DEEP-2025-014 MM -Q and A Responses.pdf
PDF 76 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Gillette Castle Concession Building
- Solicitation number
- DEEP-2026-014-MM
- Issued by
- Middlesex County, Connecticut
About this file
This document contains Question and Answer responses for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure food and beverage concession services at Gillette Castle State Park. The concessionaire will operate a concession building serving approximately 100,000 annual day-use visitors during the recreation season, generally from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with optional extended operations through fall holidays. The minimum operating schedule requires weekend and holiday operations from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the peak season and weekday operations in July and August from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though concessionnaires may propose expanded schedules. A mandatory site visit was held on March 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST, with a written question deadline of March 20, 2026, and proposal submission deadline of April 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST through the CTSource platform. The selected vendor will enter into a three-year initial contract with optional extensions of up to three additional one-year increments without further competition, with contract negotiations expected to begin in April 2026.
The Q&A responses clarify operational requirements and facility specifications, including visitor count calculations based on ticket sales (42,955 in 2025 and 33,427 in 2024), utility arrangements consisting of electric AC and heat with propane stoves and a dedicated meter for the concession building, and electrical service available in 110-volt and three-phase options. The concessionaire bears all operational costs including utilities, personnel, equipment, supplies, insurance, permits, licenses, maintenance, and refuse disposal, with water tested annually and quarterly during the recreation season. Signage and outside cart operations require written approval from the Park and Recreation Supervisor, with additional permitting potentially required. The concessionaire may provide catering services for off-site events such as family picnics provided the concession building remains open to the public. Minor cosmetic updates require written approval from the Park and Recreation Supervisor, while all infrastructure work remains the responsibility of DEEP due to the property's historic designation. The compensation structure consists of a $5,000 annual fixed rent plus a percentage of gross annual revenue to be proposed by respondents and evaluated during contract negotiations.
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Text version
Solicitation # DEEP-2026-014-MM
RFP # DEEP-BOR-11032025
CTsource Questions
No questions were submitted to CTsource
Emailed Questions
1. I am emailing you in regards to the "Gillette Castle Concession Building" DEEP-BOR-11032025 bidding on 5/1 at 11:59 p.m.. Please send us an updated planholders/bidders list so we can update our database with the most current information available. Please also let us know if there are any changes to the bid date and please provide a construction cost estimate or budget range if available.
a. All information regarding the DEEP-2026-014-MM procurement for Concession Services is found on the CTsource Bid Board using the following link, and searching for the solicitation information above:
https://portal.ct.gov/das/ctsource/bidboard?language=en_US.
Your request does not align with this solicitation so we are unable to provide you with the information you have requested. Please review the solicitation and let us know what questions you have that directly relate.
Site Visit Questions
1. How are visitor counts calculated?
a. All visitor counts are estimated based on ticket sales from Memorial Day through Labor Day for tours at the Castle.
2. Can signage be posted?
a. Some signage can be posted with written approval from the Park and Recreation
Supervisor, but signage that is advertising in nature may not be.
3. What is the current fire suppression?
a. Fire extinguishers are installed in more than one location based on fire code requirements.
4. What types of electrical outlets are there?
a. All 110 and there are 3-phase available
5. What are the utilities like?
a. AC is electric, stoves are propane, and heat is electric. There is no furnace in the building. There is a dedicated meter for the concession building just outside the basement loading doors.
b. Water is tested annually and quarterly during the recreation season.
6. How are utilities billed?
a. Currently, the concessionaire is expected to cover all utility costs.
7. Can the concessionaire provide dedicated catering services for events or private picnics?
a. The concessionaire may act as a caterer on request for any event occurring outside of the GC Visitor Center and the Castle, such as a family picnic, so long as the concession building remains open and operating to the public. The concession building may not be closed to the public for a private event.
8. Can the concessionaire do an outside cart on the patio?
https://portal.ct.gov/das/ctsource/bidboard?language=en_US
Solicitation # DEEP-2026-014-MM
RFP # DEEP-BOR-11032025
a. The patio area is considered part of the concession area, and a cart can be approved by the Park Supervisor in writing. Additional permitting may be required.
9. Are the schedule requirements firm?
a. Any concessionaire is expected to operate on the minimum schedule identified within the RFP, however any concessionaire can propose to exceed the schedule. The schedule is confirmed in writing to the Park Supervisor on an annual basis and operation outside the recreation season can be approved.
10. When are ticket sales available?
a. During recreation season, generally from Memorial day through Labor Day
11. How many tickets were sold previously?
a. In 2025 42,955 and in 2024, 33,427.
12. What is the difference between concession services at GCSP versus Hammonasset Beach State Park?
a. Per Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 17a-818, the Department of Aging and Disability Services has the first right of refusal for concession services on State Property. D-ADS waived the right for Gillette Castle State Park but retains the rights to Hammonasset Beach State Park.
13. What kind of support can be provided by the state to let the public know a new vendor is present?
a. DEEP is aware that the concession building has not been operated for several years.
DEEP anticipates publicizing a new concessionaire through Public Notice, Social Media posts, and updating the Gillette Castle SP Website with direct concessionaire information.
b. DEEP will also provide avenues for the concessionaire to connect and work with advocacy groups such as the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, and will share concession information with any Special Use request.
14. How do repairs or updates work?
a. Minor cosmetic updates can be approved on a case by case basis, when requested in writing to the Park and Recreation Supervisor. Gillette Castle State Park is a historic property and DEEP is required to be in charge of any infrastructure work.
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