Commercial Use Authorizations

The West Beach Bath House sits on the dunes. Beyond is the blue water of Lake Michigan.  Authorized Service Provides is written in a banner across the bottom left of the image.
The dunes and bath house at West Beach.

NPS Photo

Do Business With Indiana Dunes National Park

Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA)

Would you like to operate a business at Indiana Dunes National Park? Become one of our Commercial Use Authorization Service Providers. Read below to find out how.


For a list of our current providers with Commerical Use Authorizations click on our Directory of Commercial Use Authorizations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

A commercial use authorization (CUA) allows you to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park unit. A CUA is required if you provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for park visitors that take place at least in part on lands managed by the NPS; use park resources; and result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit to you, when a concession contract is not necessary. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:

  • are determined to be an appropriate use of Indiana Dunes National Park;
  • will have minimal impact on Indiana Dunes National Park's resources and values; and
  • are consistent with Indiana Dunes National Park's purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.

A CUA is 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:

  • take place at least in part in Indiana Dunes National Park,
  • use park resources, and
  • result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.

Businesses and individuals may not conduct commercial activities in the park without a valid CUA or in a manner inconsistent with the terms of an approved CUA.

The authorization is issued to an operator to permit the provision of suitable commercial services to park area visitors. The superintendent determines if an operator has the ability to satisfactorily provide visitor services and carry out the terms of the CUA.

The superintendent determines that the commercial services are “suitable”; that is they (a) will have minimal impact on park area’s resources and values; (b) are consistent with the purposes for which the park area was established; and, (c) are consistent with all applicable park area management plans, policies, and regulations.

The holder must agree to comply with all of the general and specific conditions described in the CUA conditions and operating plans. You should familiarize yourself with these documents before applying for a CUA.

The following services have been pre-approved for CUAs: 

  • Hiking/Walking - Frontcountry (Formerly known as Outdoor Education before 2024)
  • Fitness New Service (Formerly combined with Outdoor Education before 2024)
  • Food and Beverage (Formerly known as Mobile Food and Beverage before 2024)
  • Camping - New Service (Formerly combined with Outdoor Education before 2024)
  • Boat Tours - non-motorized (Formerly known as Guided non-motorized vessels before 2024)
  • Equipment Rental - New Service for 2024

Did you have an idea for a CUA service not on this list?  Let's chat!! Call 219-395-1844 or email e-mail us to discuss.

All activity- and service-based CUAs are issued for up to one year. The CUA operating year is from January 1 to December 31.

Applications will be accepted beginning October 1st of the year prior to the operating year and will be accepted throughout the operating year. Please submit complete application packets 30 days before your first trip in the park.

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 and 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):

  • Less than $250,000: 3% of gross receipts
  • Between $250,000 and $500,000: 4% of gross receipts in addition to the prior amount
  • Over $500,000: 5% of gross receipts in addition to the two prior amounts

“Gross receipts” means the total of all revenues received from services a CUA holder is authorized to provide within Indiana Dunes National Park.

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.

National Park Service Policy requires the Superintendent to charge a reasonable fee for CUAs. The park retains such fees to help pay for the cost of the CUA program, including administration, evaluations, monitoring, and training.

Annual Financial Reports and Management Fee Calculation Forms, which cover the operating year and require reporting of gross receipts and visitors served for each month of that year, are due by January 31st following the end of the operating year. A separate Financial Report and Management Fee Calculation forms are required for each activity a CUA holder has a CUA for. Annual Financial Report and Management Fee Calculation forms will be available by October 1st of each operating year. The Concessions Management Office will review all Annual Report and Management Fee Calculation Fee Forms for accuracy and inform the CUA holder when payment of management fees can be made.
Call the Concessions Management Office at 219-395-1844 for more information.

All CUA Applications take placing online using the CUA Application Portal.

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.

NPS policy states that Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) or Special Use Permit (SUP) holders cannot require visitors (clients) to waive their right to hold them responsible for actions. “Waivers of Liability” will not be accepted, and the use of such documents will disqualify operators from acquiring a permit. Additionally, the use of any such waivers will immediately render any previously issued permits null and void.
  1. The Holder is not permitted to require clients to sign a waiver of liability statement or form, insurance disclaimer and/or indemnification agreement.
  2. The Holder is permitted to request or require clients to sign an acknowledgment of risk statement or form prior to participation.
  3. The Holder may require or request a client sign a form or statement indicating that the client has certain prerequisite skills that may be required to participate in the commercial activity.
  4. If the Holder uses an acknowledgment of risk form, a current copy of the form must be sent to the Commercial Services Office for written approval prior to issuance of the CUA or SUP.

A CUA or SUP will not be approved if the Acknowledgment of Risk for is not approved by the park.

You may use the following form to add your information in the appropriate spaces, however, do not change the document text, as this will delay the approval of your permit while the form is reviewed. The use of any other Acknowledgment of Risk will require review and approval from the Office of the Regional Solicitor and may experience significant delay.

Approved Visitor Acknowledgement of Risk form
 
Low profile shot of the waterline. Sand and pebbles can be seen. The words Authorized Commerical Service Applications is superimposed over the photo.
Low profile shot of the shoreline. Sand and pebbles can be seen as the water gently laps to the shore. The words Authorized Commerical Service Applications is superimposed over the photo.

S. Rossi - NPS Photo

CUA Application Process

Processing time for CUA permits can take an average of up to four weeks.
All applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.
A CUA does not provide the vendor with exclusive rights to provide a service in the park. The CUA runs on a calendar year. Any incomplete applications will be placed on hold until all required documents are received.

Submitting Your Application

Click the following link to become an authorized Commerical Service Operator by applying for a Commerical Use Authorization at Indiana Dunes National Park. The following services have been pre-approved for 2024:

  • Hiking/Walking - Frontcountry (Formerly known as Outdoor Education)
  • Fitness New Service (Formerly combined with Outdoor Education)
  • Food and Beverage (Formerly known as Mobile Food and Beverage)
  • Camping - New Service (Formerly combined with Outdoor Education)
  • Boat Tours - non-motorized (Formerly known as Guided non-motorized vessels)
  • Equipment Rental - New Service

Learn How to Apply for a CUA

Watch the video below to learn how to apply for a Commerical Use Authorization at Indiana Dunes National Park.

 
Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details
Duration:
18 minutes, 31 seconds

This video shows how a business can apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit through an online system.

Last updated: December 21, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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