Solicitation of 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) is soliciting proposals for a new ten (10) year concession contract to operate Guided Water Tours, Food & Beverage, and Retail Services within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This opportunity includes the operation of 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 Food & Beverage services.
- Providing Retail Services. The "Desert Princess" is government-owned personal property assigned to the concessioner.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Concession Contract
- Duration: 10 years, effective December 2026
- Estimated Investment: $485,000
- 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.
- Estimated Year 1 Revenue: $1.3 - $1.44 Million
- Set-Aside: None specified.
- Solicitation Opens: November 18, 2025
- Site Visit: December 2, 2025 (Registration required by November 28, 2025, 12:00 pm PT)
- Questions Due: December 10, 2025, 12:00 pm PT
- Notice of Intent to Propose Due: January 29, 2026, 12:00 pm PT
- Proposals Due: February 19, 2026, 12:00 pm PT
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated for the award of the new concession contract.
Additional Notes
A site visit is encouraged but not required. Registration is mandatory and limited to five people per entity. Questions will not be answered during the site visit; all questions must be submitted in writing by the deadline. The NPS is only accepting electronic proposals. The prospectus is available on the NPS Commercial Services website. Contact Mark Juretschke (mark_juretschke@nps.gov) for questions and to be added to the mailing list for updates.