USS Monitor Artifact Conservation

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking a contractor to provide professional conservation services for the USS Monitor Collection, which includes over 5,000 individual artifacts made of various materials. The contractor will be responsible for the ongoing active and preventive conservation care of the collection, including large archaeological assemblies. The work will be performed at The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. The contractor must have experience in archaeological conservation, analytical chemistry, or collection management, and must provide a staffing mix that meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications defined in the Appendix. The contractor will be required to provide quarterly progress reports and ensure that all personnel are sufficiently trained and have the required degree and/or hands-on training. Some key points about this opportunity include: • The contractor will be working with a wide variety of materials, including iron, ferrous materials, wood, leather, textiles, rubber, and other organic and inorganic artifacts. • The contractor must have experience in the conservation of archaeological materials and must abide by the Code of Ethics set forth by the American Institute for Conservation. • The contractor will be required to provide facilities and workspace for the collection, conservation materials, and conservation personnel. • The contractor must ensure chemical and hazardous materials disposal is handled in compliance with applicable regulations. • The contractor will be required to provide quarterly progress reports and track desalination, and initiate drying and surface coating when necessary.