The purpose of this post is to bring to your attention some restrictive
legislation which was passed in Oklahoma and could easily be passed in any
state. It is designed to protect the old boy network at the expense of the
taxpayers and their tax supported museums. The Native American Cultural and
Educational Authority of Oklahoma recently rescinded an RFP for architects,
engineers, and consultants for the Native American Cultural Center and Museum
Project because they were informed by an Okla. architect of new legislation
that requires that any "individual, firm, corporation, association,
partnership or other legal entity performing architectural, engineering and
land surveying services for any state-related construction or planning
 project be licensed by the State of Oklahoma and registered to perform such
services with Oklahoma's Dept. of Central Services.  All consultants desiring
to do business for the state must first have registered."

This means that this institution must limit its search to local firms or
firms who meet the registration and licensing requirement.  Unless you as a
museum operator insist that the Good Old Boy architect use the consultants of
YOUR choice, you'll probably be limited in who serves as your security system
designer, lighting consultant, exhibit designer, etc.

Imagine if you as a conservator or curator had to be registered in all fifty
states to work in all fifty states. This is protectionist legislation that
will increase everyone's cost of doing business and you know who pays in the
end.  As a museum security consulting firm that works in all fifty states, we
deeply resent this legislation. We were not required to register to work in
Paris, Rome, Florence, Kyoto, or anywhere else so why must we be licensed to
work in Oklahoma City? I've been on over 100 architectural teams competing
for museum projects with the leading museum architects, lighting designers,
exhibit designers, and other museum consulting specialists and I have never
served on a team with a firm from Oklahoma indicating that they do not
exactly curb the market on museum design professionals and consultants.
 While I understand their desire to assure technical competence,
"registration" does not include a competency test so this law is purely
designed to restrain trade and interstate commerce and to assure that local
firms get all of the state's work.

If there is anyone out there from the Native American Cultural and
Educational Authority, I advise you to include in your RFP to these Good Old
Boy Local Architects that YOU, not the architect, will select the museum
specialty consultants such as exhibit designer, security system designer,
lighting consultant, etc. Otherwise you will be allowing them to select more
Good Old Boys. It is virtually impossible for non-Oklahoma consultants and
museum service providers to identify the short listed architects from
Oklahoma and solicit them in order to serve on their team thus limiting you
to their choice or consultants.

For the rest of you, watch for the architects and consultants of your state
to enact retaliatory legislation to keep Oklahoma professionals out of their
state and we'll all be limited to hiring local firms or a few very large
firms who can afford to cut through the politics in every state.

Not just any architect can design a museum or hospital or stadium or airport
or refinery.  That's why there are specialists who design these facilities.
And to be able to specialize, one must work worldwide not just in one's own
state. A museum should be a work of art.  But I guess Oklahoma only allows
art that is created by local artists.

Steve Keller
Certified Protection Professional
Steven R. Keller and Associates, Inc.
Museum Security Consultants
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(904) 789-6740