POSTPONEMENT of Site Visit in Advance of Solicitation Release for a Concession Business Opportunity to Operate Guided Water Tours, Food & Beverage, and Retail Services within Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Park Service (NPS), under the Department of the Interior, is soliciting proposals for a 10-year concession contract to operate Guided Water Tours, Food & Beverage, and Retail Services within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Boulder City, NV. This opportunity involves operating the government-owned "Desert Princess" vessel. Proposals are due February 19, 2026.
Scope of Work
The selected concessioner will be responsible for:
- Operating the "Desert Princess" vessel for boat sightseeing tours of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
- Providing comprehensive Food & Beverage services.
- Managing Retail Services within the concession area. The "Desert Princess" vessel is government-owned and will be assigned to the concessioner.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Concession Contract
- Term: 10 Years, effective December 2026
- Estimated Concessioner Investment: $485,000
- Estimated Year 1 Revenue: $1.3 - $1.44 Million
- Franchise Fee: Tiered franchise fee payable to the Government.
- Funding: Designated reserve funding required for maintenance and operational readiness of the "Desert Princess" and landing area.
- Product Service Code: M1FB (Operation Of Recreational Buildings)
- Set-Aside: None specified.
Key Dates
- Solicitation Opens: November 18, 2025
- Site Visit: December 2, 2025
- Questions Due: December 10, 2025
- Notice of Intent to Propose Due: January 29, 2026, 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
- Proposals Due: February 19, 2026, 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
- Amendment 1 Published: January 23, 2026
Submission & Evaluation
Proposals must be submitted electronically in the format outlined in the Proposal Instructions. The NPS is ONLY accepting electronic proposals. Amendment No. 1 provides responses to questions regarding the solicitation.
Additional Notes
Interested parties should submit a "Notice of Intent to Propose" by the deadline. The prospectus is available on the NPS Commercial Services website. To receive notifications of future modifications or correspondence, notify Mark Juretschke at mark_juretschke@nps.gov.