News Release

National Park Service Issuing Concession Prospectuses for Fire Island Ferries

A large blue and white ferry loads passengers at a marina

NPS/Sucena

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News Release Date: August 5, 2021

The National Park Service (NPS) is issuing two concessions prospectuses on August 5, 2021, for a10-year concession contract for the operation of passenger ferry service between Patchogue Ferry Terminal and Watch Hill marina within Fire Island National Seashore and a 10-year concession contract for the operation of passenger ferry service between the South Shore of Long Island and Sailors Haven Marina within Fire Island National Seashore. The new contracts are expected to be effective January 1, 2022.

Fire Island National Seashore, located off the south shore of Long Island, New York, occupies approximately 26 miles of the 32-mile long barrier island. The national seashore’s western boundary is adjacent to Robert Moses State Park. From there, the national seashore extends east to Moriches Inlet. The national seashore also includes the waters surrounding the seashore to distances of 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and up to 4,000 feet north into Great South Bay.

The national seashore is located within 60 miles of nearly 21 million people in the greater New York metropolitan area (Exhibit 5). Most visitors reach the national seashore by taking a private car or the Long Island Railroad to Patchogue, Sayville, or Bay Shore, where they board a ferry to cross the bay. Visitors can also reach the national seashore by private boat and docking at the concession-operated marinas at Watch Hill or Sailors Haven.Many sites within Fire Island National Seashore are only accessible by private boat or public ferry. From May to October, visitors can take one of two authorized concessioner ferries to travel to Watch Hill or Sailors Haven.

Concessions Prospectus for Ferry Service to Sailors Haven

Sailors Haven is home to one of the best-known areas of Fire Island National Seashore — the Sunken Forest. Located near the center of the island, across the Great South Bay from Sayville, Sailors Haven is accessible by ferry, private boat, and foot. In addition to a one and a half mile long boardwalk trail through the Sunken Forest, Sailors Haven offers a visitor center; snack bar; gift shop; picnic tables and grills; lifeguarded beach in summer; a 45-slip public marina with electricity, water and a free boat pump-out station; and restrooms and showers.

Proposals must be submitted electronically to the National Park Service. All proposals are due by 4:00pm (ET) on November 3, 2021, 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. Instructions for electronic submissions of a proposal are provided in the Proposal Instructions document of the prospectus.

Preferred Offeror

The Regional Director has determined, under 36 CFR § 51.36, that the Existing Concessioner qualifies as a Preferred Offeror for this Draft Contract. A Preferred Offeror may exercise a right of preference as defined in 36 CFR § 51.3. This right of preference allows a Preferred Offeror to match the terms and conditions of a competing responsive proposal for a Qualified Contract.

Questions and Answers

Questions in response to this prospectus are due in writing by 4:00pm (ET) on August 26, 2021, by email to e-mail us. Answers to questions received will be published under this Contract Opportunity on https://sam.gov/. An intent to submit an electronic proposal is due in writing by 4:00pm (ET) on October 20, 2021, by email to e-mail us.

For additional information, including prospectus documents visit NPS Concessions

Concessions Prospectus for Patchogue Ferry Service to Watch Hill

Watch Hill is on the western edge of the Otis Pike Fire lsland High Dune Wilderness, directly across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, New York. Watch Hill offers a visitor center, family campground, ranger-led interpretive programs (including guided canoe trips), a small convenience store, snack bar, self-guiding nature trail, picnic area, and a lifeguarded beach during the summer only.

The distance between the Patchogue Ferry Terminal and Watch Hill is approximately 4.6 nautical miles. The trip takes approximately 40 minutes.

Proposals must be submitted electronically to the National Park Service. All proposals are due by 4:00pm (ET) on November 3, 2021, 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. Instructions for electronic submissions of a proposal are provided in the Proposal Instructions document of the prospectus.

Preferred Offeror

The Regional Director has determined, under 36 CFR § 51.36, that the Existing Concessioner qualifies as a Preferred Offeror for this Draft Contract. A Preferred Offeror may exercise a right of preference as defined in 36 CFR § 51.3. This right of preference allows a Preferred Offeror to match the terms and conditions of a competing responsive proposal for a Qualified Contract.

Questions and Answers

Questions in response to this prospectus are due in writing by 4:00pm (ET) on August 26, 2021, by email to e-mail us. Answers to questions received will be published under this Contract Opportunity on https://sam.gov/. An intent to submit an electronic proposal is due in writing by 4:00pm (ET) on October 20, 2021, by email to e-mail us.

For additional information, including prospectus documents visit NPS Concessions



Last updated: October 6, 2021

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