Business Opportunity Re-advertised

Date: March 11, 2011
Contact: Chip Jenkins, 360-854-7204

March 15, 2011: Prospectus Available at https://www.nps.gov/commercialservices

May 17, 2010: Site Visit

July 12, 2011: Proposals Due by 4:00 p.m. PDT

The National Park Service is re-advertising a business opportunity for commercial services within the Stehekin Valley at the head of Lake Chelan. This opportunity is for a concession contract to provide visitor services, including overnight accommodations, food, beverage, retail, fuel, and transportation services in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, a unit of North Cascades National Park Complex (https://www.nps.gov/noca). The National Park Service originally issued a prospectus last fall and is now re-advertising the business opportunity. Revisions have been made to the prospectus in an effort to create a more attractive contract.

A copy of the prospectus is available at https://www.nps.gov/commercialservices and proposals are due on July 12, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. PDT. A site visit to the Stehekin Landing Resort, with NPS staff,is scheduled for May 17, 2011. Questions about the prospectus must be submitted in writing and must be received by May 24, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. PDT.

Stehekin Landing Resort currently provides these concession services and will continue to be in full operation through October 31, 2011. The Stehekin Landing Resort is taking reservations for lodging and activities for the 2011 summer season. For more information and to make reservations, please visit their website at http://www.stehekinlanding.com.

Concessioners fill a vital role in helping the National Park Service carry out its mission by operating publicly owned facilities and offering high-quality commercial visitor services at reasonable prices. This business opportunity is a key component in supporting visitors to North Cascades National Park Complex and the Stehekin Valley.

Accessible only by foot, ferry or plane, Stehekin is a destination for relaxation, adventure, and family fun–providing an array of recreation opportunities, including bicycling, kayaking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and ranger-led activities. In addition to the majestic scenery, attractions include the 312-foot Rainbow Falls, Historic Buckner Homestead (orchard), and the dynamic Stehekin River.

The concessioner will be assigned a total of 21 buildings, including standard motel rooms, room with kitchenettes, a full-service newly remodeled restaurant, a general store and housing for concession employees. In addition, the concessioner will be assigned four heritage-style buses for providing tours and shuttle service within the Stehekin Valley.

"In recent years, significant improvements have been made to the buildings and facilities, providing a solid base for hospitality operations," said Chip Jenkins, Superintendent North Cascades National Park Complex.

The required services under this contract include overnight accommodations (29 lodging units), food and beverage services, retail services for limited groceries, souvenirs and supplies, transportation for shuttle services and Rainbow Falls Tours, operation of the public shower and laundry, and vehicle and boat fuel sales. Additional services are authorized, but not required, such as bicycle, boat and equipment rentals, guided instruction, water and vehicle taxi services, and other tours. The ten-year contract will start on or after November 1, 2011, but no later than March 1, 2012.

Summary of Changes to Contract Terms

This business opportunity was originally announced in September, 2010 and offers were accepted in response to this solicitation through January 19, 2011. Although the National Park Service received response, it determined the response was not sufficient to award a contract.  

The National Park Service has re-evaluated the prospectus and made revisions to attract more bids. For a complete list and description of the changes, please refer to the cover page of the new prospectus. Some of the changes include:

Flexible contract start date. Potential bidders now have the opportunity to propose a start date between November 1, 2010 and March 1, 2012.

Lower annual franchise fee. The franchise fee has been lowered from 6% to 5% of the concessioner's total annual gross receipts for the preceding year.

Removal of the maintenance reserve. The concessioner is no longer required to contribute 1% of their annual gross receipts to a maintenance reserve account.

Less required insurance coverage. The National Park Service has lowered the amount of general liability insurance necessary.    

The National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 requires the NPS to award concession contracts through a competitive bid process. A prospectus, which is a solicitation for proposals, for the commercial services in Stehekin describes the full list of services and requirements of the contract including the process for bidding. The prospectus documents can be downloaded from the commercial services website. For more information about submitting a proposal or to be placed on a mailing list to receive additional information specific to the prospectus, please contact Isabel Alvarado, Concessions Management Specialist, National Park Service, at [phone] or by email at e-mail us. Proposals must be received by July 12, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. PDT to be evaluated and considered for award.