Griffith Park- Acquisition & Restoration of the Historic Merri Go ‘Round

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks is undertaking a multi-year restoration project to acquire and rehabilitate the historic 1926 Spillman Engineering Merry Go Round carousel, originally relocated to Griffith Park in 1937 from San Diego. This carousel is a rare surviving example of a 4-abreast Spillman model featuring 68 hand-carved and bejeweled horses arranged in four rows, along with two chariots, an elaborate ceiling kit, and a fully operational Stinson 165 Military Band Organ capable of playing over 1,500 songs. The restoration effort is focused on preserving the carousel’s original mechanical structure and historic integrity in strict accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, ensuring that all repairs and conservation work maintain authenticity while enabling safe, long-term public operation. The project is designated as a forecast with no formal solicitation or contract number, and funding is expected to be sustained through public fundraising rather than a defined monetary contract value. The place of performance is Griffith Park in Los Angeles, with all restoration activities to occur on-site at the park’s location at 4730 N. Crystal Springs Dr. The procurement is not governed by standard Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses or formal contracting mechanisms, as no FAR sections, contract types, evaluation factors, or pricing details are provided. The City of Los Angeles has filed a Notice of Exemption under CEQA and is proceeding under a categorical exemption, reflecting an administrative process focused on historical preservation rather than competitive federal procurement. There is no designated contracting officer, COR, COTR, or payment office specified, and no invoicing systems, accounting codes, or UEI/CAGE identifiers are referenced. While the project involves complex technical work on a culturally significant artifact, no military-style packaging, labeling, or MIL-STD requirements apply, and preservation standards are rooted in cultural heritage conservation rather than logistical or transport protocols. The project’s primary beneficiaries are the public patrons of Griffith Park, and all work is intended to ensure the carousel remains a functional and historically accurate attraction for generations to come.