Photo by Arlan Fonseca Would you like to operate a business at Boston National Historical Park? Become one of our Commercial Use Authorization Service Providers. Read below to find out how. Current Authorized CUA HoldersThe following is a directory of providers with a valid Commercial Use Authorization permit for the current authorized service types at Boston National Historical Park Frequently Asked QuestionsA Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:
A CUA may be required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
PL 105-391, Section 418 and 36 CFR 5.3 require NPS issue and charge a reasonable fee for CUAs. The law requires that National Park Service (NPS) ensure CUAs:
A CUA is required if an entity provides a good, activity, service, or other function to visitors in a NPS managed area (e.g., Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument, and Dorchester Heights), uses park resources and results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit. Do note: Popular park areas elsewhere in Boston, such as Boston Common and the Public Garden, are City properties with their own permitting requirements through the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Other parks like the Charles River Esplanade and Harbor Islands are properties of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Reservations and permits for Faneuil Hall are through the City of Boston Property Management Department. Commercial Use Authorization applicants and holders must make all payments for application fees and management fees through the same portal using pay.gov. Notifications of payments and reports will be auto-generated through this online portal. The following services have been pre-approved for CUAs:
Did you have an idea for a CUA service not on this list? Let's chat!! Call 617-519-8039 or e-mail us to discuss. All CUAs require $350 application fee for each service category due with the application. This fee is not refundable. The initial $350 per service application fee will be credited toward the management fee paid at the end of that operating year. The management fee is due at the end of the operating year. For all service types except Road Based Commerical Tours the fee is based on a percentage of the operating year’s gross receipts. This fee must be paid to the park after the park has reviewed and approved the annual report, which is submitted by January 31st, after the operating year has ended. Management fee is based on percentage of gross receipts ($350 application fee for the operating year acts as a credit towards the following):
"Gross receipts" means the total of all revenues received from services a CUA holder is authorized to provide within Boston National Historical Park. Road Based Commercial Tours (RBCT) – your management fee will remain unchanged per the NPS guidelines on not increasing CUA fees for Road Based Commerical Tours CUAs until the moratorium on issuing new RBCT CUAs is lifted. RBCT management fees will remain $3,170 and paid through the Online CUA Portal after the park has reviewed and approved the annual report. The CUA holder is responsible for maintaining accounting records that demonstrate evidence of gross receipts and required fee payment. NPS may audit CUA holder financial reports at any time. Applications for CUA's open October 1st of the year prior to the operating year and will be accepted throughout the operating year. All CUA permits are issued for up to one year. The CUA operating year is from January 1st to December 31st. You are required to submit an annual report through the Online CUA Portal by January 31st for the previous calendar year operations. Notification for due reports will be provided via email. You are responsible for monitoring your email account. Your management fee is due after the park reviews your annual report through the Online CUA Portal. Learn how to Apply for a CUAWatch the video below to learn how to apply for a Commercial Use Authorization at Boston National Historical Park.
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This video shows how a business can apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit through an online system. |
Last updated: December 4, 2024