SOW_UA_Conservation Technician (Royal Savage)_2023 for RFI.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

1.0 Period of Performance

- 29 September 2023 to 30 September 2024

2.0 Purpose

To obtain contractor support for one (1) conservation technician in the area of Underwater Archaeology for the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). The government estimates 1 FTE for this Task Order for eight months over the period of performance.

3.0 Scope

As part of the NHHC Underwater Archaeology (UA) Branch’s mission to manage, preserve, protect, and interpret the U.S. Navy’s sunken and terrestrial military craft, UA requires support to assist the Conservation, Research, and Archaeology Laboratory with executing conservation treatments on Royal Savage artifacts. One conservation technician will allow UA to efficiently stabilize and treat prioritized artifacts from this collection for their immediate and long-term stability, and for eventual exhibit at the National Museum of the US Navy.

3.1 Tasks

The contractor shall assist the Underwater Archaeology (UA) Branch staff in the performance of conservation and curation of the Royal Savage collection (excluding ship timbers) with the primary focus on conserving prioritized artifacts chosen by UA lab staff.

This work must be completed on site at the Conservation, Research, and Archaeology Laboratory located on the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia. Work must be done to meet or exceed established industry standards. All work shall be conducted following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (48 FR 44716). Additionally, the contractor shall perform the following services:

- Undertake conservation treatment in consultation with UA Branch staff with concentration on prioritized artifacts chosen by UA lab staff (it is not expected that all artifacts will undergo treatment during the period of performance). 70% of the materials for re-treatment/treatment are iron and lead; also included are smaller sets of wood (small/medium size), composite, copper alloy, pewter, leather, glass, stone, brick, pipes, animal bone, rope, modern intrusive, and possibly silver (see table below). Artifacts were recovered from a fresh water site and have either been dried out or received previous treatment. Proposed treatment steps have already been defined based on analysis and testing conducted by UA Branch staff. Any changes to the treatment must be approved by UA staff.

Artifact Material Type Count

Iron 601 Lead 1034 Wood - Small/Medium Size 178 Composite 40 Copper Alloy 52 Pewter 42 Leather 22 Glass 90 Stone 39 Brick 11 Pipes 3 Faunal Remains 8 Rope 2 Modern Intrusive 3 Possible Silver 1 Total = 2126

- Apply principles, methods, and knowledge of archaeological artifact conservation and curation to execute primary project tasks in consultation with UA staff.

- Follow UA staff guidelines on documentation of treatment processes, including completing artifact treatment cards and photographic documentation.

- Assess existing artifact support/housing/rehousing equipment and materials and advise UA on any additional equipment and/or materials and requisite quantities for storage and curation post-conservation treatment.

- Assist UA in meeting and implementing requirements under the Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections 36 CFR 79.

- Participate in weekly staff meetings and provide project updates.

Minimum Qualifications for Conservator:

Conservation technician contractor personnel shall have:

• The minimum professional qualifications for a conservation technician are an undergraduate degree in conservation, chemistry, anthropology, archaeology, history, fine arts or related field.

• At least two years of demonstrated expertise working in a laboratory environment that focused on the conservation of artifacts and materials recovered from fresh and salt water sites.

• Knowledge of the ethics and principles of artifact conservation; training and experience in the application of standard practices, techniques and methods of waterlogged artifact conservation, including but not limited to electrolysis, vacuum freeze drying, and desalination; and familiarity with related fields of research such as archaeology and curation.

• Conservation and curatorial experience working with archaeological and/or historical artifact collections, preferably experience with artifacts recovered from an underwater environment.

• Knowledge in, preferably experience with, non-destructive testing and methods of scientific analysis including but not limited to X-RAY, XRF, FTIR and ion chromatography.

• Knowledge in, preferably experience with, photographic documentation of artifact collections and camera equipment, studio lighting, photo editing software, etc.

• Experience applying writing and/or editing skills, preferably technical writing/editing, and substantial knowledge of the basic principles and specialized vocabulary of artifact conservation.

• Ability to apply principles, methods, and knowledge of artifact curation and storage.

• Must pass a respirator fit test and achieve certification (or already possess such certification) for a N95 Dusk Mask, Half-Mask, and a Full-Face Mask.

3.2 Deliverables

- A final report of all work accomplished under the contract shall be due 15 days prior to the end of the period of performance.

- Contractor must supply non-disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) for contract personnel including respirators, lab coat, eye protection, ear protection, and steel toe safety shoes.

- Contract personnel must pass a respirator fit test and achieve certification (or already possess such certification) for a N95 Dusk Mask, Half-Mask, and a Full-Face Mask.

4.0 Travel

4.1 Place(s) of Performance

A majority of the work will be performed at the Washington Navy Yard; however, there may be required local travel to conduct research or to transport artifacts.

5.0 Security Requirements

Work under this task order is unclassified.

All contractor personnel shall be U.S. citizens. The contractor shall ensure that all personnel requiring access to any DoD information system meet the minimum criteria specified in DoD 5200.2-R, DoD Personnel Security Program. All contractor personnel requiring access to the

Government workspaces will complete a National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). Contractor personnel should be aware at all times of any unusual persons or packages in their work area and immediately report those to the building security staff. If contractor personnel become aware of any person seeking unauthorized access to Controlled Unclassified Information materials, they should immediately report this to the Security Officer. Contractor personnel will be in compliance with the Navy Information Assurance Security Publication IA Pub 5239-26 of May 2000.

The Contractor shall escort visitors through NHHC facilities. All requests by the Contractor for non-duty access (outside normal work hours) shall be coordinated through the Government’s designated personnel.

The Contractor shall comply with restricted areas regulations, rules, instructions, directives, procedures, mandates and other requirements. Certain NHHC designated office spaces are “off-limits” or restricted. Contractor personnel shall not enter any “off-limits” or restricted spaces within NHHC designated office areas without specific permission.

All contractor personnel performing under this PWS, or any representative of the Contractor entering NHHC designated office space shall abide by all security regulations, rules, instructions, directives, procedures, mandates and other requirements of Chief Naval Office and NHHC. The Contractor shall coordinate with the designated NHHC representative for Government-furnished building passes and Common Access cards (CAC).

The Contractor will be entrusted with building passes, badges and/or the use of access devices for facility access. The Contractor shall prohibit the use of Government-issued building passes, badges and/or access devices throughout the facility by any person other than authorized Contractor personnel. The Contractor shall not permit entrance to locked areas by any person other than Contractor personnel assigned to the activity where the Contractor is performing work, without written authorization by the Government’s designated security personnel. Building passes, badges and/or access devices shall only be issued by government personnel to Contractor personnel performing services under this PWS. The Contractor shall report to the Government’s designated security personnel immediately any occurrences of lost passes, badges and/or access devices.

All Contractor personnel shall comply with the security guidance of the DD Form 254 in this contract. Proof of security clearance shall be provided to the Government prior to the start of the task order.

6.0 Payment

Payment will be made by WAWF