USS Monitor Artifact Conservation

Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole Source Contract

This notice announces the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) intent to negotiate a sole source contract with The Mariners' Museum and Park (TMMP) for professional conservation services. These services are for the ongoing active and preventative conservation care of the USS Monitor Collection, a federally owned NOAA Heritage Asset.

• Active and preventative conservation care for the USS Monitor Collection.

• The collection comprises over 210 tons of archaeological materials from the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor, including ferrous metals, iron, wood, leather, textiles, rubber, and other organic and inorganic materials.

• A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached and provides a complete description of the requirements.

• Contract Type: Time-and-Materials

• Period of Performance: September 15, 2026 – September 14, 2027, with two 12-month option periods extending through September 14, 2029.

• Estimated Value: $5,092,400 (inclusive of all option periods).

• This is a notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract, not a solicitation.

• Interested sources capable of meeting the requirements must submit a written affirmative response demonstrating their capability.

• Responses must include a narrative statement of capability, detailed technical information, facility infrastructure, personnel qualifications, and relevant prior experience.

• Affirmative written responses must be submitted via email to Carley Flaxman (Carley.Flaxman@noaa.gov).

• Deadline for responses: May 1, 2026, by 12:00 PM ET.

• NOAA will evaluate responses to determine if a competitive procurement is warranted.

• Set-Aside: None - Sole Source.

• Justification for sole source: The USS Monitor artifact collection is physically located at TMMP, and its scale, fragility, and treatment status make relocation impracticable. TMMP possesses unique, specialized industrial-scale facilities specifically constructed for this collection, and treatment continuity is critical to prevent irreversible damage. TMMP staff also have direct, ongoing knowledge of the artifacts.

• NAICS Code: 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

• PSC Code: S299 – Other Housekeeping Services (Conservation)

• Place of Performance: The Mariners' Museum and Park, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, Virginia 23606.

• This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment to award a contract.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To ensure ongoing active and preventive conservation care of the USS Monitor Collection, including large archaeological assemblies, under the custody of The Mariners' Museum and Park (TMMP) and stewarded by the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

• Provide professional conservation services, including facilities and materials, for initial artifact stabilization treatments and ongoing preventive conservation care.

• Conduct treatments for a diverse collection of over 5,000 artifacts, primarily ferrous materials, but also including wood, leather, textiles, rubber, and other organic and inorganic items.

• Address large object assemblies such as the 25-ton propulsion engines, 115-ton rotating gun turret, and two 8-ton Dahlgren shell guns and their carriages.

• Perform tasks including artifact rotation, relocation, remounting, disassembly of complex composite artifacts, electrochemical treatment, desalination, drying, and surface coating.

• Demonstrate forward progress in the conservation of large artifacts and assemblies.

• Provide quarterly progress reports detailing artifact status, treatment methods, hours expended, and new acquisitions.

• Provide a list of work completed for each artifact, including identification number, description, and current conservation activity.

• The contract includes a 12-month base period with two 12-month option periods.

• Base Period: September 15, 2026 - September 14, 2027

• Option Period 1: September 15, 2027 - September 14, 2028

• Option Period 2: September 15, 2028 - September 14, 2029

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facility at The Mariner's Museum and Park, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606.

• Contractor must provide appropriately trained personnel with advanced degrees and/or professional hands-on experience in archaeological conservation, analytical chemistry, or collection management.

• Facilities must include an industrial-scale wet-laboratory with watertight tanks, cold storage for sensitive organic materials, adequate workspace for collections management and artifact preparation, and office space.

• Contractor must ensure chemical and hazardous materials disposal complies with FAR Subpart 23.3 and applicable local regulations.

• Contractor must provide complete access to the Collection to authorized NOAA personnel during specified business hours.