation with and once approved in writing by the Curator.

4.2.1 Requirements for Conservation Performed On-site

• All surrounding surfaces shall be considered historic and the contractor shall protect all surrounding surfaces during treatment.

• The contractor shall notify the Government of all safety considerations/concerns for the project.

4.2.2 Requirements for Off-site Conservation Services

The contractor shall:

• Provide all necessary scaffolds and/or lifts and personnel to operate and/or construct.

• Deinstall murals and/or paintings as per approved Deinstallation Plan.

• Transport murals and/or paintings to and from Capitol Building (and/or

Other Legislative Facilities) and treatment venue via approved art handler.

• Reinstall murals and/or paintings in the Capitol Building and/or Other

Legislative Facilities

4.3 Emergency Services

The contractor shall perform the following emergency services once notified by the

Curator or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR):

• The contractor shall be on-site within 48 hours of notification by the Curator or

COR of emergency treatment needed for murals or paintings damaged by impact, water leaks, etc. The Curator or COR will contact the contractor by phone or e-mail.

• Emergency services shall be performed by or under the direction of the Senior

Fine Art Painting Conservator/Project Director.

• Examine mural or painting, document, and assess condition.

• Provide within 48 hours of arrival at the Government site, estimates for time, materials, and equipment for emergency treatment.

• Carry out needed emergency treatment as soon as authorized by the Contracting

Officer (CO), and COR.

• Submit per “AOC Guidelines for Conservation Reports and Photo

Documentation” a report documenting emergency treatment and recommendations for additional needed treatment.

5.0 Submission Instruction:

Interested firms having the required capabilities, personnel and ten (10) years of experience conserving both historic fine art and decorative murals, and fine art paintings in a variety of materials and techniques including oil on canvas, oil on tempera or plaster, and fresco.

To meet the above requirement described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than twelve pages, using no less than 12-point Times New Roman font indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort. A contractor's response to this RFI shall not exceed twelve (12) pages. Standard, pre-printed company brochures are not considered a sufficient response to this notice.

The Government requests interested parties submit a written response to this notice which includes:

1. Company Name.

2. Company SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number; NAICS, and Product Service

Code.

3. System for Award Management (SAM) registration status. All respondents must register on the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov.

4. Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a company point of contact who has the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with government representatives.

5. Business Size Standard of Company (i.e., large business, small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.).

6. Capability Statement: Provide a detailed capability statement addressing the company’s qualifications, resources and ability to provide the requirements listed herein. Provide appropriate and specific documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability to support this requirement.

7. Past Performance: Provide a narrative for one (1) painting project/contract and one (1) mural project/contract within the last three years of similar scope and complexity.

8. Key Personnel: Identify any Key Personnel in your firm that are instrumental to your firm’s experience and capability of performing the described scope of work.

9. Teaming arrangements: If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. Capability statements for any subcontractor or team vendor shall be included.

10. Geographic Coverage: Please provide a narrative to describe your firm’s abilities, staffing and resources that enable your firm to provide these services on and around the U.S.

Capitol campus, Washington D.C.

This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or to award a contract, nor will the

Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the

Government will arise as a result of Contractor submission of responses, or the Government's use of such information or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the elements of the scope are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice/RFI to Troy Dorsey at troy.dorsey@aoc.gov and Lily Najera at lily.najera@aoc.gov by February 28, 2025 10:00 am ET

Primary Points of Contact:

Troy Dorsey, Contracting Officer Lily Najera, Contract Specialist troy.dorsey@aoc.gov lily.najera@aoc.gov mailto:troy.dorsey@aoc.gov mailto:lily.najera@aoc.gov mailto:troy.dorsey@aoc.gov file:///C:/Users/jblancat/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/H5FFMBXC/lily.najera@aoc.gov