Japanese Scrolls and Paper Conservation at HACE

The National Park Service Northeast Region is soliciting quotes for professional conservation services focused on the repair and preservation of critically damaged Japanese scrolls and paper artifacts within its Historic Architecture, Conservation, and Engineering (HACE) division. The procurement requires one or two professionally trained conservators with specialized experience in Japanese scroll and paper conservation, graduate-level credentials from accredited conservation programs, and a minimum of five years of experience on significant historic objects. Key contract requirements include the ability to conduct technical analysis, develop treatment proposals, perform delicate conservation work, maintain comprehensive photographic documentation, and comply with OSHA, NIOSH, and NPS security regulations, including obtaining a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) background investigation and Federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credential prior to work commencement. Evaluation will prioritize past performance, key personnel qualifications, and cost/price in descending order of importance. Questions must be submitted by 10:00 AM ET on May 8, 2026, with quotes due by 1:00 PM ET on May 15, 2026, and anticipated contract performance to begin June 1, 2026, running for one year through May 31, 2027.

This solicitation is structured as a Total 8(a) Set-Aside under NAICS code 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), with a small business size standard of $19.5 million, classified as a firm-fixed-price contract. No incumbent contractors or award values are specified in the solicitation documents. The contract encompasses multiple conservation projects across Northeast Region parks with varying scope and budget allocations, including projects ranging from 100 to 485 hours with separate Not-to-Exceed line items for travel, shipping, and materials not to exceed $1,500 per individual project or higher amounts for specific initiatives. The primary duty location is the HACE conservation laboratory at Boott Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, with core working hours from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, though occasional site visits to other Northeast Region parks will be required, and all work must comply with prevailing wage rates established by the Department of Labor for Middlesex County, Massachusetts service contracts.