National Park Service Invites Proposals to Operate the Smokemont Riding Stable Concession

Date: January 8, 2016
Contact: Public Affairs Office, [phone]

The Southeast Region of the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus seeking proposals for the award of a concession contract to operate Smokemont Riding Stables within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The new concession contract is expected to begin on January 1, 2017 and will be awarded for a ten year term.

The services that will be required under the new contract include guided horseback rides, wagon and/or carriage rides along with vending and firewood, ice and souvenirs sales. Smokemont is located along Newfound Gap Road approximately 6 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina. 

The current stable operations have been run by the existing contract holder, Elizabeth Burns Cook, since 2008. This contract is set to expire on December 31, 2016. Under the terms of the NPS Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, concession contracts must be awarded through a competitive selection process. The prospectus explains the business opportunities and the terms and conditions under which the NPS will award the concession contract. Pursuant to 36 CFR, Part 51, the NPS Director has determined the existing concessioner is a “preferred offeror” who is eligible to exercise a right of preference for the award of the draft contract.

Any proposal, including that of the existing concessioner, must be received by the Chief of Commercial Services, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama St, SW, Bldg 1924, Atlanta, GA, 30303 by 4:00 p.m. ESTonWednesday, March 23, 2016, in order to be evaluated and considered for award of the Concession Contract.

The prospectus is available at http://www.concessions.nps.gov/prospectuses.htm. Hard copies will be available upon request for a printing cost recovery charge. The fee is $50.00 per copy to be delivered via Federal Express or $45.00 per copy if picked up in person. Persons interested in obtaining a prospectus can submit payment by mail or in person via a check or money order made payable to the NPS. Cash will not be accepted. You must include a business address (no post office box) and telephone number to receive a Federal Express package. For personal pick up please contact Molly Schroer, Concessions Specialist, Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 865-436-1209 or Bill Stevens, Chief of Commercial Services, Southeast Region, NPS, in Atlanta at 404-507-5636 prior to arrival.

If you have obtained your prospectus from the website, please advise Bill Stevens, Chief of Commercial Services, at 404-507-5636 of your contact information in order to receive future responses to questions or amendments to the prospectus. Those requesting a hard copy or who have been placed on the mailing list will be provided with any additional information specific to the prospectus in writing. Information relative to the solicitation will also be posted to the above mentioned website.