The United States Department of State (Department) issues this Sources Sought Synopsis for information only to locate sources that are capable of providing the services as described herein. The Department is currently conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced, and interested potential sources. The information requested by this Sources Sought announcement will be used within the Department to facilitate decision making and will not be disclosed outside the Department. This Sources Sought announcement is an advance notice for information and planning purposes only. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this Sources Sought announcement. The Department will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this Sources Sought announcement. Should any future requirement(s) evolve from this preliminary planning process, the base period of performance is anticipated to be August 1, 2011 with four additional 12-month option periods. 1.1Contractor Requirements: Background: The U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Rooms, (M/FA), has a need for highly technically skilled conservator contractors which require the following criteria: Contractors must represent a major conservation firm and be an experienced senior conservator with at least 10 current years experience after training; have Professional Associate or Fellow status in the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC); and adhere to the AIC Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Contractor should have extensive and broad experience specifically with historic 18th and early 19th century American furniture and all its related materials. Work must be done by principals in the firm and like experienced conservators under their direct supervision. The conservators must also be familiar with the current professional conservation literature and recent developments in materials and historic American furniture research. Conservator contractors will be able to demonstrate the ability to authenticate 18th and 19th century furniture and have written papers/articles/books on research performed on 18th and 19th century furniture. The contractor will have extensive experience in the treatment of important American furniture in the collections of major American museums within the last 5 years on major pieces of furniture with significant value. Major conservation projects may occasionally be undertaken in the contractor's laboratory/studio, which must be equipped to undertake a wide range of conservation treatments of varied materials. 1.2 Specific Tasks: Activities will include, but not be limited to, on-going conservation of furniture and all associated materials, silver and brass, gilding, conservation re-upholstery, art, metals and selected architectural woodwork, in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State. Specific activities will include: a. Furniture: major annual maintenance of the entire collection, including cleaning finishes, repair of incidental finish damage from the prior year, minor repairs, regluing of detached or cracked elements. This will require specialized techniques such as graining, gilding and in-painting. As determined by the director - an annual wax polishing and in-painting of local damage, cleaning and waxing of marble. Periodically perform approved on-site examination of the entire collection to update condition. Provide written report(s) electronically of each object treatment and overall condition surveys. b. Upholstery: reupholstery of some new acquisitions, or existing collections; the preservation of original or early upholstery which may remain on frames. Methods must focus on conservative approaches, which do not further damage chair or sofa frames through use of traditional tacks. Fabrication and upholstery of new reproduction wood slip-seats to replace originals, which are in fragile condition. Historical methods of fancy button tufting are required for many pieces, to be done by the conservation studio's personnel. c. Metals (silver and brass): remove old protective coatings, tarnish, corrosion, metal polish residues and to clean, polish and protectively lacquer using up to date methods and materials; to include new acquisitions as they arrive, and maintenance of existing collections metals - identifying finishes on the objects, and touch up already lacquered objects without removing all the previous lacquer. Maintenance of the collection will also include period brass and silver lighting, chandeliers, and fine architectural metal work, such as silver door hardware. d. Major furniture repairs: more extensive repairs and restorations are required of individual objects. This includes new acquisitions/gifts, and items with major damage from use during the prior year and may include removal of poor quality prior repairs. Methods of conservation should be reversible in order to ensure that removal of materials and techniques used will not endanger the physical welfare of the artwork. The known character of the art object should not be modified. Decayed parts should be conserved and not replaced to the greatest extent possible, including finishes of historic importance. Any treatment prescribed should be the least intrusive possible so as not to compromise the original integrity of the object. All treatments should follow the guidelines for the AIC Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. e. Repair/replacement of period finishes in Rooms: repairing, in-painting of reproduction finishes in the Rooms on walls, doors, columns etc., and the cleaning of stone, plaster, wood, etc of works of art, architecture and fixtures in the Rooms. e. Documentation: Documentation of condition and treatment of wooden objects with detailed written and electronic reports, analysis as required and photography before and after treatment. Reports and accompanying photographs should follow the guidelines for the AIC Standards of Practice. f. Transportation: Transportation of objects to and from the Department of State by the contractor's qualified fine art mover. Contractor will pack and crate objects in a manner to insure safe arrival to destination on approval of the Office of Fine Arts. g. Consultation on and assistance with planning for upcoming exhibits of Diplomatic Reception Rooms collections as requested. h. On-going consultation on long-range conservation planning for furniture and metals collections; development of strategies to prevent future damage to collections; recommendations on suitable approved materials for maintenance. j. Technical analysis as required of materials associated with the art collections, such as wood species identification, pigment analysis, fiber identification, ultraviolet microscopy of aged finish layers, etc. Contractor should be able to perform these or have ready access to qualified analytical subcontractor as required. k. The Conservator will conserve furniture onsite at the U.S. Department of State as well as off site at conservation studio. The Conservator will transport all supplies and equipment for conservation and comply with any and all security regulations governing at the time and include a comprehensive supply list, which includes all associated tools and materials the conservation will bring into HST. l. The Conservator must be available to travel to Washington, DC, for one or two consecutive weeks during the months of July, August, or September to conserve a large volume of multi-medium objects - including but not limited to historical ceramics, silver, textiles, furniture, glass, and other decorative arts. Scheduling is at the sole discretion of the Curator of Collections. Cancellations may occur at anytime without forewarning. The Conservator agrees to hold M/FA harmless for costs incurred in preparation for, but not completed, transportation and/or shipping arrangements to Washington, DC. Interested parties may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform this effort in writing to the point of contact identified below not later than 12:00 pm local time on February 8, 2011. Such information will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based on responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are NOT acceptable for responding to this notice. Responding sources shall provide a detailed capabilities statement stating their experience in providing the same or similar services described in this notice, a point of contact with phone and e-mail information, business status (socio-economic qualifications such as 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOB, etc.), business size based on NAICS 811420 and a positive statement of interest to submit a proposal. This request for information is not a commercial solicitation and the Government will not pay for any information submitted, or for any cost associated with providing the information. Interest parties capable of performing the work described herein should send their response via e-mail to: Katherine Weakley at
[email protected] before the required response date. Contracting Office Address: Office of Acquisition Management 1701 N. Ft. Myer Drive Arlington, VA 22209 Primary Point of Contact: Katherine Weakley
[email protected] Phone: (703) 875-5146