Fifteen-Year Contract includes providing overnight accommodations, food and beverage, retail, and other related services to park visitors
June 17, 2015 - The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Yosemite Hospitality, LLC, a subsidiary of Aramark, to receive the new primary concession contract for providing visitor services in Yosemite National Park. The 15-year contract – the largest single concession contract in the NPS – is expected to begin on March 1, 2016, and will include overnight accommodations, food and beverage operations, retail sales, fuel sales, bike and raft rentals, and a variety of other recreational activities throughout the park.
“We’re very excited about bringing on Aramark to operate our primary concessions,” stated Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher. “Aramark brings tremendous resources to the table and has extensive experience in operating concessions at many other national parks. We believe they’ll be a great partner with us at Yosemite as we work to implement the vision of the Merced River Plan.”
Aramark has gross revenues of $14.8 billion and employs more than 270,000 employees in 21 countries and currently holds eight other NPS contracts with gross revenues of over $110 million in 2013, including concessions at Lake Mead and Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas, as well as Mesa Verde, Olympic, Denali, and Glacier Bay National Parks.
Aramark will provide a variety of services to the public, including continuing to operate the Yosemite Valley shuttle system free of charge to all visitors. Additionally, under the new contract, concession operations will achieve several operational improvements including reducing vehicle traffic in Yosemite Valley, increasing water conservation, reducing electricity and fuel usage, and enhancing food and beverage operations for visitors.
The contract has been sent to Aramark for signature and, once signed, will be transmitted to Congress for a 60-day notice period as stipulated by law. After this period, the NPS will sign and award the contract, then work with the existing concessioner and Aramark to complete an orderly transition.
DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. has operated under the existing contract since 1993, grossing over $146 million in 2014. They recently completed a well-received upgrade to the furnishings in all rooms at Yosemite Lodge and have operated and maintained two of the park’s National Historic Landmarks and major visitor attractions, The Ahwahnee and the Wawona Hotel, completing numerous upgrades to these facilities over the course of their contract. “Throughout its tenure as the park’s primary concessioner, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. provided quality services and unforgettable experiences to millions of visitors,” stated Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher. “We appreciate all of their work.”
Prior to 1998, concession law provided broad rights granting preferential right of renewal to incumbent concessioners. Since 1998, with the passage of an act reforming concessions management, issuance of most concession contracts generally became subject to fair and open competition with no preferential right of renewal for the incumbent and bids are evaluated and awarded via a competitive process.
Visit Aramark online at www.aramark.com. Information about Yosemite National Park can be found at www.nps.gov/YOSE.
Frequently Asked Questions About the new Concessions Contract
| The purpose of concessioners in parks is to provide necessary and appropriate visitor services that government agencies do not traditionally provide. Generally these are overnight accommodations, food and beverage, and retail services, but may also include other services such as guided trips, transportation services, auto fuel, and a variety of other services, depending on the park. The purpose of the prospectus process is to solicit the opportunity for the operation of services and facilities to interested parties competitively and find the best offer that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of the contract. General Contract Questions Q: What is the timeline to begin the new contract? A: The expected start date of the Contract is March 1, 2016. Q: What is the term of the Contract? A: The Contract is for a term of 15 years Q: How long has the current contract been extended? A: The Existing Contract was originally set to expire on September 30, 2008 and has been extended and continued since that time, due mainly to litigation over the Merced Wild and Scenic River Plan. Process Questions Q: Why did it take so long to update the contract? Q: Why was the contract extended? A: Development of the prospectus for the Contract was delayed by extensive litigation on the Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan (MRP). The prospectus incorporated key components of the final MRP, including the types of visitor facilities and services that could be included in the Contract and where each would be located. Q: When was the prospectus open for bid and who could bid on it? A: The solicitation for the prospectus opened on July 9, 2014 and was open to any company or individual interested in operating the facilities and services required by the Contract. Q: Who actually made the selection? Q: How was the selection made? A: An evaluation panel, made up of NPS employees and technical advisors, analyzed the proposals received and provided a recommendation to the Director for the selected Offeror. The selection was made in accordance with the provisions of the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (1998 Act). The 1998 Act made a number of changes in how concession contracts are awarded in order to enhance competition. Q: When will the Contract be available to the public? A: The NPS has sent the Contract to Yosemite Hospitality, LLC to review how we incorporated the terms of its proposal. Once reviewed and signed, the NPS will transmit the Contract to Congress for a 60-day notice period as stipulated by law. After this Congressional notice period the NPS will sign and award the Contract and work with the parties to complete an orderly transition for a Contract start date of March 1, 2016. Q: What happens in the interim between the selection and signing of the Contract? A: The NPS begins the process of working with Yosemite Hospitality, LLC to ensure a smooth transition with little disruption to park visitors. Q: How long does Congress have to review the Contract? A: Congress is provided the Contract for a 60 day notice period. It is not required to review or act on the Contract. Q: Why is Congress provided a notice period? A: It is a requirement of the 1998 Act. Q: When is the transition period? A: The transition period begins once the Contract is signed by both Yosemite Hospitality, LLC and the NPS, after the Congressional notice period. How was the Decision Made Questions Q: What were the primary areas the NPS was looking at in the prospectus to determine the best offer? Q: What were the principal factors the NPS considered? A: The NPS asked for proposals related to the following:
Q: Why was Yosemite Hospitality, LLC selected as the better Offeror? Q: What things made the difference in the proposals? A: Yosemite Hospitality, LLC was recommended by the panel for award of the Contract for a number of reasons related to its response to the questions asked in the Prospectus. These included responses regarding reducing traffic in Yosemite Valley, increasing water conservation, reducing electricity and fuel usage, enhancing food and beverage outlets to meet visitor expectations, upgrading personal property for overnight accommodations, and maintaining NPS-owned facilities assigned to the Concessioner. Operational Questions Q: Are we going to see a lot of new hotels and new recreational activities in the park? A: No, through the MRP and Contract development process, the building of new hotel facilities is not permissible within the Park. The Concessioner must obtain NPS written approval for any construction, including rehabilitation, taking place on Concession Facilities within the Park. Q: Will the new Concessioner continue to operate the shuttle buses and will they be free? A: Yes, the Contract requires the Concessioner to continue operating the Yosemite Valley shuttle system free of charge to all visitors. The Contract also authorizes the Concessioner to operate a shuttle circulating between Olmsted Point overlook and Tuolumne Meadows and a shuttle from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass. The Concessioner will be permitted to charge for these two routes. Q: What will happen to the amenities such as the bike and raft rentals and ice rink? A: These services are authorized under the new Contract; however at this time the specific location for each service has not yet been determined. Locations will be proposed by the new Concessioner and approved by the NPS. |
