FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Kettle Falls Marina Concessions Contract Solicitation for Business Opportunity
LAKE ROOSEVELT National Recreation Area
Concession related background, questions, or statements:
The purpose of concessioners in parks is to provide necessary and appropriate visitor services that government agencies do not traditionally provide. Generally these are overnight accommodations, food and beverage, and retail services, but may also include other services such as guided trips, transportation services, auto fuel, and a variety of other services, depending on the park.
The purpose of the prospectus process is to solicit the opportunity for the operation of services and facilities to interested parties competitively and find the best offer that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of the contract.
General Contract Questions:
Q: What is the timeline to begin the new contract?
A: Solicitation for offers on the prospectus will be from June 28 to September 28, 2018. Offers on the prospectus will be paneled (or ranked) in October/November, with a selection made in early 2019. The new contract will begin May 1, 2019.
Q: What is the term of the Contract?
A: The term of the contract will be for 10 years.
Process Questions:
Q: When was the prospectus open for bid and who could bid on it?
A: The solicitation for the prospectus opened on June 28, 2018 and is open to any company or individual interested in operating the facilities and services required by the Draft Contract.
Q: How many proposals were submitted in response to this prospectus?
A: The NPS does not release the number or names of Offerors that responded to the Prospectus to protect the government’s commercial interest and maintain the integrity of the evaluation and selection process.
Q: From whom were proposals submitted in response to this prospectus?
A: Contractor proposals are protected under federal law. Since the process was cancelled and no decision was made, the NPS will not release the number or names of Offerors that responded to the Prospectus to protect the government’s commercial interest and maintain the integrity of the evaluation and selection process.
Q: Who will make the selection? OR How is the selection made?
A: An evaluation panel, made up of NPS employees (excluding park employees) and technical advisors, analyzes the proposals received and provided a recommendation to the Regional Director. The Regional Director will make the final decision in accordance with the provisions of the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (1998 Act). The 1998 Act made a number of changes in how concession contracts are awarded in order to enhance competition.
Q: When will the Contract be available to the public?
A: The prospectus for the contract will be available to the public from June 28 to September 28, 2018.
Q: What are the next steps for the NPS in this area?
A: The NPS will develop an evaluation panel, made up of regional NPS employees (excluding park employees) and technical advisors, to analyze the proposals received and provide a recommendation to the Regional Director. The Regional Director will make the final decision in accordance with the provisions of the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (1998 Act). The 1998 Act made a number of changes in how concession contracts are awarded in order to enhance competition.
Other Q&A
Q: Why isn’t the National Park Service simply extending the existing contract?
A: NPS concession management operations is directed by the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (1998 Act), which only allows extension of existing contract up to three years. There is no provision with in the law allowing for long-term extensions of existing contracts.
Q: What are the services to be offered under the new contract?
A: Existing services of fuel sales, store, Marina sewage pump-out, and slip rental for moorage will be required. Other services such as houseboats and marine craft rentals, primitive lodging, mast raising services, water taxi service for backcountry camping, remote on-lake sewage pump-out services, and interpretive boat tours.
Q: What if I have a reservation for boat rental in the 2019 season and the new concession does not offer houseboat rentals?
A: The existing concessioner is authorized to receive reservations for houseboat rentals for the 2019 season; this is contingent on the incoming concessioner’s option to provide houseboat rentals. If the incoming concession does not provide for houseboat rentals, then the exiting concessionaire shall cancel the advance reservations for 2019. All reservations will be cancelled and reservation holders must work with Lake Roosevelt Vacations, Inc. for full refunds. Alternative locations for boat rentals include Seven Bays Marina, Keller Ferry, or the Spokane Tribe’s Two River Marina.
Q: If the incumbent concessioner does not get the new contract, how long will they have to remove their property from the park?
A: Under their contract they have 30 days from the April 30 contract expiration date to remove all personal property from the park.
