IMG_0246.jpeg

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) document from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seeking a concessionaire to operate food services and retail operations at Yellowstone Lake State Park in Winnebago County. The concessionaire will provide restaurant and food services, a camp store with convenience items, ice cream sales, coffee service, and baked goods at a state-owned facility that has remained vacant for over one year. The facility includes existing department-owned equipment such as booths, tables, 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, serving a park with 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. The initial contract term is anticipated to be three to five years ending December 31, though proposers may suggest alternative periods ranging from one to 15 years.

Proposals are evaluated on a 1,000-point scale consisting of organizational capabilities and staffing qualifications (300 points), proposal details for concession operations (300 points), transition plan (150 points), and cost proposal (250 points). The concessionaire shall propose a percentage of gross annual revenues to be paid to the Department, worth 250 points in the evaluation. Historical performance data indicates successful operations have generated $105,000 to $120,000 in gross annual revenues pre-COVID. Both for-profit and non-profit organizations are eligible, with Certified Minority Business Enterprises and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses eligible for up to five percent preference weighting. The Department provides utilities including water, electric, heat, air conditioning, and a holding tank, while the concessionaire is responsible for septic service, waste management, and LP gas costs. The concessionaire must maintain $1,000,000 public liability insurance per occurrence and submit annual financial reports within 90 days after January 1st. The solicitation explicitly excludes boat rental services, bait sales, and firewood provision, which are currently provided by Friends of Yellowstone Lake. The previous operator, Lafayette Dairy Sales, Inc., vacated the facility over one year ago after providing primarily ice cream service with limited operating hours.