CUA Application Open Season
Applications for a CUA to operate in Wilderness within SEKI in 2026-2027 will be accepted during a designated 'open season' – beginning August 1, 2025 and ending at 11:59PM PST September 30, 2025. CUAs for commercial services in Wilderness will be authorized for a 2-year period, January 1, 2026 thru December 31, 2027. Complete applications must be received by September 30, 2025 to be considered for a 2026-2027 Wilderness CUA. Incomplete applications, or applications not received by the deadline will not be considered. Applicants will not be contacted regarding missing or late information after the deadline. Applicant requests for written, post award debriefs will be at the discretion of the Service.
Three-step NPS Qualification Process:
All complete applications will be reviewed using a 3-step qualification process.
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The first step represents an initial qualification to ensure that specific requirements for each authorized activity are met and the required information has been provided. During this initial qualification, the NPS will determine if the application is complete and meets the minimum qualifications as set forth in the Application Appendices (“Attachments A-D”). If the number of complete and qualified applications is less than or equal to the number of CUAs and CSD allocations available, the NPS will award the CUAs and CSD allocations to those qualified applicants. If the number of complete and qualified applications is more than the number of CUAs and CSD allocations available, the NPS will award the CUAs and CSD allocations using the competitive process described below in steps two and three.
**An additional application fee of $500 must be received by SEKI Commercial Services prior to moving on to steps two and three. Instructions to submit payment will be sent to qualified applicants.**
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The second step is the qualification round. The Superintendent will select the most highly qualified applicants on the basis of the applicant’s Narrative Response (Attachment B) explaining its experience and ability to meet and exceed the CUA requirements of: (1) resource protection; 2) safety, and; (3) relevant experience and operating history. Selected applicants will receive 2-year CUAs to operate within SEKI Wilderness. Operators with unsuccessful submissions will not be authorized to operate in SEKI in 2026-2027 but will have an opportunity to re-apply in 2027 for the 2028-2029 season.
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The third step is the CSD allocation round. 100% of total available Wilderness Wide and Mount Whitney Management Area CSDs will be awarded to selected applicants using a 2 step, “base” plus “competitive rounds” distribution model. A small percentage of the total CSDs are reserved in a ‘base allocation’ to be divided by the number of CSD allocations issued. The remaining percentage of CSDs are established in “competitive rounds” for optional, additional competitive distribution.
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Base Allocation: CSD allocations will be issued a fixed quantity of CSDs equal to a percentage of total CSDs divided by the number of CUAs issued; approximate to 13% of the total Wilderness Wide CSDs and 11% Mount Whitney Management Area available CSDs will be reserved for “base” allocations.
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Competitive Round Allocations: It is projected that additional Wilderness Wide and Mount Whitney Management Area CSD allocations will be allocated in a range of quantities (low, medium, high) to total the approximate remaining available CSDs for each category; 87% of Wilderness Wide CSDs and 89% of Mount Whitney Management Area CSDs. Applicants may elect to compete for more than one additional allocation quantity using Attachment C for stock or Attachment D for non-stock, however, a CUA awardee may receive a maximum of one additional competitive round CSD allocation in each location category; if competing in more than one competitive round category (low, medium, high) NPS will award the highest successful category.
CUA Confirmation and CSD Award
All CUA applicants will receive a response from the Commercial Services Office no later than 60 days after the application closing date. The NPS will email awardees a CUA for signature and acceptance of CSDs and operating terms and conditions. Applicants can accept the CUA award and CSD allocation or reject the base CSD allocation and forfeit the CUA award. If the applicant forfeits the CUA award, the applicant applications will not be authorized for operation January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
Application Documents
FAQ
Due to the nature of the Limited CUA Solicitation, all questions should be directed to the Commercial Services office and answers will be posted below for everyone to review.
Where do I find the applications?
- Both the Stock and Non-Stock applications are available in the CUA Portal. They are listed as “Hiking – backcountry” and “Horse/Mule/Other Livestock Rides or Services”
Can I email my application directly to the Commercial Services office?
- No – all applications must be submitted through the CUA Portal Website.
Can I edit my application after I submit it?
- No – make sure you have all documentation finalized and uploaded before submitting it in the Portal.
What if I need help using the CUA Portal?
- Review the Help video on the Portal or use the Request Assistance button at the bottom of the Help page.
How do I pay the $500 for Phase 2?
- If your application is qualified and complete, instructions will be emailed after September 30, 2025 with a link to pay the additional $500.
- DO NOT MAIL A CHECK TO THE COMMERCIAL SERVICES OFFICE.
How many CSDs are available to be allocated among the CUAs?
- The total number and allocation could be reevaluated by the panel, but for 2024-2025 there were:
- 4200 Wilderness Wide CSDs and 975 Mt Whitney Management Area CSDs, each year, for Non-Stock operators.
- 2200 Wilderness Wide CSDs and 650 Mt Whitney Management Area CSDs, each year, for Stock operators.
Please explain the Non-Stock CSD Allocation process in simpler terms.
- Applicants may select EITHER the Wilderness Wide CSD Allocation OR the Mt Whitney CSD Allocation OR both WW and MWMA. They are not tied to one another.
- If awarded a base allocation for Wilderness Wide CSDs, you may then also be awarded a second allocation - either High, Medium, or Low.
- If awarded a base allocation for Mt Whitney CSDs, you may then also be awarded a second allocation - either High or Low.
- A base allocation does not guarantee you an additional award, but operators are typically awarded a second allocation.
- Please select the second allocation category appropriate for your planned use (ie. if you do not anticipate needing 400+ CSDs, do not select the High category for WW, instead select Medium or Low, based on your anticipated trips).
- Note - once operators book out their season, some will return "extra" CSDs they don't plan to use. These CSDs will be made available through a First Come First Served Monthly offering, typically starting in April or May. Operators may only request extra CSDs for the management area awarded during the initial application process. If you do not select Mt Whitney on your application and receive a base allocation, you cannot request CSDs for Mt Whitney during the FCFS process.
- Note - review the description of De Minimis use in the CUA Conditions - operators who are awarded the base allocation for Mt Whitney Management Area, are authorized for De Minimis entry in the zone.
What if I have more questions?
- Email the Commercial Services office and check back on this page periodically for updated FAQ. The application window is open through September 30 so there is not a rush to submit.
