U.S. Senate 1819 Chair Conservation

The U.S. Senate is soliciting proposals for the conservation of the 1819 Chair from the Senate Chamber, a historic artifact within its collection, under solicitation number RFP-2026-R-002. The contract requires a qualified conservation firm specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American furniture to provide comprehensive conservation services including condition assessment, treatment planning, documentation, and physical restoration of the wooden elements and upholstered slip seat and back. All work must adhere strictly to the American Institute for Conservation’s Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice, emphasizing the preservation of original materials, surfaces, and age-related conditions, with any interventions being reversible, non-destructive, and isolating new materials from the original. Proposals must include at least two distinct treatment options—such as minimum stabilization versus comprehensive restoration to the chair’s 1819 appearance—along with detailed technical approaches, staffing plans, timelines, cost breakdowns, and a full list of proposed materials and testing protocols. The Office of Senate Curator’s expectations and the Senate Commission on Art’s documentation standards are binding and must be fully integrated into all phases of the project. The Senate will handle all shipping logistics between the U.S. Capitol and the contractor’s studio, with the contractor responsible for receiving, inspecting, and reporting any changes in condition during transit. Upon delivery, the contractor must work in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to establish a project schedule, conduct a virtual kickoff, and submit deliverables including a draft treatment report two weeks after completion of treatment and a final report with photographic documentation two weeks after curator feedback. All finish samples must be mounted, labeled, and returned to the COR, and x-ray imagery and photographs must be submitted individually as JPG files via the Senate’s Large File Transfer System. A Certificate of Insurance for a fine arts policy naming the U.S. Senate Commission on Art as an additionally insured party for $75,000 is mandatory for proposal submission. Pricing must reflect fully burdened labor costs, inclusive of administrative, material, and other direct expenses, with no separate reimbursement for travel unless pre-approved. The period of performance extends from award through June 30, 2027, with all deliverables required to be completed by March 31, 2027. Proposals must be submitted electronically to Holly McDonald by July 10, 2026, and include résumés of all proposed personnel and subcontractors