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 The Native American Cultural and Educational Authority of Oklahoma recently rescinded an RFP for architects, engineers, and consultants for the Native American Cultural Center and Museum Project because they were informed by an Okla.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 [log in to unmask] (904) 789-6740