Prospectus_EP_Jan2024_BHNF_508.pdf

Previous edition obsolete

FS-2700-34 (REV-02/2017)

OMB No. 0596-0082

Use Code 141

Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions

Black Hills National Forest

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest - Hell Canyon, Mystic, Northern Hills, and Bearlodge Ranger Districts

June 2025 i

Contents I. Business Opportunity

A. Introduction B. Area Description C. Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities D. Government Furnished Property E. Government Furnished Supplies F. Utilities and Waste Management

II. Forest Service Concession Programs and Policies A. Recreation.gov B. Pass Discounts C. Camp Stamps D. Site Closure E. Administrative Use F. Applicable Forest Orders G. Fee Tickets and Compilation of Use and Revenue Data H. Customer Service Comment Cards I. Performance Evaluations J. Accessibility K. Camping Unit Capacity L. Stay Limit M. Fees Charged to the Public N. Law Enforcement O. Other Pertinent Information

III. Special Use Permit A. Permit Term B. Permit Holder Responsibilities C. Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement D. Insurance E. Bonding

IV. Application A. Instructions for Submitting Applications B. General Terms, Qualifications, and Reservations C. Application Package Requirements D. Evaluation of Applications

V. Post-Selection Requirements

Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions, Black Hills National Forest ii

Appendices

Appendix 1: Vicinity and Area Maps Appendix 2: Maps of Developed Recreation Sites Appendix 3: Inventory of Government-Furnished Property Appendix 4: Applicable Forest Orders Appendix 5: Sample Use Report Appendix 6: Sample Customer Service Comment Card Appendix 7: Standard Performance Evaluation Form Appendix 8: FSM 2342.1, Exhibit 01, Law Enforcement at Concession

Campgrounds Appendix 9: Minimum Content of the Proposed Annual Operating Plan Appendix 10: FS-2700-4h, Special-Use Permit for Campground and Related

Granger-Thye Concessions, and FS-2700-4h, Appendix-G, Operation of Federally Owned Drinking Water Systems

Appendix 11: FS-2700-4h, Appendix B, Annual Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement

Appendix 12: Potential Government Maintenance, Reconditioning, Renovation, and Improvement Projects

Appendix 13: Indirect Cost Reimbursement Letter Appendix 14: FS-2700-4h, Appendix H, Granger-Thye Fee Offset Claim Appendix 15: Sample Collection Agreement for Granger-Thye Fee Offset Work Appendix 16: Sample Business Plan Appendix 17: FS-6500-24, Financial Statement Appendix 18: FS-6500-25, Request for Verification

VI. Optional Appendices

Appendix 19: National Quality Standards for Recreation Site Management

(formerly Meaningful Measures) Appendix 20: Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities Appendix 21: Black Hills National Forest Invasive Plant Priority Management List

VII. Pertinent Materials (Available Upon Request)

“Cleaning Recreation Sites” (USDA-Forest Service) PDF: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5348052.pdf

“In Depth Design and Maintenance Manual for Vault Toilets” (USDA-Forest Service) PDF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/91231601.pdf

“Vault Toilet Pumping Contract Specifications and Guidelines for Preparing Contracts” PDF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/92231308.pdf http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5348052.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/91231601.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/92231308.pdf

I. Business Opportunity A. Introduction This prospectus is being issued to solicit applications for a concession campground special use permit. A permit to provide high-quality public service in the operation and maintenance of Government-owned recreation facilities located on the Bearlodge, Hell Canyon, Mystic, and Northern Hills Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, will be issued. The permit will include the following developed sites:

Table 1. Site List

Ranger District Site Name Site Type

Bearlodge Bearlodge Campground Bearlodge Cook Lake Recreation Complex Campground and Picnic Site Bearlodge Reuter Campground Bearlodge Sundance Equestrian Campground

Hell Canyon Beaver Creek Campground

Hell Canyon Bismark Lake Recreation Complex Campground, Group Picnic Site, and Boating Site

Hell Canyon Comanche Park Campground Hell Canyon Grizzly Bear Campground

Hell Canyon Horsethief Lake Campground, Fishing Site, and Trailhead

Hell Canyon Iron Creek Equestrian Campground Hell Canyon Lakota Lake Picnic Site Hell Canyon Oreville Campground Hell Canyon Redbank Spring Campground Hell Canyon Willow Creek Equestrian Campground

Mystic Bear Gulch Group Campground Mystic Black Fox Campground Mystic Castle Peak Campground Mystic Dakota Point Picnic Site Mystic Deerfield Cove Boating Site Mystic Ditch Creek Campground Mystic Lake Shore Picnic Site Mystic Mountain City Picnic Site Mystic North Cove (Sheridan Group) Group Campground Mystic Pactola Campground Mystic Pactola North Boating Site Mystic Pactola Point Picnic Site and Swimming Site Mystic Pactola South Boating Site

Mystic Sheridan Lake North Cove Group Complex

Boating Site, Picnic Site, and Swimming Site

Ranger District Site Name Site Type

Mystic Sheridan Lake South Recreation Complex

Boating Site, Picnic Site, and Swimming Site

Mystic Sheridan Southside Campground Mystic Spring Creek Picnic Site

Mystic Deerfield Reservoir Complex (Dutchman, Custer Trail, Whitefield) Campgrounds and Boating Site

Northern Hills Boxelder Forks Campground Northern Hills Dalton Lake Campground Northern Hills Hanna Campground Northern Hills Rod and Gun Campground

Northern Hills Roubaix Lake Recreation Complex Campground, Picnic Site, and Swimming Site

Northern Hills Steamboat Rock Campground Northern Hills Strawberry Campground Northern Hills Timon Campground

The authorized officer for this business opportunity is the Forest Supervisor for the Black Hills National Forest.

Shawn Cochran Black Hills National Forest 1019 N 5th Street Custer, SD 57730

The current permit for this concession expires on December 31st, 2025. Over the past three years, this concession has generated the following gross revenues:

Table 2. Three Year Average Gross Revenue

Year Gross Revenue

2022 $1,028,891.48 2023 $1,007,635.47 2024 $1,310,801.26

Three Year Average Gross Revenue $1,115,776.07 These totals only include camping fees and day-use fees, no additional amenities.

B. Area Description

Overview of the Black Hills National Forest The 1.2 million-acre Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) is situated in south-western South Dakota and north-eastern Wyoming (see Appendix 1 Area and Vicinity Maps). The BHNF covers an area approximately 125 miles long and 65 miles wide within the following counties: Crook, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, and Weston.

The Forest contains 11 reservoirs, 30 campgrounds, 26 picnic areas, 2 scenic byways, 1,300 miles of streams, 13,426 acres of wilderness, over 1,600 miles of motorized and non-motorized trails, and much more.

Popular activities in the Black Hills area include camping, hiking, sightseeing, mountain biking, four-wheel touring, horseback riding, scenic driving, fishing, and hunting. Winter sports such as snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing on the area lakes are also popular.

The BHNF is easily accessed by several major highways and receives over 1 million recreation visits annually. Over the past 10-15 years, the area has become a popular vacation destination with average stays of more than three to four days. Visitors come from across South Dakota, Wyoming, and several states in the Upper Midwest and Great Plains. During the late summer and early fall seasons, international visitation increases substantially. The Forest is located at a key intersection of tourism corridors with Interstate 90 and South Dakota Highways providing access to the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial, as well as Yellowstone regions to the west.

The Black Hills rise from the adjacent grasslands into forestland dominated by ponderosa pine, with inclusions of spruce, aspen, and oak. It is an “Island in the Plains” with the diversity of wildlife and plants reaching from the eastern forests to the western plains. The topography of the Black Hills is best described as gently rolling hills, with elevations varying from about 3,000 feet on the surrounding prairie to over 7,000 feet at the highest point – Black Elk Peak.

The summertime climate is generally mild with daily average temperatures ranging from highs of 65-95 degrees F., to lows of 30-60 degrees F. Summer days are mostly clear and sunny; however, afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are fairly common early in the season.

Although it is not a routine occurrence, snow is possible in late May and early June, especially in the northern hills and in the higher elevations of the central and southern hills. In general, winter snows have melted from most sites by mid to late April, while some southern sites receive very little snowfall during most years.

For general information on the Black Hills National Forest and the sites included in the prospectus, refer to the forest webpage (https://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills).

C. Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities The description of each developed recreation site included in this prospectus is found in Appendix 20 Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities. Please use descriptions in Appendix 20 together with the maps of developed sites in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3, Inventory of Government-Furnished Property.

D. Government Furnished Property The Forest Service will provide certain property in conjunction with the concession campground special use permit (see Appendix 3 of the prospectus). Included in this inventory are a description, the quantity, and the estimated replacement cost of the applicable property.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills

E. Government Furnished Supplies The Forest Service will not furnish any supplies for day-to-day operation of the concession.

Government-furnished supplies will be limited to those necessary for programmatic consistency, including:

• Forms to report use and revenue (see appendix 5).

• A copy of the Forest Service publications, “Cleaning Recreation Sites,” “In-Depth Design and Maintenance Manual for Vault Toilets,” and “Vault Toilet Pumping Contract Specifications and Guidelines for Preparing Contracts.”

• Title VI signs.

F. Utilities and Waste Management Certain utilities and infrastructure exist for the developed recreation sites identified in this prospectus. The permit holder will be responsible for securing, managing, and paying for these utilities. Applicants should contact current service providers to obtain estimated costs for the utilities. These utilities are listed below in Table 3.

Table 3. Utilities Service Contact Electrical Black Hills Energy

PO Box 6006 Rapid City, SD 57709

(888) 890-5554

Black Hills Electric Coop 25191 Cooperative Way

PO Box 792 Custer, SD 57730

(800) 742-0085 Garbage Sander Sanitation

7481 Stagestop Road Black Hawk, SD 57718

(605) 342-1088 sandersanitation.com

Liquid & Solid Waste Disposal Anderson Excavation & Sanitation 3435 N Fairground Loop

Spearfish, SD 57783

(715) 455-1404

Hills Septic

7481 Stagestop Road Black Hawk, SD 57718

(605) 348-3293

Service Contact Phone Golden West Telecommunications

415 Crown Street Wall, SD 57790

(855) 888-7777 goldenwest.com

Century Link

Rapid City, SD 57701

(800) 603-6000 centurylink.com

Water – Sundance Campground

Sundance campground receives municipal water from the City of Sundance. The current concessionaire pays the city directly approximately $44 a month when operating. The City of Sundance must be contacted directly by the concessionaire to request turn on and shutoff of the system. All other water system operations and maintenance outlined in Appendix 9 are the responsibility of the concessionaire.

Water – Reuter Campground

Reuter campground has a water system tie-in with Vista West Subdivision. The concessionaire pays Vista West directly approximately $44 a month when operating. The concessionaire is responsible for contacting Vista West regarding system turn on and shutoff and performing all water system operations and maintenance, see Appendix 9 for further details.

II. Forest Service Concession Programs and Policies Government-owned concessions are authorized by special use permits issued under Section 7 of the Granger-Thye (GT) Act, 16 U.S.C. 580d, and implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 251, Subpart B.

In addition, there are certain Forest Service programs and policies that apply to campground concession. All applications must be consistent with these requirements.

A. Recreation.gov The Black Hills National Forest participates in Recreation.gov, which provides nationwide, toll-free telephone reservations for single-family or group camping sites, rental cabins, permits, tours, tickets, and other recreational facilities. Visitors pay the camping fee at the time they make a reservation, and no fees are collected at the site (although the permit holder may allow occupancy of any site that is unreserved and charge on site for that use). Recreation.gov is part of the Recreation One-Stop Program, which is managed by the Washington Office Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff. The Forest Service contacts and program managers for Recreation.gov are listed below. Applicants should not contact the Recreation.gov contractor directly.

Table 4. Rec.gov contacts Name Location Contact

Bryan Fons Region 2 Phone: (303) 328-5715 Email: bryan.fons@usda.gov

Griffin Schireman Forest Service Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR)

Phone: (202) 360-7234 Email:

griffin.schireman@usda.gov

Recreation.gov is the only authorized reservation system for Forest Service-developed recreation sites, including but not limited to campgrounds, cabins, and group use areas. Applicants may recommend adding sites to or deleting sites from Recreation.gov or changing the number of sites that may be reserved, the minimum number of days per reservation, or the location of sites that may be reserved. The permit holder also may make these recommendations during the term of the permit. The authorized officer will decide whether to accept or reject the recommendations.

Under Recreation.gov, the following guidelines must be followed, unless there are compelling operational reasons:

1. For each developed recreation site included in Recreation.gov, at least 60 percent of the units must be available for reservations. The rest of the units may be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservation windows vary by type of site and are as follows:

• Individual campsites: from 6 months to 0-4 days prior to arrival date, depending on location.

• Group use areas: from 12 months to 0-4 days prior to arrival date, depending on location.

2. When Recreation.gov is utilized, the permit holder is responsible for on-site administration and will be required to:

• Obtain daily arrival reports (DARs) each morning by establishing at least one central facsimile location, email address, or other means of obtaining and distributing DARs.

• Develop a system for posting reservations at the sites so other visitors know which units are reserved.

• Post and hold reserved sites for 26 hours past the posted check-in time.

• Ensure that the party with the reservation is the party using the site.

• Resolve any disputes over the use of reserved sites by drop-in campers.

• Verify that visitors hold a valid federal pass (listed below) before giving the discount on fees for those passes (see section II.B). Do not discount fees if a visitor cannot present a valid pass.

♦ Golden Age or Golden Access Passport.

♦ America the Beautiful–The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass or Access Pass.

♦ Other passes as required by the authorized officer and described in this prospectus, such as local area passes.

• Develop inventory data for sites being added to Recreation.gov, and update data for sites including fees charged the public and temporary site closures. Submit data updates to Recreation.gov at least annually.

• Communicate to Recreation.gov any emergency closures or other relevant operational changes as they occur.

• Approve customer refunds as appropriate and process them through Recreation.gov. Refund policies can be found at Recreation.gov (https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies).

Because reservations can be made up to a year in advance for group sites and up to 6 months in advance for family sites, Recreation.gov is currently accepting reservations for the upcoming operating season. Fees received by Recreation.gov will be held by the Forest Service and distributed following issuance of a special use permit to the successful applicant. In the final year of the permit, fees will be held in the same manner until a new permit is issued. The permit holder will honor reservations made prior to issuance of the permit at the price in effect when the reservations were made. If funds are distributed prematurely for dates outside the permit term, a bill for collection will to be issued to the permit holder.

Bear Gulch and Sheridan Lake North Cove Group Campgrounds: There have been multiple past instances where a group has reserved these sites for an extended period of time (one month or more) using multiple email addresses to appear as different parties to Recreation.gov’s reservation system. These groups then cancel the majority of the reservation, keeping only a portion of the originally reserved time (about one week) shortly before the original reservation window would begin. This prevents others from being able to reserve the sites during these original timeframes and leaves a short window of availability for others to make a reservation once cancelled resulting in the site often sitting fully empty during the busier season. In an effort to prevent this, the current concessionaire is working with Recreation.gov to implement a required downpayment of 50% of the fees at the time the reservation is made. This downpayment is only refundable if a cancellation is made at least 60 days prior to the reservation start date. This is only being implemented at Bear Gulch and Sheridan Lake North Cove Group Campgrounds at this time. Effectiveness of this new reservation approach will be monitored by the Forest and current concessionaire. Based on its effectiveness, the Forest may work with the selected applicant and Recreation.gov in future seasons to continue this approach or attempt other potential solutions.

B. Pass Discounts The permit holder must provide a 50 percent discount on recreation fees charged under REA at developed recreation sites covered by this prospectus to holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports, as well as holders of the Interagency Senior and Access Passes.

Specifically, holders of these passes are entitled to a 50 percent discount on the fee for a single campsite occupied by the pass holders. The pass holders are not entitled to a discount on the fee for a multiple-family campsite, cabin, or group use area or any additional campsites occupied by those accompanying the pass holders. The 50 percent campsite discount does not include utility, water, or any other hookup fees.

Any loss of fee revenue from honoring the passes should be factored into applicants’ bids.

https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

The permit holder will not be required to offer discounts on camping to holders of the Annual or Volunteer Pass.

The following is a list of sites covered by this prospectus where the 50 percent discount for passes applies:

All single sites within campgrounds listed in Table 1. Site List

Standard Amenity Recreation Fee Sites Under REA [Reserved]. The Forest Service is proposing a revision to FSM 2344.3 to address treatment of standard amenity recreation fee sites in the concession program. The agency reserves the right to amend a special use permit issued under this prospectus to be consistent with any change in that directive.

See Table 1. Site List for a list of day use sites where a Standard Amenity Fee is charged.

C. Camp Stamps Camp stamps must be honored at their face value and submitted to the authorized officer for reimbursement.

D. Site Closure The Forest Service reserves the right to close all or a portion of any area in this prospectus for repair; construction; floods, snow, extreme fire danger, or other natural events; wildlife protection; or risks to public health and safety. The Forest Service shall not be liable to the permit holder for lost revenue, operating costs, or any other losses resulting from these closures.

However, for fee calculation purposes, the permit shall be placed in non-use status as provided by FSH 2709.11, section 31.23.

Highway 385 Construction

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is reconstructing a portion of Highway 385 to feature safety improvements, improve traffic flow, and meet current design standards. This construction is planned to begin in 2025 and continue into 2026. This construction may impact access to sites around Pactola Reservoir, Sheridan Lake, and Roubaix Lake.

Information on this project can be found on the project website (https://us-385.com/).

Strawberry Recreation Area

Road construction is anticipated to take place in 2026 on the road just outside of Strawberry Recreation Area, Highway 385. This construction may impact access to the site. The Forest is currently in correspondence to further define construction plans and will communicate these to the concessionaire as they are developed.

E. Administrative Use If the Forest Service requires the permit holder to provide a service for the agency, the permit holder will be compensated for that use.

https://us-385.com/

F. Applicable Forest Orders Forest Orders may be issued to address a variety of management concerns on a particular forest.

Sample orders related to the offering are identified in Appendix 4. Additional applicable forest orders may be issued in the future.

G. Fee Tickets and Compilation of Use and Revenue Data The permit holder must provide fee tickets to visitors that include at least the following information:

• The site number and total amount paid.

• The date of issuance and number of days paid for.

• If a pass is used, the pass number.

• The number of people in the group.

• The number of vehicles and their license plate numbers.

The permit holder must provide use and revenue data to the Forest Service (see Appendix 5 of the prospectus for a sample use report). Use reports must be completed monthly and at the end of the operating season for each developed recreation site, provided that when the holder performs GT fee offset work in lieu of paying the land use fee in cash, use reports may be submitted quarterly, rather than monthly. At a minimum, monthly and year-end use reports must include:

• The total number of units occupied based on daily counts.

• The total number of people based on daily counts.

• The percentage of occupancy by month.

• Total recreation fee revenue.

• Total fee revenue for other goods and services.

• The total number of Camp Stamps collected.

• The total number of passes used.

In addition, year-end use reports must include:

• Total fee revenue collected under the NRRS.

• Total taxes paid.

• Total gross revenue.

• Total net revenue.

H. Customer Service Comment Cards The permit holder must provide a customer service comment card to visitors at each developed recreation site (see Appendix 6 of the prospectus).

I. Performance Evaluations At a minimum, the Forest Service will perform a year-end performance evaluation within four months of the close of the operating season (see Appendix 7 of the prospectus). An unsatisfactory rating may be cause for suspension or revocation of the special use permit. Sustained satisfactory performance is required for a permit extension.

J. Accessibility The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require new or altered facilities to be accessible, with few exceptions. In 2004, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) issued revised accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities subject to the ABA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These new guidelines are called the ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines. In 2006, the Forest Service issued the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG).

The FSORAG addresses types of recreational facilities, including developed recreation sites that are not covered by ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines.

Any Government maintenance, reconditioning, renovation, or improvement (see section III.C) must meet ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, where applicable, as well as the FSORAG.

The FSORAG and the ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines are posted on the Forest Service’s website at (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recreation/programs/accessibility/). Questions regarding ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines may be referred to the Access Board at www.access-board.gov. Questions regarding the FSORAG may be referred to the accessibility coordinator for the local National Forest.

The permit holder is responsible for ensuring effective communication with visitors with disabilities, including persons with impaired vision or hearing, so that all visitors may obtain information on accessible services, activities, and facilities.

K. Camping Unit Capacity Number of Vehicles Per Camping Unit

A single-family camping unit may accommodate one vehicle. A “vehicle” is defined as any motorized conveyance, except that for purposes of vehicular capacity, two motorcycles are considered one vehicle. Additional vehicles may be allowed at a camping unit, if the camping unit can safely accommodate them. When extra vehicles are allowed, an extra fee of up to 50 percent of the camping unit fee may be charged for each extra vehicle. If an extra vehicle exceeds the camping unit capacity (i.e., the extra vehicle causes a safety hazard or resource damage), the customer may be required to pay for an additional camping unit or park in an overflow parking area, if available. One towed vehicle per single camping unit will be allowed for no extra charge if it can be parked completely on the surfaced area and does not create a safety hazard. Examples of towed vehicles include a boat trailer or a car towed by a motor home.

Group Site Capacity

The capacity established for group sites is as follows:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recreation/programs/accessibility/ http://www.access-board.gov/

Table 5. Group Site Capacity Facility / Site Name People Vehicles

Sheridan Lake – Beaver Group Area 25 15 Sheridan Lake – Deer Group Area 30 15 Sheridan Lake – Otter Group Area 60 25

Sheridan Lake – Ranger Group Area 100 40 Sheridan Lake – Squirrel Group Area 55 20

Bear Gulch Group Area 40 10

Day-Use Site Capacity

Table 6. Day-Use Capacity Facility / Site Name People Vehicles

Bismark Lake Day-Use Area 21 10 Cook Lake Recreation Area 150 22

Dakota Point Picnic Area 45 18 Lakota Lake Day-Use Area 135 15

Lake Shore Picnic Area 85 34 Mountain City Picnic Area 70 28 Pactola Point Picnic Area 55 22 Spring Creek Picnic Area 50 20

L. Stay Limit Campers at overnight sites will be limited to a 14-day stay limit during any consecutive 30-day period.

M. Fees Charged to the Public The permit holder may charge the public fees only to the extent that the Forest Service can charge recreation fees under REA. All recreation fees must be specified per developed recreation site.

The holder must honor the proposed pricing through the first full operating season. Thereafter, the holder may propose price adjustments with justification.

Permit holders may not charge for any of the following:

• Solely for parking, undesignated parking, or picnicking along roads or trailsides.

• General access, unless specifically authorized by REA.

• Dispersed areas with low or no investment, unless specifically authorized by REA.

• Persons who are driving through, walking through, boating through, horseback riding through, or hiking through NFS lands without using the recreational facilities and services for which a fee is charged.

• Camping at undeveloped sites that do not provide the minimum number of facilities and services prescribed by REA.

• Use of overlooks or scenic pullouts.

• Travel by private, noncommercial vehicle over any national parkway or any road or highway in the Federal-aid System that is commonly used by the public as a means of travel between two places, either or both of which are outside an area in which recreation fees are charged.

• Travel by private, noncommercial vehicle, boat, or aircraft over any road, highway, waterway, or airway to any land in which the person traveling has a property right, if the land is in an area in which recreation fees are charged.

• Any person who has a right of access for hunting or fishing privileges under a specific provision of law or treaty.

• Any person who is engaged in the conduct of official federal, state, tribal, or local government business.

• Special attention or extra services necessary to meet the needs of the disabled.

N. Law Enforcement Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2342.1, Exhibit 01, addresses the law enforcement authorities and responsibilities of concessionaires, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the Forest Service at concession campgrounds. See Appendix 8 of the prospectus.

O. Other Pertinent Information Storage Areas

The previous concessionaire has utilized multiple locations throughout the Forest to store items utilized for Granger-Thye projects. Some of these locations have included a lot behind a locked gate at the Supervisors Office in Hells Canyon Ranger District, space behind the Nemo Work Center in Northern Hills Ranger District, and a storage yard at Hill City on Mystic Ranger District. Other areas on the Forest could be identified as needed on a case-by-case basis. Storage of items cannot inhibit public use.

Endangered Species

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has classified the Northern Long-Eared Bat (NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The NLEB hibernates in caves and mines during winter. It uses snags and trees with cavities and cracks for day roosts and maternity roosts during the summer. They also may occur in buildings during the summer. See the US Fish and Wildlife Service website for more information (https://www.fws.gov/species/northern-long-eared-bat-myotis-septentrionalis). Other species of concern within the BHNF include the Tricolor Bat and Monarch Butterfly. Due to a combination of active species seasons, such as pup season for the NLEB and Tricolor Bats, the ‘safe zone’ for tree removal that will not impact species is October 1 through April 30. Tree removal outside of this ‘safe zone’ timeframe, with the exception of hazard trees, must have prior approval from the Forest.

Archaeological Resources and Historic Preservation

The permit holder will have to coordinate any potentially ground-disturbing projects with the Forest Service before any work is started to prevent disturbance to any cultural resources. The https://www.fws.gov/species/northern-long-eared-bat-myotis-septentrionalis permit holder will have to notify Forest Service law enforcement personnel immediately of any unauthorized disturbance of a cultural resource site. Before any ground disturbing maintenance occurs at Redbank campground, Horsethief campground, or Grizzly Bear campground the holder must notify the Forest Service. The Forest must also be contacted prior to any maintenance occurring for the standing structures of Grizzly Bear campground.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) culverts are present in the Roubaix, Dalton, and Steamboat campgrounds. These culverts should only be cleaned by hand due to the age of the structures.

Hazard Tree Removal

The permit holder will have to conduct pre-season inspection of the campgrounds to identify existing and potential hazards, including hazard trees. The permit holder also will be responsible for monitoring and identifying hazard trees during the operating season. After securing written approval from the authorized officer, the permit holder’s financial responsibility for removing hazard trees and associated slash will not exceed 1% per year. The annual operating plan will address appropriate disposal of hazard trees and slash.

Butane and Propane Installations

For safety and regulatory reasons, the permit holder is not allowed to install or store bulk butane or propane.

Marina Operations

Separate special use permits are in place at Pactola North Boat Launch, Sheridan North Boat Launch, and Sheridan South campground for the operation of a marina. These marinas are located within the associated day-use areas included in this offering. Marina customers pay a fee to the marina to keep boats there. Part of the parking area is also designated for the marina customers.

The selected applicant shall coordinate directly with the marina to make appropriate arrangements to ensure marina customers are not hindered from accessing the marina and make any arrangements associated with the day-use fee collection. Historically, the holder has issued one annual pass to marina slip-holders which has allowed marina customers to access the area without fees to conduct marina business.

Optional Programs and Services

The BHNF has a strong interest in proposals which include optional programs and services identified in Appendix 9, Minimum Content of the Proposed Annual Operating Plan, sections 18 and 19. Items of particular interest to the Forest include innovative fee collection methods, the incorporation of interpretive programs, and the development of recycling services. The inclusion of and detail in proposal, including elements such as applicable sites, of these items will be evaluated as part of the Proposed Annual Operating Plan. Proposal of any associated fees to the public are required and will be evaluated as part of the Proposed Fees to the Public.

Off-Season Site Use

Several sites are available for public use during the off-season and managed by the BHNF. The BHNF will coordinate this use with the holder to ensure the site is left in a serviceable condition at the close of the applicable off-season. This may include pumping the vault toilets, cleaning fire rings, trash pickup, etc. The BHNF will coordinate with the holder in respect to the winter use and levels of waste in vault toilets. See Appendix 9, Sample Operating Plan, for specific closing requirements.

Non-Fee and High Use Sites

Several sites within the prospectus contain access to or are in proximity to current non-fee sites, such as trailheads. One site within the prospectus contains sole access to a non-prospectus site.

Some sites in the offering also see high use levels around holidays, such as 4th of July and Labor Day, which can lead to high quantities of vehicles and persons. See Appendix 9, Minimum Content of the Proposed Annual Operating Plan, section 17 for further information on these scenarios as well as the expectations of the holder.

Ceremonial Tribal Use

Beaver Creek campground in the Hell Canyon Ranger District is often utilized by local tribes for a spiritual gathering, typically in mid-June, on (or around) the summer solstice. Historically, the Forest and concessionaire have not received advanced notice of the intended dates for this use from the tribes. It is common for the campground to be fully utilized by the participating tribes, and in some instances, the activity has displaced other campers that were not aware of the gathering. The Forest is in efforts to improve communication and coordination with the tribes.

The permit holder will be included or informed of any correspondence that may take place during the permit term related to this use. In past years, the concessionaire has not charged any fees for the use of the campsites and/or amenities. It should also be noted that the gathering has witnessed participation numbers exceeding 100 people, which exceeds the five-person maximum limit for each campsite.

Special Use Events

Iron Mountain Road (Hwy 16A) between Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, mainly within the Hell Canyon Ranger District, hosts the Rushmore Half Marathon (road race) in mid to late September of each year. Although no specific concessionaire-operated sites are used for the special use event, two sites may be impacted by temporary road closures and/or staging areas for law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc. The potentially affected sites include Grizzly campground and Lakota Lake Day-Use Area, both of which are within the Ranger District. The concessionaire will be notified by the Forest in advance of the race and related logistics for their planning purposes and/or staff awareness.

Pactola Swim Beach and surrounding area in the Mystic Ranger District are used annually over the second weekend of July for a special use permit – Pure Pactola 5K Swim. Organizers of the event use the beach for their start/finish location and begin the event prior to the normal business hours. The event coordinator and Permit Administrator will work with the concessionaire to ensure that the swim beach area is open for the event, and that all vehicles that utilize the Pactola Swim Beach parking facility are compliant with parking regulations and fee payments.

Roubaix Lake Picnic Area in the Northern Hills Ranger District is used annually in mid-May by East Middle School in Rapid City, South Dakota for an end-of-the-year fishing field trip.

Traditionally, this activity occurs prior to the concessionaire managing the site. Because of this, the school works directly with the Ranger District on arrangements, gate openings, etc. This information is being provided only for concessionaire awareness in case seasonal opening dates and/or field trip dates are modified and/or overlap.

Roubaix Lake Picnic Area and Beach in the Northern Hills Ranger District is used annually by the Boxelder Job Corps for a late-season picnic with their students. It is not on a recurring date each year; however, the Job Corps contacts the Ranger District in advance of the preferred date.

In turn, the Ranger District works directly with the concessionaire to set aside the picnic sites and make any arrangements for staff communication, internal awareness, etc. In past years, the concessionaire has not charged Job Corps for the use of the picnic area and beach, however that is at the discretion of the concessionaire.

Hanna campground in the Northern Hills Ranger District is often used by colleges and universities, such as the University of Wisconsin, for field trips related to natural resources, public land management, etc. The current concessionaire has sometimes waived camping and/or applicable amenity fees for the academic institutions. This information is being provided for concessionaire awareness.

Reuter campground in the Bearlodge Ranger District is used annually as the start/finish line for the Bearlodge Mountain Classic Bicycle Race, usually the second or third Sunday in September.

The race organizer and participants typically reserve campsites on a first-come, first-serve bases the night(s) before the event. The race is open to approximately 160 participants; however, in recent years turnout has been below 100 participants. This event is under a recreation special use permit that expires in 2025. The start and end location(s) is subject to change, but Reuter campground will continue to be utilized by race participants.

Forest Pass

The Forest is strongly considering development and implementation of a Forest Pass which would be applicable to multiple sites across the Black Hills National Forest. It has not been determined at this time which sites would be included and what fees would be in place for this pass if implemented. The Forest will notify the holder of any pass implementation plans and inquire whether the holder would honor these passes and, potentially, have an interest in arrangements allowing them to sell the passes as well.

III. Special Use Permit In exercising the rights and privileges granted by the special use permit, the permit holder must comply with all present and future federal laws and regulations and all present and future state, county, and municipal laws, regulations, and other legal requirements that apply to the permit area, to the extent they do not conflict with federal law, regulation, or policy. The Forest Service assumes no responsibility for enforcing laws, regulations, and other legal requirements that fall under the jurisdiction of other governmental entities.

A. Permit Term The permit term will be for up to 5 years, with an option to extend the term for up to an additional 5 years at the sole discretion of the authorized officer. The decision to extend the term will depend, in part, on sustained satisfactory performance of the permit holder. Upon expiration of the permit, continuation of the permitted activity will be at the sole discretion of the authorized officer and will be subject to a competitive offering. A new prospectus will be issued during the final year of the permit term.

If the decision to select a permit holder is appealed, a permit will not be issued until the appeal has been resolved, unless operation is needed during the appeal, in which case a permit with a term of one year or less may be issued.

B. Permit Holder Responsibilities This section highlights the requirements of the special use permit, which is contained in Appendix 10 of the prospectus. Applicants are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all permit requirements that govern the operation covered by this prospectus.

Responsibility for Day-to-Day Activities

As a general rule, the holder will be required to conduct the day-to-day activities authorized by the permit. Some, but not all, of these activities may be conducted by someone other than the permit holder, but only with the prior written approval of the authorized officer. The permit holder will continue to be responsible for compliance with all the terms of the permit.

Permit Holder-Furnished Supplies and Equipment

The permit holder will be required to provide all vehicles, equipment, and supplies necessary to operate the authorized developed recreation sites in accordance with the special use permit.

Holder-Furnished Vehicles

The permit holder may not use all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, or motorbicycles in the campgrounds. The holder may propose use of golf carts or other similar vehicles to facilitate daily maintenance of the facilities. If authorized, carts must stay on designated roads or trails while driving between sites or loops.

Holder Maintenance, Reconditioning, or Renovation (MRR)

Maintenance, reconditioning, and renovation are defined in the permit (FS-2700-4h, clause V.D.1(d)). Holder MRR is defined as maintenance, reconditioning, or renovation that neither materially adds to the value of the property nor appreciably prolongs its life. The work serves only to keep the facility in an ordinary, efficient operating condition. From an accounting or tax perspective, it is work that may be expensed, but not capitalized. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the holder must obtain any licenses and certified inspections required by regulatory agencies and follow state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances and industry standards or codes applicable to the permitted operation (FS-2700-4h, clause IV.H.1). The permit holder, at its expense, will be required to perform holder MRR under a holder MRR plan (FS- 2700-4h, clause II.D and V.F). The holder MRR plan will describe required holder MRR and its frequency. The holder MRR plan will become part of the permit holder's annual operating plan.

C. Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement The federal government owns all the improvements at the developed recreation sites covered by this prospectus. Under Section 7 of the Granger-Thye (GT) Act and the terms of the permit, the permit fee may be offset in whole or in part by the value of Government maintenance, reconditioning, renovation, and improvement (MRRI) performed at the permit holder’s expense.

Government MRRI is defined as maintenance, reconditioning, renovation, or improvement that arrests deterioration, improves and upgrades facilities, and appreciably prolongs the life of the property. Government maintenance, reconditioning, renovation or improvement, whether performed by the holder or the Forest Service, shall be performed at the sole discretion of the authorized officer. See Appendix 14 of the prospectus and FS-2700-4h, clause V.D.1(e).

All Government MRRI shall be enumerated in an annual GT fee offset agreement signed by the holder and the Forest Service in advance of the operating season (see Appendix 11 of the prospectus and FS-2700-4h, Appendix B). Alternatively, a multi-year fee GT fee offset agreement can be prepared for consolidated fee payments. A list of sample Government MRRI projects is included in Appendix 12 of the prospectus.

The holder must perform GT fee offset work. When that work includes construction that costs more than $2,000, it is subject to the Davis-Bacon Act and the GT fee offset agreement must contain Davis-Bacon Act wage provisions. Additionally, indirect costs may be offset provided the holder submits either a currently approved indirect cost rate or accounting procedures and supporting documentation to determine an indirect cost rate (see Appendix 13 of the prospectus).

The holder’s claims for GT fee offset must be documented using the FS-2700-4h, Appendix H, Granger-Thye Fee Offset Certification Form (see Appendix 14 of the prospectus). This form requires the holder to itemize allowable costs incurred for an approved GT fee offset project and to certify the accuracy and completeness of claims.

D. Insurance Liability Insurance

The successful applicant must have liability insurance covering losses associated with the use and occupancy authorized by the permit arising from personal injury or death and third-party property damage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 for injury or death to one person per occurrence;

$1,000,000 for injury or death to more than one person per occurrence; and $25,000 for third-party property damage per occurrence, or in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 as a combined single limit per occurrence. Insurance policies must name the USDA Forest Service as an additional insured (see Appendix 10 of the prospectus and FS-2400-4h, clause III.K).

E. Bonding The permit holder will provide a performance bond in the amount of $75,000. The bond may take the form of corporate surety, Treasury bills, notes or other negotiable securities, cash deposits, irrevocable letters of credit, assignment of savings accounts, or assignment of certificates of deposit. The authorized officer may reevaluate the need for or the amount of the bond after the first operating season.

IV. Application A. Instructions for Submitting Applications Applicants must submit a written application for all developed recreation sites offered in this prospectus.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the sites at least once before submitting an application (see Appendices 1 and 2, vicinity and area maps and maps of developed recreation sites).

Forest Led Facility Tour

A facility tour led by the Forest is scheduled for July 8th - 9th. Interested parties must RSVP to Bradley Block at 605-673-9239 and Bradley.Block@usda.gov by June 30th, 2025.

The information in this prospectus is from generally reliable sources, but no warranty is made as to its accuracy. Each applicant is expected to make an independent assessment of the business opportunity offered in this prospectus.

All applications must be submitted to;

Table 7. Application submittals Addressee Title Attention Address

Shawn Cochran Forest Supervisor Bradley Block 1019 N 5th Street Custer, SD 57730

Applications must be received by close of business (4:30 p.m. MST) on September 22nd, 2025.

Applicants must submit one hard copy and one electronic copy of their application to the Forest Service contact listed above. The electronic copy must be provided on a flash drive. The electronic copy must be prepared in a Microsoft Office program or PDF that allows for copying and pasting of text and must separately address each evaluation criterion listed in the prospectus.

Applications will not be returned to applicants.

Please ensure that all requested information is submitted. Missing or incomplete information will result in a lower rating for the corresponding evaluation criteria.

Applications must be signed. The person signing for an entity must have authority to sign for that entity. Applicants must include their address, telephone number, facsimile number, and email address.

Corporations also must include:

• Evidence of incorporation and good standing.

• If reasonably obtainable, the name and address of each shareholder owning 3 percent or more of the corporation’s shares and the number and percentage of any class of voting shares that each shareholder is authorized to vote.

• The name and address of each affiliate of the corporation.

• If an affiliate is controlled by the corporation, the number of shares and the percentage of any class of voting stock of the affiliate owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation.

• If an affiliate controls the corporation, the number of shares and the percentage of any class of voting stock of the corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the affiliate.

Partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), associations, or other unincorporated entities must submit a certified copy of the partnership agreement or other documentation establishing the entity or a certificate of good standing under the laws of the state where the entity is located.

Applicants should contact Bradley Block at 605-673-9239 and bradley.block@usda.gov regarding any…