A sole-source contract is appropriate if your project is very small, if you already have experience in finding and working with conservation professionals, or if the project is so complex that bid specifications could be inconclusive. Be aware, however, that this option may not automatically be available when working with a government agency’s contracting office; you may have to seek an exception. Always make the case against a sealed bid process, in which cost is the sole determining factor. Stress that the highly specialized nature of works of art requires equally specialized conservation services. Conservators are trained in chemistry, studio arts, and art history and have both theoretical.
