NAPA, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation announces that the bidding period is now open for a business opportunity (Prospectus) for recreation development and operation
at Markley Cove located at Lake Berryessa in Napa County. Reclamation is requesting proposals from interested parties for the development and long-term
management of concession facilities and services at Markley Cove. This business will be conducted under the terms and conditions of long-term concession
contracts between the successful bidder and Reclamation.
Concession operations at Lake Berryessa were selected as the preferred management option in the 2006 Visitor Services Plan Record of Decision. Information
about Lake Berryessa may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/.
The business opportunity includes a full-service marina, overnight lodging, pleasure boat rentals, retail sales, restaurant, day use facilities and other
services. Some operations may be seasonal while others will be year-round. Bidders may also suggest other appropriate facilities/activities as part of
their unique proposals. Several relevant planning documents and reference materials are available for review on the Markley Cove Prospectus website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/markley-cove-prospectus.html.
Reclamation will provide two opportunities for prospective offerors to tour the existing facilities and submit questions regarding the Prospectus. A
walk-through of the property will be made available on Tuesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. A second walk-through will be made available on Wednesday, May 25, at 10
a.m. Participants will meet at Markley Cove, 7521 State Highway 128, Napa CA 94558.
Proposals will be accepted for 45 days, from Friday, May 13, to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 27, 2016.
Please visit at the Federal Business Opportunity website to view the Prospectus and for information on submitting a business proposal. Please visithttps://www.fbo.gov/ and search for Keyword/Solicitation #MP-16-MC1.
With a business model committed to the provision of new facilities and services, Reclamation foresees outstanding commercial opportunities at Markley Cove,
which is readily accessible by millions of potential visitors; it is within a 3-hour drive of San Francisco, Sacramento and other population centers in
California. The location, environment, scenic vistas, a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities and proximity to other tourist destinations,
including the Napa Valley, make this a desirable location for land- and water-based commercial recreation services. These services are expected to show
immediate visitor demand, with current occupancy levels on rental boat slips at existing Lake Berryessa marinas near 100 percent and existing waiting lists
for marina slips indicative of a high interest in having a boat moored at the lake. Together, this presents a financially viable business opportunity with
outstanding growth potential over the term of the next concession contract.
Lake Berryessa is the reservoir for the Solano Project, which is owned by Reclamation and operated under a cooperative agreement by the Solano County Water
Agency/Solano Irrigation District. The project provides flood control protection, generates hydropower, provides a high-quality water supply for
irrigation, and provides municipal and industrial supply for the cities of Vacaville, Suisun City, Vallejo and Fairfield.
At capacity, Lake Berryessa stores 1.6 million acre-feet of water and is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in California. The lake is 23 miles long
and 3 miles wide, with 165 miles of shoreline. Reclamation oversees the management of a 2,000-acre wildlife area along the east side of the lake. Nestled
between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs, east of the Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa offers year-round recreation opportunities for boating and water sports,
fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing and sightseeing. Popular Reclamation-operated recreation facilities include expansive day use areas,
a visitor center and launch ramps, as well as hiking trails and dispersed lake access sites.
For additional information, please contact Jonathan Friedman, Chief, Recreation Resources Division, Central California Area Office, at 916-989-7128 (TTY
800-877-8339), jfriedman@usbr.gov, or fax 916-989-7208.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
