NPS Photo Key Dates for this Request for ProposalsRFP Release Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 SUMMARY OF LEASING OPPORTUNITYThis Request for Proposals (RFP) provides the opportunity for any interested individual or organization, hereinafter referred to as “Offeror” to submit proposals to the National Park Service (NPS, ‘Lessor’) to lease NPS property at Gateway National Recreation Area for a Commercial Use under the following general terms and conditions.The selected Offeror (Offeror, ‘you’, ‘your’) will have exclusive negotiation rights to enter a lease based on the attached Sample Lease (See Attachment A). Elements of your proposal may be incorporated into the Lease at Lessor’s discretion.Overview of Property Offered for LeaseHistoric Hangars 5, 6, 7, and 8 are located in the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The area in which they are located, Floyd Bennett Field, is a National Register Historic District. The hangars have been repurposed as a sports and event center and are located at 3159 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, between the Belt Parkway and Marine Parkway Bridge. The sports and events center is located in a National Park System Unit in an area that is open to the public.Hangars 5 & 6 and Hangars 7 & 8 are connected by a steel frame infill, creating a 117,000 sq. ft. (16,300 m2) indoor recreation facility. Though the Hangars are historic structures, the infill is not. The two-floor facility contains two regulation sized ice-hockey rinks, gymnasiums used for basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics, offices, a pro shop, a snack bar, a lounge area, event space, gyms, locker rooms, a climbing wall, and two outdoor above-ground swimming pools.Additional recreation fields and facilities included in the Premises include the Chiller Building, South Football Field, North Football Field, South Bleachers, North Bleachers, Playing Field East Shed, and Playing Field West Shed. The sports and events center area also includes free parking for 2,000 cars, additional traffic circulation infrastructure, fencing, lights, and scoreboards. 
NPS Image Permitted Use of the Lease PremisesNPS intends to authorize the continued operation of the facility and associated lands as a sports center, recreational facility, and related event venue, however NPS will consider additional proposed uses so long as such uses are determined by the NPS, in its sole discretion, to be lawful and consistent with the purposes established by law for the park area. In addition to the sports and events facility, areas authorized for use will include sports fields, walkways, and some parking areas. Any outdoor large-scale special events require prior NPS written approval, which is subject to authorization at NPS’ sole discretion.The area is subject to the general supervision and inspection of the NPS and to rules and regulations regarding ingress, egress, safety, sanitation, and security. The Lessee shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Premises and any improvements to the Premises that may be necessary during the term of the proposed Lease. Required Use of the Lease PremisesThe Lease will require the continued use and operation of at least one of the ice rinks. Key Information About This Leasing OpportunityUse of the Facilities to Date: The facilities are underutilized. The NPS is seeking an operator who can improve the facility, the offerings available, and the opportunity as a whole.
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JurisdictionThe sports and event center is located in an area subject to concurrent law enforcement jurisdiction. Under concurrent jurisdiction, the U.S. Park Police and the Police Department of The City of New York (NYPD) share the governmental authority for law enforcement purposes, and unless otherwise stated, the laws of both governments are applicable.The Lessee must comply, at its sole cost and expense, with all Applicable Laws and Requirements (including Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, requirements, and policies) in fulfilling its obligations under the Lease.It is the responsibility of the Lessee to determine whether it is subject to specific taxes and assessments and abide by those applicable statutes. Any comments made by the NPS in this RFP do not alter those responsibilities, if any, nor should they be construed to take a position nor express a view on behalf of the Lessee.Term of the LeaseThe term of the proposed lease is negotiable but may not exceed sixty (60) years. Applicants should propose a term as short as possible in light of the value of the Improvements they propose to make to the facility. The NPS will consider offers with shorter terms more favorably. The cost of Improvements identified by selected Applicants should be supported by credible estimates based on industry standards. The lease term will commence as soon as possible following selection of the best offer, completion of lease negotiations, and execution of a lease.RentThe Lessee is required by law to pay, at minimum, a Fair Market Value Rent (FMVR) to NPS. Offerors should identify the amount of Rent they proposed to pay in connection with this opportunity. The NPS may provide rental offsets for capital improvements. The final rent payment schedule will be negotiated with the selected Offeror. NOTE: The Lessor may pro-rate rent in the event portions of the facility are inaccessible as a result of Lessor’s commencement of water intrusion correction projects.InsuranceDuring the term of this Lease, the Lessee shall maintain General Liability, Property & Casualty, Worker’s Compensation & Employer’s Liability, and Business Interruption & Extra Expense insurance in amounts set by the Lessor. Further information regarding insurance requirements can be found in Attachment A (Sample Lease). Lessee’s insurance coverage amounts will be periodically reviewed by the Lessor. These reviews will ensure the Lessee has appropriate coverage in light of any changing circumstances. At Lease commencement, Lessee must provide proof of property insurance in the amount sufficient to provide loss, damage, and destruction coverage for a facility of this size, scope, and use, as well as proof of commercial general liability insurance in the amount of not less than $3,000,000 single/$5,000,000 aggregate, with additional excess liability insurance [umbrella] necessary to provide adequate coverage or protection consistent with industry standards.UtilitiesThe Lessee is solely responsible for all utilities including telephone, cable, and internet access. Subject to advance written approval by the Lessor of any utility service, the Lessee at its sole expense shall make all arrangements with appropriate utility providers (including the Lessor where applicable), for all utilities not provided by the Lessor and furnished to the Premises. Any utility service provided by Lessor will be subject to the Lessor’s established policies and procedures for provision of utility services to third parties.Note: Over the last 5+ years, the cost of utilities for the Lease Premises has ranged from $850K - $1.086MM annually.Maintenance ResponsibilitiesLessee’s Responsibilities
Potential Improvement Projects
Key PersonnelLessee shall be required to maintain and provide to NPS an updated list of its qualified and experienced personnel, including a list of all contractors and subcontractors utilized in connection with the authorized activity.Premises ConditionFacility will be delivered to Lessee, “As-is, with all faults.”ContractorsLessee may utilize contractors to perform repairs, replacements, and improvements, and to provide event services.
SustainabilityThe Park manages its sustainability program under an Environmental Management System, which sets forth goals ranging from solid waste and energy conservation to renewable energy and climate change education.
Other Terms and ConditionsThe proposed terms and conditions of the offered Lease are as described in Attachment A, “Sample Lease” to this RFP and are consistent with 36 CFR Part 18.Competitive ProcessThis Lease opportunity is on a competitive basis. The Offeror who submits the proposal judged best under the proposal selection criteria will be given an opportunity to negotiate a Lease with NPS. To be selected by the NPS you must demonstrate that you have the capacity to plan, carry out, and finance your proposal. Evaluation criteria and the process for selecting the Lessee are described in detail in the “Proposal Selection Criteria” and “Evaluation and Selection Process” below. The NPS reserves the right to reject one or all proposals or terminate lease negotiations at any time prior to executing a final lease without penalty or liability.Appointments-Only Site Tour and Additional InformationPlease use the following Microsoft Form link to express your interest in attending a site tour and to submit any questions regarding the RFP or the Lease Premises: https://forms.office.com/g/QA2X7wbcRv [AT1] Questions from interested parties will be answered via Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). FAQs, RFP, and attachments are posted here: Do Business With Us - Gateway National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)Questions must be submitted by the dates provided on the first page of this RFP.NPS reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, for its own convenience, and in NPS’ sole discretion, to cause or undertake any or all of the following:
Proposal Submission ProtocolProposals must be submitted electronically to e-mail us. Telephonic proposals, faxes, e-mails to other addresses, and other means of transmittal will not be considered. Proposals that are not received at the designated electronic address by the specified deadline will not be considered. NPS will not consider hardcopy proposals. Proposals will not have been deemed received until NPS issues a written response confirming same. Please refer to the Proposals Considered Public Documents section, in this RFP if you believe that a proposal contains trade secrets or confidential commercial and financial information that you do not want to be made public.AuthorityThe NPS has the authority to lease historic property through the Historic Leasing Authority (54 USC 306121), as well as the authority to lease NPS-administered buildings and associated property pursuant to the National Park Service General Leasing Authority (54 USC Ch. 1021).This RFP is issued pursuant to Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 18, Leasing of Properties in Park Areas (36 CFR Part 18). This RFP and the offered lease are subject to and incorporate all terms and conditions of Part 18 as applicable. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this RFP and Part 18, Part 18 controls.NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREAThe United States National Park Service was created by Congress to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Additionally, Congress has declared that the National Park System should be “preserved and managed for the benefit and inspiration of all the people of the United States.” To learn more about the National Park Service, visit our website at www.nps.gov. This site includes information about who we are, our mission, NPS policies and individual parks.Gateway National Recreation Area (Gateway) was established in 1972 as the nation’s first urban National Park. Gateway is comprised of three park Units in two states - the Jamaica Bay and Staten Island units in New York, and the Sandy Hook Unit in New Jersey.FLOYD BENNETT FIELDThe Floyd Bennett Field Historic District has remained virtually unchanged in appearance since it was constructed between 1928 and 1931. The historic district includes the Administration Building with its distinctive control tower (now the Ryan Visitor Center), eight original hangers, the central runway system, and several dependent buildings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and is associated with “America’s Golden Age of Aviation.” Floyd Bennett Field was the first municipal airport in New York City and was, at one point, the second busiest airport in the country. Following the opening of Idlewild (now John F. Kennedy International) Airport in 1939, Floyd Bennett Field was closed to commercial use and was conveyed to the U.S. Navy in 1941. Although the Navy enlarged the field, the original complex of steel frame and brick hangars and support buildings has not been substantially altered, and thus Floyd Bennett Field retains the architectural design and historic integrity of an early municipal airport.REQUIREMENTSProposals must be submitted electronically to: e-mail us Proposals must be submitted by the time and date provided on the first page of this Request for Proposals. The subject line should include the following: Historic Hangars 5, 6, 7, 8 Lease Proposal - [Your name or the name of your business entity or organization] (please do not include the brackets).Proposals are limited to 25 pages or less, not including attachments. Offerors should submit their proposal in electronic format as one cohesive document in the Adobe PDF format. The required Identification and Credit Information forms (either 10-352, 10-353, or 10-354), the required Financial Information for Revenue-Producing Uses Forms (10-355 and either 10-355A or 10-355B), financial statements, and credit reports should be incorporated into your PDF submission as attachments. If you do not have PDF management software, such as Adobe Acrobat, installed on your computer there are free websites, such as PDFCandy or PDFgear, that will allow you to convert other document types into PDFs and combine PDF documents. Proposals must be formatted to 8-1/2" x 11”-page size. Proposals submitted by mail, in-person delivery, telephone, fax, or other methods will not be considered.While there is no limit on the file size of your proposal (please note the 25-page limit described herein, excluding attachments), the total file size of the email submission, including all attachments, cannot exceed 40MB. If your proposal exceeds this limit, you must separate your document into smaller files and send them in separate emails. If you do this, please separate your proposal into as few files as possible and clearly name the files so they can be reassembled in your intended order.Effective proposals should be organized in the order of the Required Information detailed below and should contain clear, concise responses that address all the questions and requirements for each of the Selection Criterion listed in the RFP. Proposals that do not specifically answer all questions will be deemed non-responsive and will not be evaluated further.PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION GUIDELINESNPS Leasing Regulations, as provided in 36 CFR 18.8(e), require that proposals be evaluated pursuant to the below criteria:
PROPOSAL CONTENT AND CRITERIAProposals submitted in response to this RFP must follow the format described below. You are asked to answer questions or supply specific information in response to the specified items. Please label your responses correspondingly and respond fully and accurately to all questions and/or requests.Checklist of the Components of a Responsive Proposal
Required InformationOfferor IdentificationPlease fully identify the person(s) associated with your proposal, by providing: Name(s), address(es), telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), and fax number(s), if applicable. Your proposal must include a signed Transmittal Letter, a sample is provided in Attachment D. If your team consists of more than one individual, you should identify the primary contact for your group or organization. The NPS will send all communications to that contact person.Please complete and submit the applicable Identification and Credit Information Form contained in the Proposal Forms attached to this RFP for the entity and/or individuals that are to be the lessee and its principals. There are separate forms for individuals, sole proprietor businesses, and other business entities.Criterion 1: Proposed Use and Operations Consistent with National Park Service ValuesThis section should address the proposed use or uses of the property and should establish the Offeror’s overall vision for the proposed concept. Furthermore, it should explain why such use is compatible with the preservation, protection, and visitor enjoyment of the park area.
Criterion 2: Improvements, Maintenance, and Preservation of the Historic Quality of the PropertyThis section should describe your concept for improvements to the Lease Premises and how they will enhance your proposed use. Your response must show how you plan to take full responsibility for all repairs and maintenance of the property. Additionally, any work performed on the structure must conform to all applicable standards, including the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Property.
Criterion 3: Financial Capability of the OfferorThis section should demonstrate Offerors are capable of making the financial investment required to fund what they propose. Offerors must identify the manner by which they will fund the repairs and improvements and other start-up costs they propose for the premises.
Criterion 4: Demonstrated Experience Operating a Similar PropertyThis section should demonstrate your qualifications to provide top quality management of the Lease Premises. To be considered qualified, responsive, and responsible, an Offeror must submit the items listed below.
Criterion 5: Environmental EnhancementThis section should explain how you plan to use and manage the Lease Premises in an environmentally enhancing manner. At a minimum describe the ways in which you will address:
Criterion 6: Financial and Other Terms OfferedThis section should explain the financial and material benefit your proposed use will provide to the NPS. Due to NPS leasing regulations, no annual rent offer of an amount less than the Fair Market Value Rent (FMVR) can or shall be accepted.
EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESSThe National Park Service will review all responses to this RFP through an evaluation panel assisted by technical consultants as appropriate.All proposals will first be screened for adherence to the requirements of this RFP. The NPS will not consider non-responsive proposals. A non-responsive proposal is a proposal that was not timely submitted or fails to meet the material terms and conditions of this RFP as determined by the NPS. A non-responsive proposal is also one which Offeror’s responses are not included in the correct section. The NPS will only use information provided in the appropriate section of a proposal during the evaluation process, please organize your proposal carefully.It is the intention of the NPS to select the best responsive proposal as determined under the selection criteria without further submittals or presentations. If this cannot be done, the NPS will select those proposals that appear most suitable under the selection criteria and will request additional information or presentations from that group so that the best responsive proposal can be selected.NPS will negotiate the terms of the final Lease with the selected Offeror. Award of a Lease to that Offeror is not guaranteed but is dependent on successful negotiation of the final terms of the lease. If negotiations fail, NPS may negotiate with other Offerors for award of the Lease or terminate this solicitation without liability to any person.The NPS reserves the right to reject one or all proposals, terminate lease negotiations, or cancel this RFP Solicitation at any time prior to executing a final lease without penalty or liability.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND MODIFICATION OF PROPOSALSThe NPS may request from any Offeror additional information or written clarification of a proposal after the submission date. However, proposals may not be amended after the submission date unless permitted by the NPS. The NPS may not permit amendment of a proposal unless all Offerors that submitted responsive proposals are given an opportunity to amend their respective proposals.LEASE TERMS AND CONDITIONSTerm of LeaseThe Lease to be awarded under this RFP may not exceed a term of sixty (60) years. The Lease term will be negotiated and will be based on the value/cost of the estimated cost of improvements provided by the Offeror over Offeror’s proposed lease term. In accordance with applicable policy guidance, all leases with a term of five or more years must contain a CPI adjustment provision; and, and all leases with a term of fifteen or more years must contain a rent reconsideration provision.Lease ProvisionsThe Lease to be awarded under this RFP will contain the provisions required by 36 CFR Part 18 as well as other provisions determined by the NPS to be necessary to assure use of the leased property in a manner consistent with the purposes of the park area, and where applicable, to assure the preservation of historic property. Required provisions include, without limitation:
PROPOSALS CONSIDERED PUBLIC DOCUMENTSAll proposals submitted in response to this Prospectus may be disclosed by the Service to any person, upon request, to the extent required or authorized by the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C.§ 552). If you believe that your proposal contains trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, mark the cover page of each copy of the proposal with the following legend:“The information specifically identified on pages of this proposal constitutes trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information that the Offeror believes to be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The Offeror requests that this information not be disclosed to the public, except as may be required by law.”You must specifically identify what you consider to be trade secret information or confidential commercial or financial information on the page of the proposal on which it appears, and you must mark each such page with the following legend:“This page contains trade secrets or confidential commercial and financial information that the Offeror believes to be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and which is subject to the legend contained on the cover page of this proposal.”Information so identified will not be made public by the NPS except in accordance with law. The NPS does not warrant and assumes no liability for the accuracy of the information provided in this RFP.ELIGIBILITY:Applicants subject to existing legal authorizations must be compliant with current lease obligations in order to be eligible for this opportunity. Current lessees who have not satisfied reporting obligations, outstanding rent payments, or other lease obligations will not be considered eligible for this opportunity. Applicants who are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from a public transaction by a federal department or agency, or whose legal authorizations to undertake operations on park lands or to use and occupy park lands and facilities have been revoked, suspended, or terminated, or whose obligations for payments have been deemed delinquent and have been deferred to the United States Treasury, are not eligible for consideration.
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Last updated: July 3, 2025