2000-23937 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-23937
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL RECEIVED
AND AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CONTRACT WITH KENNETH BLACKBURN, INC.,
PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) NO. 69-99/00 FOR THE
RESTORATION OF PERIOD FRAMES FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
BASS MUSEUM PERMANENT COLLECTION PAINTINGS
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach Bass Museum has identified twenty-six (26)
frames of the permanent collection paintings dated from the 14th-19th centuries that are in need of
restoration work; and
WHEREAS, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 69-99/00 for the
restoration of period frames for the Bass Museum permanent collection paintings; and
WHEREAS, thirty-four (34) notices and two (2) sets of specifications for RFP No.
69-99/00 were issued, resulting in one proposal from Kenneth Blackburn, Inc. for $35,000; and
WHEREAS, the Bass Museum has $30,000 budgeted for this project, and is prepared
to negotiate with Kenneth Blackburn, Inc., by either reducing the number of frames or reducing the
firm's fee; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has reviewed the recommendation of the Bass Museum and
concurs with its recommendation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission herein authorizes the Administration to enter into negotiations with Kenneth Blackburn,
Inc., pursuant to RFP No. 69-99/00, for the restoration of period frames for the City of Miami Beach
Bass Museum permanent collection paintings.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 24th day of May, 2000.
IN
MAYOR
TEST:
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CITY CLERK
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APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& fOR EXECUTtON
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http://ci.miami-beach . fl. us
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. '4-0'2..-00
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Lawrence A. Levy \J
City Manager '\!b
DA TE: May 24, 2000
FROM:
SUBJECT:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach,
Florida, Accepting the Proposal Received and Authorizing the Administration
to Enter into Negotiations for a Contract with Kenneth Blackburn, Inc.,
Pursuant to Request For Proposals (RFP) No. 69-99/00 for the Restoration of
Period Frames for the City of Miami Beach Bass Museum Permanent
Collection Paintings.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
BUDGETED AMOUNT AND FUNDING
$30,000
Funds in the Amount of $30,000 are available from the Bass Museum Account No.
011.0930.000312
ANALYSIS
Many of the collection paintings date from the 14th - 19th centuries and most of them are framed
in their original frames. Many of these period frames are ornate, fine examples of gilded framing
from their particular eras and are quite unique and valuable, and an important asset of the City of
Miami Beach.
However, for many years these frames have suffered conditions that have caused them to deteriorate.
The archaic HV AC system (installed when the Museum first opened in 1963) in the old Museum
was far from adequate for the preservation of the works of art and their frames. These frames now
require attention before the Museum's permanent collection paintings will be put on view in the
expanded facility to open at the end of the calendar year.
Twenty-six (26) frames have been identified as those needing attention and the work includes casting
and replacing replicas of lost ornamentation, repairing gilt finish with gold leaf, matching existing
colors and patinas on the frames, replacing missing gesso, securing loose sections of wood, rejoining
mitres, repairing old poor repairs and cleaning the frames as required.
AGENDAITEM CIA
DATE C; -24- -Q:)
RFP No. 69-99/00
Page Two
May 24, 2000
ANAL YSIS (Continued)
The City of Miami Beach requested proposals from qualified and highly experienced antique frame
restoration firms in order to complete this project. DemandStar.com issued notices to 34 firms, and
Request for Proposals (RFP) packages were requested by two (2) prospective proposers. A pre-
proposal conference was held on March 31, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., at The Fortress, in order for
prospective proposers to view and ask questions relative to the collection paintings.
On April 14, 2000, staff received one responsive proposal from Kenneth Blackburn, Inc., in the
amount of $35,000. In order to stay within the budgeted amount of $30,000, the Bass Museum is
prepared to negotiate with the firm, by either reducing the number of frames or reducing the firm's
fees. If it is necessary to reduce the number of frames, those deleted will be the least in need of
restoration. The reason for only one response is as follows:
The RFP requirements were very specific regarding qualifications, including the experience and
references of both the company and its staff, ability to complete the project within the specified time,
and demonstration of successful completion of comparable projects (14th-19th century frames).
Additionally, the restorer must be willing to accommodate site visits by the Bass Museum Curator
and Registrar to monitor the restoration process.
The specifications are stringent due to the extraordinary cultural and material value of many of the
frames -- works of art in themselves -- included in the project, such as the Sansovino frame on the
after Titian Three Ages of Man, which retains its original gilding, is unaltered, and strongly suspected
to have been part of the Medici Collection. Other frames of exceptional quality intended for
restoration include the tabernacle style Florentine frame of Botticelli's Mystic Marriage of St.
Catherine (c. 1490), which also retains its original gilding, original nails and doweling, is completely
unaltered, and very likely the original to the painting. The impressive double frame on Rubens' Holy
Family with St. Anne has been noted by the National Gallery's Stanley Robertson to be an
outstanding creative combination of two equally important frames. The outer frame, which retains
its original gilding, is French Regency or Louis XIV, dating from the 1680s, and the inner frame is
believed to the Dutch in origin and exhibits a mixture of 19th and 17th century elements.
The Mayor and Commission should adopt the Resolution, accepting the recommendation by the City
Manager, and authorizing the Administration to negotiate a contract with Kenneth Blackburn, Inc.
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