[MassHistPres] Seeking bids for painting 1743 Pelham Town Hall

[Henry Cooke]

 Have you checked the state's Department of Capital Asset Management? They maintain lists of contractors certified to do various types of construction, including painting, I believe. I don't know if painting of historic buildings is in there as a separate category, but you might check with MHC, Preservation Mass. or Historic New England to see if they have any such lists of painters who work particularly in historic buildings.  

Henry Cooke, ChairmanRandolph Historical Commission
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Larson <larson at umass.edu>
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Tue, May 26, 2020 7:07 pm
Subject: [MassHistPres] Seeking bids for painting 1743 Pelham Town Hall

The Pelham Historical Commission has had difficulty in securing bids from painters who have experience in painting historic buildings. We have recommendations for paint color and method of application from a nationally recognized expert in painting historic structures. The required state bidding process requires accepting the low bidder. Our first attempt brought us to consider a low bidder who refused to use the type of paint recommended by our expert. We had to re-bid with a condition that the Town would supply the paint. But absent having the funds to employ a watchdog to monitor the painters all day every day we could not be sure that the method of application was followed on the entire building. The paint has not lasted as long as it should.
We are considering inserting a requirementall that all bidders must must include in their bid a list of buildings of the era of our town hall that they have painted along with references person who have first hand knowledge of the bidder's performance.on the projects.
1. We would appreciate hearing whether this process has been used by other towns.2. We would welcome any advice on other approaches to solve our problem.
Joseph S. LarsonMember, Pelham Historical Commission_______________________________________________
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