News Release

Concession Contract Solicitation for Food, Beverage and Retail Services Canceled

Date: May 6, 2021
Contact: Jerry Willis, [phone]

Liberty & Ellis Islands, NY/NJ – Due to the extended impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on visitation and the resultant changes to the conditions upon which the business opportunity described in the solicitation was based, the National Park Service (NPS) has canceled the concession contract solicitation for food and beverage and retail services at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island (CC-STLI004-20).    

36 C.F.R § 51.11 provides for cancellation of a solicitation if the NPS Director determines such action is appropriate in the public interest.   The concession contract envisioned by the solicitation is no longer possible given the economic consequences of ongoing pandemic restrictions. The deadline to receive offers was January 31, 2020.  The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island closed on March 16, 2020, due to NY State COVID-19 restrictions. A phased reopening of the islands began on July 20 with a grounds-only experience, and both museums reopened on August 24, 2020, with only a fraction of typical visitation.   As of May 2021, the statue remains closed and visitation is around 10% to 30% of normal.  

The NPS will conduct further planning and analysis of the food and beverage and retail operations and intends to release a new solicitation for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island food and beverage and retail services in late 2022.  

Concurrent with the cancellation, the NPS is entering into a three-year temporary contract (TC-STLI004-21) with the current concessioner, Evelyn Hill, Inc., to provide continued food and beverage and retail services at Liberty and Ellis islands for the period beginning May 1, 2021, and ending April 30, 2024. 
 

-NPS-