Date: October 17, 2007
Contact: Bob Miller, (865) 436-1207

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus to solicit individuals or businesses who are interested in competing for a 10 year concession contract to operate the remote and scenic LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

The Lodge is near the 6,593 foot summit of Mount LeConte, the third highest peak in the Smokies, and is accessible for patrons and staff only by means of one of five trails, the shortest of which is approximately 5.5 miles in length and rises 2,697 feet. The Lodge is not accessible by road. Services at the Lodge include rustic backcountry lodging, food and beverage services, and limited retail sales. LeConte Lodge Limited Partnership, a limited partnership of Stokely Hospitality Enterprises, currently operates LeConte Lodge under the terms of a concession contract that was awarded in 1983. Gross revenues over the past five years have been from $1,164,366 - $1,282,453 annually. 

The NPS is conducting this solicitation in accordance with the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (Act) which requires the award of concession contracts through a competitive selection process. Except as otherwise specified in the Act, concession contracts will be awarded to the person, corporation, or other entity submitting the best proposal, as determined by the NPS through a competitive selection process. Although the Act does include a preference for a Preferred Offeror for the award of a qualified concession contract in certain situations, there is no Preferred Offeror in this case because the new contract is expected to result in gross annual receipts of more than $500,000. This solicitation for commercial services is fully competitive.

Offers must be received by the NPS no later than 4:00 p.m. on January 8, 2008 in order to be evaluated and considered for an award of a concession contract. The prospectus describes the business opportunity and includes the terms and conditions under which the NPS will award the concession contract. The prospectus is available on the NPS website at http://www.concessions.nps.gov/Prospectus.cfm.

Hard copies are available by mail by writing to: Mark Morgan, Concessions Management Specialist, Southeast Region, NPS, AFC, 1924 Building, 100 Alabama Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Requests must be accompanied by a check for $50 payable to the “National Park Service” and must include a physical address (no post office box) and telephone number. Copies may also be picked up at the Superintendent’s Office at Park Headquarters in Gatlinburg, TN for $45.00 (checks only). Inquiries can be directed to Mark Morgan at (404) 562-3108 ext. 740 or by e-mail. No telephone requests for the prospectus will be honored.