Providing Visitor Services Through CUAs

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.

Leasing/concession management/CUA management are part of the NPS Commercial Services Program.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Also visit the Commercial Service Program News Feed and Greenline News Update.

Interagency Annual Passes and Park-Specific Annual Passes Move to One Signature

Beginning January 1, 2024, America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (Interagency) Annual Passes and NPS Park-Specific Annual Passes will have one signature line for a single passholder. Removing the option for a second signature will reduce fraud and make all passes consistent.

Passholders must be present when the pass is used. When charged per vehicle, annual passes will cover entrance fees for one vehicle or one motorcycle. When charged per person, each annual pass will cover entrance fees for the passholder and three adults (16 and over). Passes are not transferable.

Online CUA Application and Reporting System

NPS is excited to announce the development of an online CUA system designed to standardize, modernize, and streamline the CUA application and reporting process. The system allows potential CUA applicants and CUA holders to view all available CUA opportunities, apply for CUAs, submit required CUA reports, and pay CUA fees. Learn more about the online CUA system on the Applying for a CUA page.

Update on implementation of EO 14026

To ensure compliance with an applicable nationwide injunction pending appeal, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the NPS will take no action to implement or enforce the implementing regulations for Executive Order 14026 of April 27, 2021, (Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors), codified at 29 C.F.R. part 23, in the context of seasonal recreational services or seasonal recreational equipment rental for the general public on federal lands provided under NPS concession contracts, commercial use authorizations, and commercial leases. This includes those contracts, CUAs and leases that we issued following issuance of the EO and before the injunction or otherwise contain a clause regarding EO 14026 compliance.

Update on implementation of EO 14042

For existing contracts or contract-like instruments including concession contracts, commercial use authorizations and leases (hereinafter “contracts”) that contain a clause implementing requirements of Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors:

The Government will take no action to enforce the clause implementing requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from the agency, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”). In all other circumstances, the Government will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an Excluded State or Outlying Area. A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying Areas is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.