First State National Historical Park seeks residential Property Management Company

News Release Date: August 5, 2016

Contact: Ethan McKinley, [phone]

Wilmington, DE: The National Park Service (NPS) is offering a unique opportunity to manage approximately 350 acres of leased property within the First State National Historical Park (FRST) through a Request For Proposals (RFP). The leased property includes eleven single family homes, four horse farms and approximately 240 acres of agricultural land.

In March 2013 an area of approximately 1,100 acres, located approximately 8 miles from Wilmington, DE, became public land and is now part of First State National Historical Park. The subject properties are within an area of the Park called the Beaver Valley Unit which includes a diverse natural and cultural landscape preserved by William P. Bancroft in the early 1900's. The landscape offers access to the Brandywine Creek, 18 miles of trails, stone foundations of past settlements and a patchwork of fields and forest created by historic and present day agricultural practices. 

"The new park has a small staff focused on creating accessible and meaningful visitor experiences, building partnerships to create a network to support our conservation mission, and protecting the natural and cultural resources that make the Park distinctive. So our staff can focus on those priorities, we are looking to outside resources to help manage the day-to-day needs of the leased facilities in cooperation with the Park", says Ethan McKinley, Superintendent at First State NHP. 

The Park is seeking proposals from property management companies to manage the leased properties in accordance with a master lease administered and supervised by First State NHP. The National Park Service will review the proposals and select the most qualified applicant to become the entity that will directly manage the leased properties within the Park. 

Those interested in this special opportunity to manage a diverse collection of property on public land are invited to submit a proposal. View the complete Request for Proposals, detailed information about the property, and submission requirements on NPS.gov/FRST. Registration by email for a pre-bid open house on August 26th, 2016, is due by 4:00 PM EST on August 19th, 2016. All proposals must be received at the address provided in the RFP by 11:00 AM EST on October 7th , 2016.