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This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) document from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seeking concession services at Yellowstone Lake State Park in Winnebago County under Wisconsin Statute 27.01(2)(f). The Department is procuring food services, restaurant operations, a camp store with convenience items, ice cream sales, coffee service, and baked goods from qualified for-profit or non-profit organizations. The facility, which has remained vacant for over one year following the departure of the previous operator Lafayette Dairy Sales, Inc., contains state-owned equipment including booths, tables, and commercial kitchen equipment (ice cream freezer, coolers, deep fryer, commercial grill, and chest freezers) that cannot be removed. The concessionaire must maintain a minimum of 24 hours of operation Friday through Sunday during the season from Labor Day to Memorial Day at a park receiving approximately 212,000 annual visitors. An on-site vendor conference is scheduled for May 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM, written questions are due by May 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM CT, and proposals must be submitted by May 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM CT via the Wisconsin eSupplier Portal or email to Konrad.plachetta@wisconsin.gov. The initial contract term is anticipated to be three to five years ending December 31 of the specified year, though proposers may suggest alternative periods ranging from one to 15 years.

Proposals are evaluated on a 1,000-point scale: organizational capabilities and staffing qualifications (300 points), proposal details for concession operations (300 points), transition plan (150 points), and cost proposal (250 points). The cost proposal, worth 250 points, consists of the concessionaire's proposed percentage of gross annual revenues to be paid to the Department. Historical performance data indicates successful operations have generated $105,000 to $120,000 in gross annual revenues pre-COVID. Certified Minority Business Enterprises and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses are eligible to receive up to five percent preference weighting in the evaluation. The Department will provide utilities including water, bathroom access, electric, heat and air conditioning, and a holding tank, while the concessionaire is responsible for all other utility costs including septic service, waste management, and LP gas. The concessionaire must maintain public liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and submit annual financial reports within 90 days after January 1st. Proposals explicitly cannot include boat rental services, bait sales, or firewood provision, which are currently operated by Friends of Yellowstone Lake.