Recreation One Stop Support Services - Recreation.gov

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the R1S Support Services opportunity, clarifying aspects of the Statement of Work (SOO) and other related requirements.

• Ownership Model: The Government will not transition to a Government-Owned, Government-Operated (GOGO) model. Bidders can propose a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) or Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated (COCO) model.
• Data Rights: The contract will comply with Federal Source Code Policy (M-16-21) regarding code ownership and open-source software. Specific "sufficient rights" will be defined in accordance with these policies.
• Pricing Models: The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) generally prohibits subscription-based or flat-fee models for recreation access. Fees must be per-use, per-amenity, or per-permit, though annual interagency passes are permitted.
• Historical Data: The Government intends to provide historical volume data by reservation tier to assist bidders in pricing.
• MVP Transition: The Minimally Viable Product (MVP) is intended to replace the legacy system entirely within 18 months. Bidders should propose a transition plan with minimal disruption and include a duration for a feasible transition period.
• Hardware CapEx: The Government is responsible for capital expenditure (CapEx) for new hardware (e.g., EMV terminals), with reimbursement provided. Bidders should include pricing for the terminals in their quote.
• Telecommunications Support: This is a mandatory component for all responses but does not apply to all locations. The government will provide a list of specific remote locations.

These clarifications may affect how bidders structure their proposals, particularly regarding pricing models, data rights, and the transition plan for the MVP. Bidders should ensure their proposals address these points and consider the provided historical data for pricing.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a draft CLIN (Contract Line Item Number) structure for the R1S Support Services. It outlines various services and their associated contract line items, units, and estimated quantities. Bidders should use this as a reference for understanding the potential contract structure and the types of services being procured.

• CLIN Structure: Details specific services such as Contact Center Reservation Services, Internet Reservation Services, Field Reservation Services, Telecommunications Services, Specialized Lottery Services, USDA ATO, EMV Chip & PIN, R1S Data Cloud Storage, Digital Pass Record Creation, and Contact Center Service Contract Act (SCA) Labor.
• Units and Quantities: Provides estimated quantities for many CLINs, indicating the scale of anticipated services.
• Service Breakdown: Sub-CLINs further break down major service categories into specific offerings (e.g., different tiers of digital passes, types of telecommunication installations, various lottery fulfillment events).

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the proposed breakdown of services and their potential quantities. It serves as a foundational element for developing pricing proposals and assessing the scope of work for each service area. Bidders should pay close attention to the CLIN descriptions and estimated quantities to accurately price their offers and ensure their proposed solutions align with the government's anticipated needs.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "5. Sample-Draft-BusinesRules.xlsx", appears to be a sample or draft of business rules related to a reservation system, likely for campgrounds or similar facilities. It outlines various rules and requirements for managing bookings, reservations, and inventory.

• Booking Windows: Defines the ability to set flexible booking windows at different levels (campground, site type, loops, individual sites), including default settings and rapid adjustment capabilities for agency staff.
• Reservation Cut-Off Windows: Allows local managers to set cut-off times for reservations at various levels (campground, loops, sites, site types), with options for different timeframes (weeks, days, hours) or no cut-off for same-day reservations.
• Maximum Length of Stay: Specifies rules for how far into the future reservations can be booked.
• Sliding Window Freeze: Prevents continuous extension of reservations to secure future dates, with restrictions on cancellations or changes during the freeze period.
• Block Release & Rolling Release: Describes methods for releasing inventory, either in blocks of dates or on a rolling daily basis.
• Seasons: Requires the ability to define different seasons for campgrounds, loops, sites, and site types, each potentially having unique lengths of stay and rates.

This document provides detailed requirements for the functionality of a reservation system. Bidders responding to an opportunity that involves developing or implementing such a system should pay close attention to these business rules. They define critical operational parameters and expected system capabilities related to booking flexibility, management controls, and inventory release strategies. Understanding these rules is essential for accurately scoping, pricing, and proposing a compliant solution.

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

This document outlines the objectives for the Recreation One Stop (R1S) Support Services contract, aiming to provide a secure, customer-centric solution for modern trip-planning and reservation tools for public land users. It also seeks to offer internal users dynamic program management tools, communication services, and robust data capabilities.

The R1S program supports Recreation.gov, the primary platform for customers to discover and reserve recreation opportunities on federal public lands. The scope includes:

• Providing a secure, customer-centric solution for trip-planning and reservations.
• Offering internal users program management tools, communication services, and data analytics.
• Managing a secure financial platform for transaction processing.
• Providing end-user support and business/market intelligence services.
• Evolving the platform based on technology, laws, agency needs, and stakeholder expectations.

The contract is anticipated to be a multi-year contract with a phase-in period, a 5-year base period, and five 1-year award terms. Performance will be at contractor facility locations or remotely, with potential travel to government offices.

• Program Management: Agile-based processes, human-centered design, proactive management, and communication tools.

• Transition: Seamless transition-in and transition-out with no degradation of services and accurate data transfer.

• Hosting: FedRAMP Moderate certified cloud-based hosting environment, available 24x7x365.

• Security & Data Management: Compliance with NIST, FedRAMP, Privacy Act, and USDA IT security requirements. Includes data encryption, secure access (e.g., login.gov, MFA), and a robust data backup regimen.

• Reservation System: A secure, flexible, and configurable platform supporting various inventory types, with integrated map visualization tools and communication features.

• Financial Transaction Management: Processing payments via U.S. Treasury and PCI requirements, including automated reconciliation and reporting.

• Outreach & Communications: Developing and executing an annual outreach strategy, producing materials, and employing SEO techniques.

• Ancillary Support Services: Providing telecommunications systems and services for remote locations.

• Deliverables: Specific deliverables will be detailed in a future version.

• Attachments: To be completed in a future version.

• Security Violations: Adherence to USDA security policies.

• Data Rights: Government will have unlimited data rights.

• Non-Disclosure Agreement: Required for contractor personnel.

• Privacy: Contractor has no expectation of privacy regarding system communications.

• Section 508: All Information and Communications Technology (ICT) must comply with Revised Section 508 standards.

• IT Procedures: Compliance with standard Forest Service IT security language.

• Continuity of Operations (COOP)/Disaster Recovery: Contractor must propose an approach for maintaining access during disruptions.

• IPv6 Requirements: Compliance with Internet Protocol version 6.

• The document emphasizes the need for the R1S services to continuously adapt to evolving needs.

• The Government owns Recreation.gov and rec.gov domains.

• The current contract type is Requirements with Fixed Price per-transaction pricing.

Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice (SSN)

This RFI is issued by the USDA Forest Service for the Recreation One Stop (R1S) program, which is in the pre-solicitation phase for the Recreation One Stop Support Services procurement. The RFI aims to gather industry feedback on draft documents related to a potential future procurement. It is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to award a contract. The current contract ends September 30, 2028, and the envisioned future award is for a base period of five years with five one-year optional terms.

• Draft Statement of Objectives (SOO): Captures objectives and known requirements for developing a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).
• Sample from Draft Business Rules Attachment: Provides specific, known needs of the current solution to offer context for the structure of the Business Rules document.
• Draft Proposal Instructions and Evaluation Criteria (Section L and M): Outlines how offers will be evaluated.
• Draft Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) Structure: Identifies CLINs and the proposed pricing methodology.

The government is seeking feedback on:

• Approaches to meeting vision and priorities outlined in the SOO.

• Feasibility of FedRAMP Moderate certification by proposal submission and estimated time for certification.

• Usefulness of draft Business Rules and User Stories for the solicitation phase.

• Feasibility of the proposed CLIN structure and suggestions for alternatives.

• Feedback on the proposed phased procurement approach.

• Estimated time from contract award to full go-live.

• Any missed requirements or capabilities.

• Challenges that might limit interest in bidding and proposed solutions.

• Submit cover page and answers to questions within 15 pages.

• Use Times New Roman, 10 pitch font, 1-inch margins.

• Submissions should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

• Required cover page information includes organization name, address, POC, contact details, SAM registration status, and company web address.

• Responses are due via email by 1:00 pm ET on May 21, 2026, to SM.FS.R1SProc@usda.gov.

• This RFI is for market research and planning to support solicitation preparation.

• Responses will be treated as information only and not as proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines "Draft Sections L and M" for the Recreation One Stop Support Services opportunity, related to Recreation.gov. It details the submission instructions and evaluation criteria for potential offerors.

• The submission process is multi-step, involving voluntary and mandatory down-selects across three phases.

• Phase 1: Corporate Experience (Voluntary Down-Select)

• Phase 2: Virtual Oral Presentation and On-the-Spot Demonstration (Mandatory Down-Select)

• Phase 3: Technical Approach, Management and Staffing, Past Performance, PWS, QASP, Pricing (Mandatory Down-Select)

• Specific volumes and page limits are defined for each phase and volume.

• Offerors must be registered and active in the SAM database.

• Proof of FedRAMP Moderate certification is required.

• A proposed Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) are required.

• Award will be made based on a best value tradeoff approach.

• Technical factors are considered significantly more important than price.

• Submission Instructions:

  • Electronic submission only via email.
  • Must be clear, concise, and comprehensive.
  • Specific formatting requirements: 8.5"x11" paper, 1-inch margins, 12-point font (9-point for tables, 8-point for graphics).
  • Submissions must be in MS Word, MS Excel, or searchable PDF.
  • Questions Due Date: XX/XX/2026 by 5pm ET
  • Phase I Due Date: XX/XX/2026 by 5pm ET

• Evaluation Criteria:

  • Proposals screened for compliance with submission requirements.
  • Phase 1: Corporate Experience (evaluated on recency, relevancy, size, scope, complexity).
  • Phase 2: Virtual Oral Presentation and On-the-Spot Demonstration (evaluated on proposed solution/approach).
  • Phase 3: Technical Approach, Management and Staffing, Past Performance, PWS, QASP, Price.
  • Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness, not rated.

• Not explicitly detailed in these sections, but small business subcontracting plan requirements are mentioned for "Other than Small Business" offerors.

• Offerors must assume the Government has no prior knowledge of their experience.

• Proposals must be valid for at least 365 days after the solicitation close date.

• Exceptions/assumptions to terms and conditions may disqualify submittals.