Commercial Visitor Services
The National Park Service provides visitor services within the park that are necessary and appropriate for visitor use and enjoyment. A Commercial Visitor Activity is defined as a business that:
- provides an activity or service to the general public
- takes place at least in part in any park unit; and, results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual entity, whether or not the individual or entity is recognized as non-profit under applicable laws.
Commercial Visitor Services are authorized through concession contracts or commercial use authorizations (CUAs).
NOTE: If you are an individual who is planning a special event or activity in the park that does not result in a monetary gain, you are exempt from the commercial use authorization process. However, special events and activities require that you apply for and be granted a special use permit. See our permits and reservations page to download an application to apply for a special use permit.
Commercial Use Authorizations
What is a Commercial Use Authorization?
A commercial use authorization (CUA) allows an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park unit. The National Park Service (NPS) issues CUAs to manage a wide-range of commercial visitor services in addition to road-based commercial tours. Depending on the park, this can include guided or vehicle tours, bike tours, photography workshops, fishing trips, and much more.
Federal law mandates the NPS issue CUAs only for commercial activities and visitor services that:
- are determined to be an appropriate use of the park,
- will have minimal impact on park resources and values, and
- are consistent with the park purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
Do You Need a CUA?
You may not conduct commercial activities in a park unit without a valid CUA!
A CUA is required if you provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
- take place at least in part on lands managed by the National Park Service,
- use park resources, and
- result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
Commercial vendors interested in conducting tours or activities within the park must contact the park's permit officer to make arrangements.
Concession Contracts
Concession contracts are one method of authorizing commercial visitor services. Prince William Forest Park currently has only one concessionaire - Prince William Forest RV Campground.
Concession contracts have the following characteristics:
- The term of concession contracts is generally 10 years or less.
- Some concession contracts have a "preference in renewal."
- Contracts are awarded under competition and are limited in number.
- The concessioner pays a franchise fee to the government determined by the probable value to the concessioner for the privileges provided by the contract.
