Channel Islands National Park (Guided Water Float Tours, Retail, and Snorkeling Equipment Rentals)

Solicitation of a Concession Business Opportunity to Operate Guided Water Float Tours, Retail, and Snorkeling Equipment Rentals within Channel Islands National Park

The National Park Service has released on March 19, 2026, a business opportunity soliciting proposals to award a new ten (10) year concession contract to operate Guided Water Float Tours, Retail, and Snorkeling Equipment Rentals within Channel Islands National Park.

Site Visit

The NPS will host a site visit for entities interested in bidding on the opportunity on April 2, 2026. The site visit provides interested entities an overview of the concession operation and a tour of the Concession Facilities (land and real property improvements assigned to the concessioner under the Draft Contract).

Registration is required to attend the site visit. To register, email Mark Juretschke, Financial Analyst, National Park Service, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, at e-mail us, along with a courtesy copy to John Hansen, Concessions Management Specialist, Channel Islands National Park, at e-mail us, no later than 12:00 pm (Pacific Time) on March 30, 2026. You must provide your name, contact information, the name of the entity interested in submitting a proposal that you represent, the primary contact for the entity, and the number and names of people in your party. Due to space constraints, the NPS limits the number of site visit attendees to a total of five (5) people per interested entity.

Site visit participants are responsible for obtaining their lodging, meals, and transportation to the Concession Facilities. Organizations should note the Concession Facilities are located on Santa Cruz Island and transportation can be obtained through Island Packers, which operates ferry service to and from the mainland. Organizations should book passage on the vessel as early as possible as space is limited. Attendance at the site visit is encouraged, but not required, to submit a proposal.

Questions Due

The NPS will not answer questions about this prospectus or business opportunity during registration or the site visit. Interested entities must submit questions in writing after the release of the prospectus to the contact person and by the deadline that will be provided in the prospectus. Interested entities are asked not to interfere with concessioner operations during the site visit and not to film, record or photograph concessioner employees or concessioner operations.

Questions regarding the prospectus must be received, in writing, no later than 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on April 10, 2026. Email your questions to Mark Juretschke, Financial Analyst, Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12 at e-mail us.

Notification of Intent to Propose

Any interested party intending to submit a proposal must submit a "Notice of Intent to Propose" as described in the Business Opportunity and Proposal Instructions, no later than 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 28, 2026.

Submission of an Electronic Proposal

The NPS is ONLY accepting electronic proposals in response to this prospectus. Any proposal must be received electronically, no later than 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on June 25, 2026, in the format outlined in the Proposal Instructions, to be evaluated for award of the new concession contract.

Contact List

The prospectus is available below. If you choose to retrieve a copy of the prospectus, please notify Mark Juretschke at e-mail us so you are placed on the mailing list to receive notifications of any future modifications or correspondence.

Prospectus Files

Draft Contract and Exhibits

Appendix Files