Sources_Sought_2.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT

TITLE: Staffing for Visitor Transportation Services for Glacier National Park

NOTICE ID: 140PP027Q0007

POSTED DATE: October 7, 2026

RESPONSE DATE: October 21, 2026

SET ASIDE: TBD - Market Research Only

NAICS CODE: 561320 - Temporary Help Services

SIZE STANDARD: $34.0M

1. DISCLAIMER

This Sources Sought Notice is issued for market research purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government is not obligated to issue a solicitation or award a contract as a result of this notice. Responses to this notice are not considered offers.

2. AGENCY INFORMATION

Department of the Interior Contracting Operations (ConOps) Central

Point of Contact:

Stacy Vallie Stacy_Vallie@ios.doi.gov

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The Department of the Interior is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified contractors capable of providing bus drivers and other personnel necessary to support the Visitor Transportation System (VTS) at Glacier National Park. The objective of this requirement is to obtain qualified personnel who will provide safe, professional, courteous, informative (non-interpretive), and timely service to visitors traveling to Logan Pass. Timely service shall not come at the expense of safety, professionalism, or courtesy.

The park's VTS will operate efficiently, remain visitor-friendly in all aspects of the system, and support efforts to reduce congestion on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR).

The Contractor shall provide all VTS bus drivers and staff necessary to provide the VTS in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, Title 49, CFR Part 383, controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, Medical Advisory Criteria for Evaluation under 49 CFR Part 391.41, National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 10, and the State of Montana Department of Transportation.

The park has two main VTS start points at each end of the GTSR known as the Apgar Visitor Center on the west and the St. Mary Visitor Center on the east. These serve as the VTS hubs for the park with routes emanating from each along the GTSR.

Schedules for the routes of the VTS are developed by the National Park Service (NPS) with the emphasis on providing reliable route starts and maintaining headway throughout the day and not on meeting specific times along the routes. Many factors affect schedules, including traffic congestion, wildlife, motor vehicle accidents, and construction, which are beyond the control of the drivers.

Maintenance of the VTS fleet is handled through the park’s Auto Shops. The park’s mechanics will make all determinations regarding service and repairs required. If the need for manufacturer maintenance is required, the park’s mechanics will coordinate with the appropriate dealership for those needs. All decisions by the park mechanics concerning the mechanical and safety disposition of the buses are final.

Buses are housed in two areas of the park. There is a dedicated parking lot in West Glacier adjacent to the Headquarters building and next to the bus wash facility. In St. Mary, the buses are housed in an area referred to as the ballfield. These parking areas are where the drivers park their personal cars and report at the beginning of their shifts to conduct pre-trip inspections. Drivers then proceed to the Transit Center in their area of the park to check in with Dispatch and the Deputy Leads.

A significant amount of information about the park, past operations, and future plans, is located at www.nps.gov/glac.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The current five-year contract for these services will end on April 7, 2027. The Government anticipates acquiring a one-year requirement for approximately April 8, 2027, through April 7, 2028, to maintain uninterrupted VTS operations while the Government completes acquisition of a new Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a potential ordering period of up to five years. The requirements of the anticipated IDIQ contract will differ from those of this one-year requirement and are not the subject of this Sources Sought Notice.

5. SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

The Government is conducting market research to determine the availability and capability of small businesses and socioeconomic small business concerns to perform this requirement from the following:

• Small Business

• Small Disadvantaged Business

• 8(a)

• HUBZone

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

• Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

• Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business (EDWOSB)

• Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE)

6. REQUESTED INFORMATION

Interested firms should submit a capability statement that includes:

i. Business Information (complete and return with the requested information below):

Name of Firm:

Address:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

UEI Number:

Business Size Under NAICS 561320:

ii. Size and Socioeconomic Status: Please mark all that apply and provide the requested information. (See FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs):

iii. Relevant Experience:

Provide a description of up to three contracts or projects performed within the past five years that demonstrate experience providing transportation, shuttle, transit, bus, or similar passenger transportation services.

For each project, provide:

a. Project/contract name and location;

b. Contract or project dollar value;

c. Period of performance;

d. Number and type of vehicles operated, if applicable;

e. Approximate number of drivers/personnel provided;

f. Description of transportation services performed, including experience operating scheduled shuttle or transit services;

g. Experience providing services in a national park, public lands, remote location, or other challenging operating environment, if applicable;

h. Experience complying with applicable Federal, state, and local transportation, driver qualification, safety, drug and alcohol testing, and commercial driver's license requirements; and

i. Customer name and point of contact information.

iv. Technical Capability Describe the firm's capability to perform the required Visitor Transportation Services, including, as applicable:

a. Experience recruiting, qualifying, training, scheduling, and managing bus drivers and other transportation personnel;

b. Experience operating scheduled shuttle, transit, or passenger transportation systems;

c. Experience managing transportation operations in high-volume visitor, tourist, public-use, or similarly demanding environments;

d. Experience complying with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and applicable state transportation requirements;

e. Experience administering driver qualification, medical certification, CDL, drug and alcohol testing, and other applicable safety requirements;

f. Ability to provide sufficient qualified personnel to support the required operating schedule, including the ability to address vacancies, absences, turnover, and other staffing requirements; and

g. Experience coordinating transportation operations with Government personnel, dispatchers, maintenance personnel, or other operational staff.

v. Operational Capacity Describe the firm's ability to provide the personnel and management resources necessary to perform the requirement, including:

a. Current transportation contracts and anticipated commitments during the period of performance;

b. Number of qualified drivers and other personnel currently available or reasonably available for assignment;

c. Recruiting and retention capabilities;

d. Management and supervisory structure; and

e. Ability to rapidly replace personnel who become unavailable during the operating season; and

f. Experience managing seasonal or fluctuating workforce requirements.

g. Anticipated availability of qualified personnel to support the Government's anticipated April 2027 through April 2028 period of performance.

vi. Interest in Future Solicitation:

a. Statement of interest in competing for this requirement if a solicitation is issued.

7. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses shall be no longer than five (5) pages and submitted electronically in PDF format.

Submit responses to Stacy_Vallie@ios.doi.gov

Subject line shall read, “Sources Sought Response – Visitor Transportation Services for Glacier National Park, 140PP027Q0007”.

Responses are due no later than October 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time.

The solicitation is anticipated to be posted to SAM.gov under solicitation #140PP027Q0007 in early December 2026 or January 2027.

8. QUESTIONS

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the point of contact listed above.

9. NOTICE

This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ). Responses to this notice are not considered offers. The Government is not requesting pricing or proposals in response to this notice.