Last updated: August 3, 2026
Article
National Park Service Request for Proposals for Three Historic Properties
NPS Photos
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to lease three historic properties within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS). The three properties, located within CCNS park boundaries in Wellfleet and Truro, are offered under a minimum lease term of 10 years. Each property will require significant initial improvement. The Offeror may present a proposal for one, two, or all three properties. Preference may be given to responsive proposals that include all three properties. Proposals for the properties must be submitted by November 1 at 5 pm EST.
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The Anthony and Allison Sirna Studio (Sirna Studio), located at 60 Way #4 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, is an approximately 746 sq. ft. artist’s studio situated on a one-acre lot.
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The Ahearn House, located at 450 Pamet Point Rd, in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, is an approximately 1,200 sq. ft. one-and-a-half story timber-framed ¾ Cape house situated on 3.1 acres. The site also includes a detached seasonal one room cottage of approximately 234 sq. ft.
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The Jedediah Higgins House (Higgins House), located at 26 Higgins Hollow Road in Truro, Massachusetts, is an approximately 1,977 sq. ft. one-and-one-half story, typical “full Cape” house, constructed in the 19th century. It is situated on 3 acres.
NPS Map
Site visit
These properties are not open to the public. Appointment-only site tours will be held on Wednesdays between August 12 and September 23, 2026. If you are interested in viewing a property, please email caco_leasing@nps.gov to request an appointment. Be sure to specify the name of the property you would like to see. If you are interested in seeing more than one property, you will need a separate appointment for each property.
A confirmed appointment is required to view any property. Once confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with important logistics related to that specific appointment.
Please keep in mind that all three properties require substantial repair and rehabilitation work. Prospective applicants should be prepared for the financial and logistical responsibilities associated with restoring and maintaining historic structures in accordance with National Park Service standards and lease requirements.
Request for proposal, attachments, and additional information
The Request for Proposal can also be found at https://sam.gov/content/home. More information about Cape Cod National Seashore can be found at https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm
- Request for Proposal
- Attachment A - Sample Lease
- Attachment B - Business History Information and Business Organization Information Forms (Form 10-352, Form 10-353, Form 10-354)
- Attachment C - Offeror Financial Statements and Projections: Small Leases (Form 10-355A)
- Attachment D - Sample Offeror Transmittal Letter
- Attachment E - Responsive Proposal Checklist
- News release
Additional Information
Questions not addressed in the RFP will be collected and responded to through issuance of question and answers. Offerors must submit questions via email to caco_leasing@nps.gov. All responses will be provided in writing and made available to all offerors by posting below.
Do I need an appointment to see the property?
These properties are not open to the public. Site tours will be conducted by appointment only, every Wednesday from August 12 through September 23, 2026.
Can multiple people be on the same lease (e.g., parent/adult child; friends/colleagues)?
Yes, multiple parties can be named on the same lease.
Would you allow guarantors to co-sign the lease?
Yes, the guarantor would need to be a named party on the lease.
When two people are applying as a couple, do you need Offeror Transmittal Letters, Identification and Credit Information from both individuals or only one?
Only one offeror transmittal letter is required per lease proposal; ID and credit information is required for each party named on the lease.
I am having a difficult time registering at SAM.gov. Do I need to do this if I am an individual, or only if I am a company?
You do not need to register via SAM.gov as an individual lessee.
It looks like the form 10-352 is for individuals. Is there a separate form for a married couple that files jointly?
A married couple would constitute as an individual for the 10-352 form.
If two people are submitting an RFP but are not married, do they file two 10-352 forms?
Yes.
Section 1 of the 10-352 form says" Proposed Role in Lease Operations, Qualifications for the Role, and Estimated time per week dedicated to that role..." What does this pertain to - what does role mean here?
For individual applicants (vs. business), "role" could be occupant.
Re: Offeror Identification - if we have a contractor, family member or other advisor who is committed to supporting the maintenance of the property, would it be appropriate to list them among the "persons responsible" even if they are not a lessee?
If contractor, family member or other advisor will not be named on the lease and/or be a factor in your ability to demonstrate financial capability (Criterion 3), then they would not be a "responsible" offeror and should not be listed in that space.
Re: completion of the "Offeror" section. Where the form says..."to lease National Park Service facilities and associated land, System for Award Management (SAM) Solicitation NAME/# issued by the public notice....". For "Solicitation NAME/#", do I put my name and phone number, or my name and address? Or is it the name of the property I am applying for?
The Solicitation NAME is: CACO_Ahearn-Higgins-Sirna_RFP_2026
What do I write for "Solicitation Name/#" on the offeror’s transmittal letter? Is it the same as the Notice ID on the SAM.gov website (i.e., CACO_Ahearn-Higgins-Sirna_RFP_2026)?
The Solicitation NAME is: CACO_Ahearn-Higgins-Sirna_RFP_2026
Is there a form for the proposal? I see the guidelines, do I just answer in order?
See the "Requirements" section of the RFP document, beginning on page 10.
Who do I address this proposal to?
See the first two paragraphs of the "Requirements" section starting on page 10 of the RFP.
Re: Personal Financial Statement documenting assets and liabilities - I can attach bank/investment statements for assets; but what is required for liabilities if do not have a mortgage or any other long-term debt?
You may state that you do not have any liabilities or long-term debt.
What is meant to be written in the yellow highlighted "PROPOSAL" space, in the 2nd paragraph of the Offeror's Transmittal Letter?
The file name of your proposal document, or the title of your proposal if you have opted to use one.
Under personal financial statement documenting assets and liabilities...can I write that myself or do I have to submit all of my bank statements, retirement funds, investments, etc.? How much detail is required - would a letter from my accountant suffice?
As much detail as necessary/possible to properly substantiate your financial capability.
Is a FICO score or summary credit report acceptable for the credit report information required on the 10-352, or do you need the full-length credit report (e.g., 48 pages long, 75 pages long, etc.). I am concerned that the full report will take up most of the size limit for other supporting documents.
We would prefer to see the entire credit report. Proposals are limited to 20 pages or less (excluding attachments), for each property you are including in your proposal (i.e., 20 pages if just one property, up to 60 pages if all three properties). The financial statements and credit reports are attachments and thus do not count toward the page limit. As noted under the REQUIREMENTS section, on page 10 of the RFP, the maximum file size of 40MB applies to individual e-mails. If your proposal exceeds this limit, review that section of the RFP for alternative ways to submit (e.g., cloud-based storage applications).
What is the "signed transmittal letter" required for the RFP process?
See the document labeled "Attachment D - Sample Offeror Transmittal Letter" on the RFP website.
Are you able to share past successful applications to assist us in preparing our proposal?
These properties have not been offered via RFP previously, so there are no past examples to share at this time.
Who will evaluate the RFP?
Please refer to the "Evaluation and Selection Process" section of the RFP document, starting on page 14.
Do we need to submit a completed sample lease as part of the initial proposal?
No, see Criterion 6-d on page 14 of the RFP document. NPS will negotiate the terms of the final Lease with the Offeror determined to have submitted the best responsive proposal.
Can I submit a bid(s) for more than one property?
Per the Summary of Leasing Opportunity on page 3 of the RFP document, an offeror’s proposal may include one, or two or all three properties. An offeror may submit only one proposal, and it must be for just one of those options. A submission containing a proposal for one property AND an alternative proposal for two or more properties would be considered nonresponsive.
What is the longest lease period that would be considered under this RFP?
NPS anticipates a lease term of 10-20 years. NPS leasing regulations require leases to have as short a term as possible, taking into account the financial obligations of the lessee and other factors related to determining an appropriate lease term. If you are proposing a lease term longer than 10 years, please make sure your start-up or rehabilitation costs justify the length of term you propose.
Will leaseholders be given an opportunity to extend the lease at the end of the term?
See Terms of Lease on page 14 and Lease Provisions on page 15 of the RFP document
Where can we find information about the cost of insurance (e.g., liability, casualty)?
Costs will vary by insurance carrier; contact your preferred insurance provider.
Is flood insurance required?
See Sample Lease, Exhibit B: Insurance Requirements -"Other"
If property is severely damaged or "demolished" in a wildfire or storm, does this cancel the lease or is one expected to rebuild "in kind"?
See Section 14 "DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION" on page 16 of sample Lease, Attachment A.
Where can we find information about whether the property would be subject to property tax or other local/state assessments?
See the "Jurisdiction" section on page 6 of the RFP document. As the park is not a related party, please contact state and/or local municipality for questions regarding tax assessments.
Because these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we understand rehabilitation projects may be eligible for possible Federal or State Tax Credits. Where can we find more information?
Information about Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives can be found online at https://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm. This site also provides information on or links to State Historic Preservation Offices.
Who is responsible for determining what, if any, repair and maintenance is required? Are there any repairs/issues that need addressed in the short-term, so these may be considered in my proposal?
As noted in the RFP, the properties are available for lease “as is with all faults”. Per the RFP instructions, each proposal should include initial improvements and plans to maintain the property. While some initial improvements are suggested in the RFP Appendices, each offeror is responsible for verifying the condition of the property, developing a detailed scope of work and preparing a cost estimate for its proposed improvement plan.
Over the course of the lease, the Lessee is primarily responsible for identifying required repair and maintenance and for submitting its plans to the Lessor for review and approval. The Lessor, following periodic inspection, may also identify and bring to the attention of the Lessee areas found to be in need of repair or maintenance.
Can we get a list of maintenance and repairs that are expected or will be needed over the next 10 years? Can the NPS outline any initial repairs they have already determined would be required for each property?
Each property will have different needs. The NPS has identified a tentative list of necessary initial improvements, as described in Appendices A, B, and C of the RFP. However, each offeror is responsible for verifying the condition of the property, developing a detailed scope of work and preparing a cost estimate for its proposed improvement plan. Similarly, the offeror is responsible for assessing the work that will be required to maintain the premises after initial improvements have been completed and submit that as their maintenance plan. We understand that maintenance plans offered as part of the proposal might not be the final maintenance plan included in the lease. For guidance on maintenance and repair, the NPS uses the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Cultural Landscapes. These emphasize the following basic approaches (1) RETAIN and PRESERVE features; (2) if needed, STABILIZE and REPAIR (e.g., re-fasten wall or roof shingles, re-flash chimney, patch-holes, re-glaze missing windowpanes); and (3) if features are too deteriorated then REPLACE them (e.g., re-roof, re-shingle walls, replace windows). As a general rule of thumb, maintenance under 1 and 2 above does not require prior consultation with the NPS, but documentation is required. Maintenance under 3 above requires prior consultation with the Park's Section 106 Coordinator.
Who is responsible for testing the water at the property to make sure it is safe to drink?
Ground/well water testing is the responsibility of Lessee.
If we request permission to update the property, how long is the typical response time from NPS?
Response times from the park will vary depending on the type and complexity of the proposed plans. Generally, plans would need to be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance of when you want to begin work so that NPS can assess for compliance with The Secretary of Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. A minimum lead-time of 8 weeks is required for projects that require NPS consultation with the Massachusetts Historical Commission or local conservation commissions (e.g., new septic system or well, permanent changes to existing driveways, changing materials or configuration of a character-defining feature).
Can I do non-structural work on the property without a contractor (e.g., siding, roofing, fix a door)?
Use of contractors to perform general maintenance and upkeep of structures and premises is at the Lessee's discretion. Lessee must consult with the park, in writing, prior to repairs, replacements, improvements to the structures or premises.
Are the properties handicap accessible? (e.g., ramps)
Like many structures of historical note, the entrances and other aspects of these properties are not ADA compliant. However, if members of the public submitting an RFP would like to include plans to modify the structure to facilitate access, the Park would consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Please note, such modification may not be feasible for some properties.
Are we able to sublease the property?
Per the "Allowed Uses of the Lease Premises" section on pages 4-5 of the RFP document, both residential and short-term rentals would be considered but Lessee may be subject to state or local town regulations related to rental properties. The park would consider proposals that include residential subleasing (e.g., for 1-year or longer) on a case-by-case basis. See Section 16.1 Assignments of the sample lease.
What is the relative weighting of the six stated Proposal Evaluation Criteria?
Please refer to the "Proposal Content and Selection Criteria" section of the RFP document, starting on page 11; and the "Evaluation and Selection Process" section, starting on page 14.
I've addressed the 6 criterion and will attach the required forms - do I need to provide any additional information?
Please refer to the RFP for instruction re: proposal requirements and content, starting on page 10, and the “Responsive Proposal Checklist”, Attachment E.
Would amount offered in excess of the cited Annual Fair Market Value Rent be used in determination of the best overall responsive proposal? What is the relative weighting of the six stated Proposal Evaluation Criteria?
While members of the public might choose to offer in excess of the cited Annual Fair Market Value Rent, this factor alone would not be the sole determining factor. Other criteria, as outlined in the RFP are significant and meaningful factors in the selection process.
Is there a maximum value that can be bid, in excess of the Fair Market Value Annual Rent?
There is no maximum value that can be bid for rent. As a reminder, Rent is just one of six selection criteria that the NPS will use to determine the best proposal.
If I wish to offer more than fair market value for a property - do I put that into the RFP, or do I wait and, if selected, negotiate final rent?
The rent offer should be included in the RFP submission.
How is rent paid - monthly, annually?
Per Section 5.2 "Annual Rent" of the Sample Lease - rent is payable in advance in equal monthly installments on the first day of each calendar month. This may be subject to lease negotiation.
I read through a sample lease - how likely is the rent to be increased during my lease period based on improvements I make?
The Annual Rent will be subject to an annual escalation or Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment.
Leases with a term of fifteen (15) or more years may contain a rent reconsideration provision in order to maintain the rent under the lease in an amount and structure consistent with “fair market value rent”.
Are refrigerators, stove, oven etc. in good working order and are they included in the lease?
The premises are offered in their existing “as is” condition, and conditions vary property to property. An Inventory and Condition Report will be created for each lease, identifying any personal property claimed by the Lessor if/as applicable.
If awarded an opportunity to negotiate a lease, will there be an inventory of furniture/equipment included?
An Inventory and Condition Report will be created for each lease, identifying any personal property claimed by the Lessor if/as applicable.
Would I be permitted to.... (Add outdoor seating, install solar panels, add an outdoor shower, etc.)
Because these properties are historical structures, changes of a permanent nature are not allowed. However, non-permanent alterations or additions can be proposed to the park, in writing, for review and approval.
Can we install/restore a garden, plant trees, put up a fence, etc., on the property?
Ground disturbance generally requires NPS pre-approval. See Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the Sample Lease (RFP Exhibit A), which address Site Disturbance and the Protection of Cultural and Archeological Resources, respectively.
Could one get out of the lease after a couple of years for little or no cost?
When you enter into your lease, it is expected that you will have that lease for its full term and you will be financially responsible for its full term.
What happens if you are physically or financially unable to continue with the lease?
When you enter into your lease, it is expected that you will have that lease for its full term and you will be financially responsible for its full term. A lessee may request to terminate their lease, however the NPS is under no obligation to do so. The lessee will be responsible for all of the terms of the lease they sign.
There is a way to mark documentation for Trade secret information identified in the application materials. However, much of what's being provided to the federal government is personally identifiable information, in particular financial, background, and previous experience disclosures which might be sensitive and/or need appropriate government handling. May we mark certain documents or paragraphs Privacy/PII, to help ensure correct handling in future FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests? Or can we make a notation that we do not waive our privacy rights to any personally identifiable information? Is there any way to highlight this for future FOIA reviewers? This question does not refer to Form 10-352, which has its own Privacy Act Statement attached, but to what information we might pull from it into the general application, or other relevant PII throughout the document, as the Transmittal Letter itself contains no Privacy Act information.
Please see pages 15-16 of the RFP document for instructions on how to mark sensitive information within your proposal. No PII would be released through a FOIA request. You are welcome to make notations on any of your documents and if it is determined to be trade secrets or personal information, it would then not be released via FOIA.
What happens during a government shutdown?
Historically, a lapse of appropriations has not materially impacted a long-term lessee within the Cape Cod National Seashore because a lessee’s access to and use of leased premises is usually not dependent on government staff or resources. Typically, non-essential staff would not be available to collect rent, answer questions, or facilitate review and pre-approval of repair/replacement projects. In the case of emergency repair needs, temporary emergency repairs would be allowed as an interim solution until such time as a proposal for the permanent repair or replacement can be reviewed and pre-approved by NPS.