SOLICITATION FOR A CONCESSION BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR CANOE AND KAYAK RENTAL AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORTATION (SHUTTLE) SERVICES WITHIN BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER.

The National Park Service (NPS) is issuing a concessions Prospectus on November 7, 2024, for twelve concession contracts to provide canoe and kayak rental and associated transportation (shuttle) services within Buffalo National River. The Prospectus explains the business opportunity and the terms and conditions under which the NPS will award the Concession Contract. The Prospectus will be available at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/prospectuses.htm.

The Director has determined that Preferred Offeror status exists for 10 of the 12 contracts being awarded with this Prospectus and Draft Contract, pursuant to the terms of 36 C.F.R. Part 51. The NPS will not hold a formal site visit. Offerors are encouraged to visit Buffalo National River on their own to become familiar with the concessioner-operated canoe and kayak rental services and transportation (shuttle) services, the surrounding area and communities, and Park environment.

All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing to Kelly Kager, Commercial Services Management Specialist, via email (kelly_kager@nps.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time on December 9, 2024. Responses will be posted on this site.

If you plan to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, you must notify Kelly Kager, Commercial Services Management Specialist, via email (kelly_kager@nps.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time on January 14, 2025. THE SERVICE WILL NOT ACCEPT PROPOSALS FROM ENTITIES THAT DO NOT PROVIDE NOTICE OF THEIR INTENT TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL ON OR BEFORE THAT DATE AND TIME.

To receive amendments to this Prospectus, please provide Concessions Management Specialist Kelly Kager via email at Kelly_Kager@nps.gov with your contact information (name, email address, and phone number). The NPS will send any additional information specific to the Prospectus in writing, via email, to those interested parties who have been placed on the contact list. Information relative to the solicitation will also be posted to the above-mentioned website.

In order to be evaluated and considered for award of the concession contract, any proposal must be received by the National Park Service, Interior Regions 3, 4, 5, 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Attention: Concessions Management Specialist Kelly Kager by 4:00 p.m. (Central Time) on February 11, 2025, as outlined in the Proposal Instructions of the Prospectus.

AMENDMENT 1: NPS responses to Questions submitted regarding Buffalo National River Prospectus CC-BUFFXXX-26 1. Question: The contract is to begin in 2026 and the headings reflect that, however, in the Proposal Instructions section 2)b), it states: To maintain a right of preference, where one exists, for a specific contract, an Existing Concessioner must submit a responsive proposal for the contract number that it held as of January 1, 2023. For example, if you held CC-BUFF002-13, apply for CC-BUFF002-25 to maintain a right of preference.” Should this be CC-BUFF002-26?

NPS response: Yes, that is correct, in order to maintain your right of preference, if you hold CC-BUFF002-13, you should be applying for CC-BUFF002-26, not 25. It was a typo on the part of the NPS.

2. Question: In the current proposal package there are no excel files; however, in the proposal instructions Section 3) a) states: “Submission Protocol. Submit three (2) identical hard copies and one electronic copy, identical to the hard copy. In order to facilitate discussion and review of proposals among evaluation panel members, the electronic copy must be in a format that can be shared, copied, and passed easily.

Microsoft Office programs or an Adobe PDF electronic version that allows for copying and pasting of text using Adobe Reader software are acceptable. However, you must provide all financial spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel in the format provided. In the event of a discrepancy between the electronic copy and the hard copies, information on the hard copies will control.” The current Prospectus does not include any excel files, do we need to provide financial information in an excel format?

NPS response: Because the Prospectus does not include any excel files for financial data, an Offeror is not required to provide that data in an excel file, but it can be provided in the tabular format included within the Prospectus.