New NPS Owned Passenger Ferry.  NPS Photo

Request for Expression of Interest

A Concession Business Opportunity to Provide Passenger Ferry Service with Gulf Islands National Seashore

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (RFEI) ONLY.  This RFEI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future.  This request for expressions of interest does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  Further, the NPS is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

The NPS is soliciting an expression of interest to a proposal to provide passenger ferry service in the Fort Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore.  The NPS asks that you provide your expression no later than the date written at the bottom of this document.  The NPS prefers responses in writing, but will accept responses in any form.

Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFEI.  All costs associated with responding to this RFEI will be solely at the interested party's expense.  Not responding to this RFEI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov).  It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

The term “Concessioner” as used in this RFEI refers to the entity that would be the Concessioner under a Draft Contract, if a Request for Proposal were issued and a Concessioner was selected.  

In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this RFEI and 36 C.F.R. Part 51, 36 C.F.R. Part 51 will control. 

Overview

In September 2016, the Service released a prospectus for the operation of the ferry, food and beverage service, retail, shuttle operations and other services.  However, the Service did not receive an awardable offer.  The Service received feedback that the opportunity was too far reaching, facilities were incomplete, vessels were incomplete, not all aspects provided a reasonable opportunity for profit and there was uncertainty in the ridership estimates. 

The Service has reworked the opportunity and is expecting to release a revised prospectus in July of 2017 for a March 2018 start up.  The required service in the revised prospectus is the operation of the passenger ferry between City of Pensacola, Fort Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore and Pensacola Beach as well as the operation of the on board snack bar.  Authorized services include alcohol sales on board the vessels as well as operation of the Mine Storeroom for food and beverage service. 

The Service has a general agreement with the City of Pensacola that waives the rent for the 10-year term Draft Contract.  Certain taxes and insurance is required as is general routine maintenance of the facilities (see appendix for more details).  There is no cost for the use of the Escambia County facilities at Pensacola Beach.  

As with most other ferry operations in the National Park Service there are no dedicated parking facilities.  Nevertheless, the City of Pensacola has identified roughly 560 free public parking spaces with 1,000 feet of the ferry embarkation site.

Events such as hurricanes and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill greatly affect visitation to Gulf Islands National Seashore making visitation numbers inconsistent. Beginning in 2017, the bridge linking Pensacola to Gulf Breeze and ultimately to Fort Pickens and Pensacola Beach is being replaced.  Expected increased traffic delays for visitors and commuters are expected may make the ferry an attractive option.   Estimated construction time is three years.

The estimated initial investment is $114,139 and includes but is not limited to staff hiring, USCG certification, test/trial runs, marketing, and advertising.  The minimum Concession Franchise Fee acceptable to the Service is three percent (3%).  There is no Lease Holder Surrender Interest nor deferred maintenance associated with the Draft Contract. 

New NPS Owned Passenger Ferry on day of Arrival. NPS Photo

CONCESSION OPPORTUNITY

Required and Authorized Services

Exhibit 4 describes the Required and Authorized Services as specified in the Draft Contract

Draft Contract

·        The term of the Draft Contract will be for ten (10) years, with an estimated effective date of March 1, 2018.  

·        There is no Leasehold Surrender Interest nor Deferred Maintenance associated with the Draft Contract.

·        The Service projects that departmental and indirect expenses will be within industry average ranges. 

·        The Concessioner will be responsible for repairing and maintaining the two Service-owned vessels assigned to the Concessioner. 

o   The Draft Contract may include a Repair and Maintenance Reserve of $8,000 per year for the ferry boats.

·        The Concessioner will be required to pay a Concession Franchise Fee.  The minimum acceptable franchise fee to the service is three percent (3%) of annual gross receipts. 

·        The Service will assign the Concessioner the following Service-owned real and personal property assets under the Draft Contract:

o   Fort Pickens Dock (no Concessioner maintenance responsibilities)

o   Two -149 passenger vessels

Overview of Concession Services and Locations

PASSENGER FERRY OPERATIONS

The Service has acquired and will assign to the Concessioner 2 newly constructed, 149-passenger catamaran vessels to provide the Required and Authorized Services under the Draft Contract.

The Draft Contract requires seasonally varied ferry service between these three locations:

·        City of Pensacola (Downtown at intersection of South Jefferson Street and Commendencia Street)

·        Pensacola Beach (Quietwater Pier)

·        Fort Pickens (Ferry dock near the Mine Storeroom Building)

MINE STOREROOM AT FORT PICKENS

The Service has made the Mine Storeroom, located near the Fort Pickens Dock, available for the Concessioner’s use for the purpose of this Draft Contract to sell food and beverage to include alcohol, retail, and tickets. The Concessioner will have a certain amount of time in which to execute the option to use the Mine Storeroom.

Figure 2. Concept Drawing for Fort Pickens Ferry Landing Area– Perspective from the Ferry Docks

Ferry Embarkation Sites in Pensacola & Pensacola beach

The Service has entered into General Agreements with the City of Pensacola and Escambia County that secure the use of ferry embarkation sites in downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach that the Concessioner will utilize to provide the required and authorized services under the Draft Contract. The General Agreements secure use of the embarkation sites over the 10-year term of the Draft Contract. 

As specified in the General Agreement, the City of Pensacola will waive rental/use fees under certain conditions for the duration of the Draft Contract, but certain taxes will apply. See City and County Facilities’ Attachment for more information.

Entrance Fees

The Service expects to waive the entrance fees during the term of the Draft Contract. 

Future Ferry Ridership, Rates, Revenues and Expense Projections

The Service developed ferry ridership projections based on the findings of previous studies and surveys, as well as inputs provided by Service staff, local lodging operators, and visitor survey and lodging data provided by Visit Pensacola, and other sources as well as other considerations.

¹ These estimates are not warranted by the Service and the Service is not bound by these estimated amounts. All Offerors are responsible for conducting their own due diligence and calculating their own revenue estimates based on independent assumptions and industry knowledge. .

NOTE: These ferry rates are maximum rates and the Concessioner may charge lower rates. These ferry rates do not include any sales tax that may be required.

¹ These estimates are not warranted by the Service and the Service is not bound by these estimated amounts. All Offerors are responsible for conducting their own due diligence and calculating their own revenue estimates.

INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

Attached Document List

The reference documents listed below are provided as additional documents and materials.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The NPS asks interested parties to provide notice of their interest regarding this proposed business opportunity.  Please provide the following in your expression of interest:

·        Your name, company or organization, and contact information including email address

·        Previous experience similar to the operations proposed in the RFEI, if any

·        Previous NPS Concessions experience, if any

Please indicate in your submission whether you would like the NPS to retain your contact information and notify you if a Request for Proposal is advertised.

Please submit your response by June 23, 2017, to Missy Smothers, Business Manager, Gulf Islands National Seashore, at [email protected] or by mail at the following address (e-mail submissions are preferable):

                        Attn: Missy Smothers, Business Manager

                        Gulf Islands National Seashore

                        1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway

                        Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

                        E-Mail: [email protected]

                        Phone: (850) 934-2611

Http://www.Concessions.NPS.gov/Prospectuses.htm for attachments and exhibits.