Ireland – Preservation services of specimens – Five Multi–Party Frameworks for the Provision of Specialist Natural History Conservation Services to the National Museum of Ireland

This work will involve the safe dismantling and/or dismounting, stabilisation for transport, remedial conservation, and reinstallation of natural history objects of a large and/or complex nature, as outlined in Appendix A. Remedial conservation should be undertaken in consultation with NMI staff and in accordance with best conservation practice/ policies. All materials used should be approved by NMI Conservation staff and tested to museum conservation standards. Here the term “complex nature” may relate to factors such as suspension from height, heavy weights, and/or restricted physical access. Tenderers should be aware that this Lot requires implementation of safe working practices (e.g., for working at height) and compliance with required H&S guidance and legislation

This work will involve the remedial conservation of 19th, 20th and 21st century natural history mounted specimens, including taxidermy, skeletons, casts and dried vertebrate specimens. These mounts are here referred to as “standard” to differentiate them from complex and/or large mounts covered in Lot 1, which will require additional specialist equipment and experience to work on. Appendix A lists complex and/or large mounts to provide context. We envisage this to include in the region of 5,000 specimens over the course of the Conservation Phase of the project, although many of these may only require condition assessment and not treatment. Work packages to facilitate the stabilisation of some specimens for transport during the Decant Phase may also be issued if required

This work will include the remedial conservation of dry invertebrate specimens, including molluscs, crustaceans, insects, echinoderms, and any of the minor phyla that may be represented. We envisage this to include in the region of 6,000 specimens over the course of the Conservation Phase of the project, although many of these may only require condition assessment and not treatment. Work packages to facilitate the stabilisation of some specimens for transport during the Decant Phase may also be issued if required. Remedial conservation should be undertaken in consultation with NMI staff and in accordance with best conservation practice/ policies. All materials used should be approved by NMI Conservation staff and tested to museum conservation standards.