RICH_SOW.docx

Scope / Statement of Work (SOW) RICH – Perform Conservation Assessment of Civil War Cannons

PMIS 256931B

Table of Contents

1.0 Project Description / Summary

2.0 Objectives

3.0 Background

4.0 Specific Work / Tasks

5.0 Optional Work / Tasks

6.0 Government Furnished Equipment / Materials / Other

7.0 Special Conditions / Requirements

8.0 Place of Performance

9.0 Performance Period / Schedule Requirements

Scope / Statement of Work

Task Order / Project Title:

Perform Conservation Assessment and Treatment of Civil War Cannons

Park / Park Unit:

Richmond National Battlefield Park

1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY:

There are 28 Civil War cannons at various outdoor locations of the Richmond battlefield which have been previously surveyed and assessed for conditions. This project will hire a conservator to perform in situ conservation treatment of the bronze and cast iron cannon barrels.

2.0 OBJECTIVES:

2.1 The Historic Architecture, Conservation and Engineering Center (HACE) will hire a contract conservator to examine and assess conditions of items as identified.

2.2 Contractor shall provide treatment proposals, treatment reports and surveys as needed by the government.

2.3 Contractor shall provide advice to the client on conservation issues (e.g., storage and exhibit questions, object condition observations, etc.) and participate in meetings as needed.

2.4 Contractor shall record and maintain records of treatments and surveys in conjunction with NPS guidelines/ protocols.

3.0 BACKGROUND:

Civil War artillery pieces are iconic. On the preserved cultural landscapes of the nationally significant Richmond National Battlefield Park, cannons are used to mark original troop positions; to orient visitors; and to create an interpretive scene evoking the 1860’s military landscape. The outcomes of many of Richmond’s Civil War battles were decided by the strength of the armies’ artillery.

Cannons are also of special interest in Richmond because Richmond was the leading producer of artillery for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Furthermore, cannons are integral to the hands-on interpretive and educational programs that for decades have been the Park’s public trademark. Thousands of school children visit the Park annually where they learn first-hand how the cannons were originally produced and operated and how they influenced the course of American history.

While these cannons are cataloged as controlled-property museum pieces, they are exposed to the elements because the majority of them are exhibited year-round in the outdoors. These nationally significant metal artifacts have suffered from severe weather, acid rain, auto emissions, animal nesting, public handling, and even graffiti. Many of these pieces have never had professional treatment since their initial exhibition at Richmond National Battlefield Park. One of the cannons was even damaged in a building fire before it was transferred to Richmond from Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

This project will provide protection to the cannons from outdoor elements and will provide a baseline for future maintenance.

4.0 SPECIFIC WORK / TASKS:

Major Duties and Responsibilities of Contractor

4.1 Conservation Laboratory Responsibilities:

· The contractor will be responsible for performing a wide variety of conservation treatments, including difficult and complex technical analysis, testing, and treatment necessary to conserve objects of historic and artistic value.

· 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 curators regarding final appearance and intended use of the object, and provides 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 in the conservation laboratory, 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 contractor will make contacts with parks for treatment scheduling and proposal review, and to make recommendations concerning collection care in the realm of both preventive and remedial conservation. Contacts are also made with parks as a result of their requests for conservation information or services. Contacts with NPS and non-NPS conservators are usually for the purpose of information acquisition or exchange.

· The contractor will be responsible for compliance with all OSHA and NIOSH regulations in laboratory operations by all personnel working in the laboratory.

4.2 On-site treatment projects:

· The contractor will assess the condition and treatment needs of objects on-site and develop treatment proposals.

· The contractor will submit written treatment proposals to the curator/superintendent for approval.

· The contractor will identify and arrange for procurement and scheduled delivery of conservation supplies necessary for on-site treatments. On-site treatments are primarily, but not limited to, treatment of outdoor sculptures, treatment of architectural finishes or ornamentation, treatment of large-scale sculptural plaster casts, and treatment of objects too large or too fragile to be transported to the HACE/Collections laboratory.

4.3 Estimated time to complete this project is 40 hours. Objects to be treated include:

5.0 OPTIONAL WORK / TASKS NOT ON PMIS:

N/A

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT / MATERIALS / OTHER:

All supplies necessary to execute the treatment of this project will be provided in the HACE Object Treatment Laboratory and are included in the project cost.

7.0 SPECIAL CONDITIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

7.1 Contractor to adhere to all OSHA procedures and guidelines while in HACE Laboratory.

7.2 Contractor will consult with HACE Project Inspector during the project to ensure treatments are done in a timely and efficient manner.

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

8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The survey will be carried out on-site at RICH, with report-writing carried out at Historic Architecture, Conservation and Engineering Center in Lowell, MA.

9.0 PERFORMANCE PERIOD / SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS:

52-week period of performance. Start date September 2022.

9.1 Time

Regular Hours: The contractor shall provide coverage at the specified government sites during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M (core hours); Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Overtime: Overtime will be authorized in emergency situations such as natural disasters and/or activation of the Northeast Region Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). The COR will identify which tasks are necessary during this emergency and what personnel will be required to report to work or work additional hours.

Travel: Occasional travel is required to various sites in the Northeast Region.

9.2 Invoicing

Invoicing shall be in accordance with the DOI ELECTRONIC INVOICING Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements – Internet Payment Platform (IPP) (September 2011) – See Contract Administration Data (below) for the full clause. The Period of Performance (POP) for each invoice will be one calendar month based on actual hours worked, beginning with the start date of this contract. The contactor shall submit only one invoice per month. Timesheets will be verified by NPS Contracting Officers Technical Representative monthly prior to payment.

9.3 Standards and References

· NPS standards and procedures will be made available upon task initiation.

· All work performed will be within the standards of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines

Cast Iron Cannon

Bronze Cannon image1.jpg image2.jpeg image3.jpeg