Golf_and_Tennis_RFI_(1).pdf

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION GOLF COURSE AND TENNIS CENTER PROJECT

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Introduction

The National Park Service (NPS) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to determine the interest of private individuals, recreation management firms, and other organizations (developers, non-profits or other entities), collectively referred to as “interested parties”, to enter into a long-term lease to upgrade and operate the East Potomac Tennis Center, located at East Potomac Park in the National Mall and Memorial Parks, and three golf courses (East Potomac Golf Course located at East Potomac Park, National Mall and Memorial Parks; Langston Golf Course, located in National Capital Parks East; and Rock Creek Golf Course, located in Rock Creek Park), collectively referred to as the “leased premises”.

NPS will use feedback from this RFI to determine possible terms and conditions under which it would execute a lease agreement for the management and improvement of the three golf courses and tennis center.

Note: This RFI shall not be construed as a Request for Proposals (RFP), a lease solicitation, or any obligation on the part of NPS. NPS does not intend to select or qualify proposals or offers on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for information obtained via this RFI or in response to this notice. NPS will not reimburse any costs associated with submitting information in response to this

RFI.

Background

The subject properties are described as follows:

East Potomac Park Golf Course and Tennis Center are both located in the National Mall and Memorial Parks. The course includes an 18-hole course, two 9-hole courses, and a miniature golf course. The original nine-hole course opened in 1921, and the miniature golf course in 1930. Additional holes opened in stages between 1921 and 1925, leaving the course with 36 holes in all. Services at East Potomac Park Golf Course include a pro shop, snack bar, putting greens, three practice holes, and a two-tiered, 100-stall driving range (26 of which are heated).

East Potomac Tennis Center offers 19 outdoor courts (10 Har-Tru and 9 hard courts) and five indoor hard courts under an all-weather bubble.

Langston Golf Course is located in National Capital Parks East. Established in 1939, it was named for John Mercer Langston, an African American who was the first Dean of the Howard University School of Law, the first president of Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University), and the first African American elected to the United States Congress from Virginia. It was the second racially desegregated golf course in the District of Columbia, and in 1991 its first nine holes were added to the National Register of Historic Places. The course includes an 18-hole golf course, driving range, practice area, and clubhouse with a snack bar.

Rock Creek Golf Course is located in Rock Creek Park in Washington DC. It was developed in 1909. The course’s current services include an 18-hole golf course, practice area, clubhouse, retail services, and vending machines.

Additional detailed background information on the golf courses may be found in the Cultural Landscape Inventories and the Historic Resource Study found at this link: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/do-business-with-us.htm#onthisPage-2

Statutory and Regulatory Authorities

The regulatory authority for this leasing action by the National Park Service is 36 CFR Part 18. The statutory authorities for 36 CFR Part 18 are described in 36 CFR § 18.1, which states the following in part: “16 U.S.C. 1 et seq., particularly 16 U.S.C.

1a-2(k), and, 16 U.S.C. 470h-3 are the authorities for this part.” 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.

has been re-codified at 54 U.S.C. 100101 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(k) at 54 U.S.C.

102102, and 16 U.S.C. 470h-3 at 54 U.S.C. 306121.

Interested parties should consider the scope of these statutory and regulatory authorities and restrictions when they submit feedback and questions in response to this RFI.

Statement of Concept

These properties have been operated under concessions contracts for over thirty years. It has been determined that a long-term lease is in the best interest of the National Park Service and the properties’ users. The properties have a substantial amount of deferred maintenance that will need to be cured either through asset stabilization projects or through capital expenditure projects that improve the properties. Details regarding required maintenance or required projects will be included in any future RFP.

The National Park Service is seeking input from interested parties regarding a long-term lease opportunity to operate the leased premises. Under any future RFP, no consideration will be given to interested parties who are not willing to lease and operate all premises under one lease.

As its preliminary position, NPS would expect the lessee to be responsible for operating, maintaining, designing, renovating, and financing the leased premises under certain terms and conditions to be specified in the lease. The lease will include historic property and will require compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (36 C.F.R. Part 68) and will require that the historic character of the properties be retained and preserved. The NPS will retain title to the land and any improvements. Rent credits may be provided for certain curing of deferred maintenance required https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/do-business-with-us.htm#onthisPage-2 under a lease, approved capital expenditure improvement projects and other related projects that provide significant and appropriate enhancement of the user experience.

Project Funding and Experience Criteria

Interested parties are encouraged to advise the NPS on how they would make the project financially viable, given the highly seasonal demand for golfing and tennis (options might include off-season activities or a combination of year-round and seasonal activities that would promote higher year-round public interest and income).

Qualified respondents to any future RFP for this lease will have to provide documentation of appropriate experience in golf course management.

Site Visit for Interested Parties

A site visit will be scheduled for Wednesday, November 7, 2018 for interested parties to tour the properties. Interested parties that wish to attend must notify Chad Tinney, at npsncrleasing@nps.gov, no later than Friday, November 2, 2018.

Each interested party may send no more than four (4) persons on the site visit.

Please provide the names of attendees when you submit your notice to attend.

Visiting all three courses will be an all-day event. A detailed agenda will be sent out to participants on Monday, November 5, 2018.

Response to RFI

Responses are due by Friday, December 21, 2018.

Please address the following areas:

1. Business name, address and POC

2. Feedback on the project concept and any alternatives to it that would enhance the marketability of this project while simultaneously protecting the Government’s interests. Feedback could include, but should not be limited to, some of the following topics:

a. Stabilization projects to existing assets

b. Enhancement of overall playability of the courses and courts

c. Enhancement of the aesthetics of the properties

d. Optimal length of the lease term

e. Efficient and sustainable maintenance practices mailto:npsncrleasing@nps.gov

f. Continued affordability of the courses and courts to all players

g. Increasing awareness and desirability of the courses and courts to youth and other underserved communities

h. Maximization of public use beyond current patrons leveraging destination visitors to the DC area

i. Promotion of the values of the National Park Service

j. Where appropriate, the telling of the story of golf in the District of

Columbia and the part that these three courses played in it (see the Historic Resource Study here: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/do-business-with-us.htm#onthisPage-2)

k. Additional factors or data that may be required for your firm to consider responding to an RFP

Any submitted information may be used by NPS to structure a future RFP. NPS will compile a list of questions and comments received, and responses to them, for public distribution, on a non-attribution basis. Responses provided by NPS to any questions or comments received shall not bind the Government to any future course of action nor commit it to making any decisions regarding this proposed project.

Point of Contact

Interested parties should submit RFI responses and any questions regarding this RFI to the following point of contact no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018:

npsncrleasing@nps.gov