The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking bids on a 10-year concession contract to provide transportation and other major visitor services in Denali National Park and Preserve. The proposed contract will have a term of Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2025.
The successful bidder will operate the fleet of buses that transport visitors into the interior of the park and serve the entrance area. Over 300,000 people ride the various bus systems every summer between late May - mid-September. The concessioner will also be required to operate food service facilities in the park’s entrance area, campgrounds, and other smaller services for visitors.
Terms of the new contract support the implementation of the park’s 2012 Vehicle Management Plan. “The park’s goal is to provide visitors with a high quality experience, while at the same time meeting our mission of protecting the park’s resources," said Superintendent Don Striker. “Changes in the new contract addressing issues such as scheduling, user-friendliness, and impacts on wildlife will help us meet this goal as Denali moves into its second century of being a superlative place to visit."
The contract requires an initial investment of approximately $24 million, which includes purchasing a portion of the incumbent concessioner’s bus fleet, interests in real property and other items. The new concessioner will also be required to pay at least an 11% franchise fee to the National Park Service and undertake a concession facilities improvement program costing between $6.25 million and $7.65 million.
Completed proposals must be received by the National Park Service by 4:00 pm Alaska Time on Monday, July 6, 2015 at National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Division of Concessions Management, 240 West 5th Avenue #114, Anchorage, AK 99501.
The prospectus announcement can be viewed on-line at https://concessions.nps.gov/dena001-16.htm. Hard copies of the prospectus will be mailed upon request or may be picked up in person for a cost recovery fee of $30 per copy. Contact Lisa Fox, Concessions Management Specialist in the Alaska Regional Office, at (907) 644-3364, by email, or by writing to: National Park Service, Alaska Region, Attn: Lisa Fox, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
