STLI001-24 Pre-Solicitation Notice 8.3.2022.pdf

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE ONLY. The National Park Service, Interior Region 1 – North Atlantic, Appalachian, intends to issue a solicitation (Prospectus) requesting proposals for a concession contract to operate passenger ferry services from approved embarkation locations in, adjoining, or in proximity to Battery Park (Manhattan) and Liberty State Park (Jersey City) to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

The Prospectus will include a detailed Business Opportunity describing the obligations of the contract as well as a draft contract and exhibits. This pre-solicitation notice provides advance information regarding ferry vessel fleet requirements so that those interested in submitting proposals for the concession contract can prepare to respond to the solicitation.

The National Park Service, working with professional engineers in marine engineering and naval architecture from the private sector as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center, conducted a study to determine the minimum passenger requirements for the fleet of vessels necessary for providing the passenger ferry service required under the concession contract. The goal of the study was to ensure the contract includes flexible fleet requirements to provide the services required to accommodate the visitation demand for Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Based on the study, the contract requires vessels with minimum passenger capacities using one of the two options set forth below:

Vessel Role Option 1 Option 2

For scheduled service from Battery Park

Four vessels with minimum passenger capacities of 799

Five vessels with minimum passenger capacities of 599

For scheduled service from Liberty State Park

Two vessels with minimum passenger capacities of 550

Two vessels with minimum passenger capacities of 550

Take-home service One vessel with minimum passenger capacities of 430

One vessel with minimum passenger capacities of 430

Backup Vessels

One vessel with a minimum passenger capacity of 799 and one vessel with a minimum passenger capacity of 430

One vessel with a minimum passenger capacity of 599 and one vessel with a minimum passenger capacity of 430

Option 1 requires the Concessioner to provide a fleet of a total of nine vessels (five 799s, two 550s, and two 430s) whereas Option 2 requires a fleet of ten vessels (six 599s, two 550s, and two 430s). For either option, one of the backup vessels must be as large as the vessels providing service to Battery Park. The Service requires vessels with this capacity in order to transport over 20,000 visitors to the islands daily during the peak season, including over 18,000 to Liberty Island alone, while limiting the number of visitors to Liberty Island to 4,500 at any one time, and allow for regular vessel maintenance (dry docking) while operating with at least one back-up vessel should the need arise.

Additionally, vessels of this size are compatible with docking facilities at both islands and the sites in New Jersey and New York City. Fleets of these sizes also allow for an evacuation of Liberty Island within 60 minutes (an operational requirement of the National Park Service).

As part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (“LMCR”) Project, New York City is undertaking a project to raise the wharf elevation at Battery Park by five feet to protect against anticipated sea level rise. See https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lmcr/progress/battery-coastal-resilience.page for updates.

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lmcr/progress/battery-coastal-resilience.page

Phased construction for the LMCR may result in a temporary change in the assigned embarkation slips at Battery Park. The Volpe Center has studied the potential impact of the LCMR project on Battery Park docking facilities and has determined there will be no impact on ferry passenger throughput.

The contract also requires the use of, at a minimum, EPA-certified Tier 3 propulsion and auxiliary engines within 1,095 days following the effective date of the concession contract.

All ferry vessels must meet the following requirements:

(a) Maximum Length. Overall length of no more than 165 feet.

(b) Maximum Draft. Draft of no more than 11 feet.

(c) Speed. Vessels must be capable of sustaining a cruising speed of 10 knots for a minimum of one hour.

(d) Berthing. Vessels must be capable of accessing, docking, and safely loading and unloading passengers at all docks and piers assigned to or used by the concessioner during all normal tidal conditions.

(e) Climate Control. Vessels must include heated interior cabin spaces providing passengers with warmth and shelter from the elements.

(f) Minimum Seating. Each vessel must include seating (combined interior and exterior) for at least 40% of the vessel’s total passenger capacity while complying with any additional requirements specified by the U.S. Coast Guard. Specifically, for vessels with the minimum passenger capacities required under the contract, the following seating will be required, based on the application of the 40% seating requirement or as specified by the U.S. Coast Guard:

• Vessels with minimum capacities of 799 passengers: At least 320 seats

• Vessels with minimum capacities of 599 passengers: At least 240 seats

• Vessels with minimum capacities of 550 passengers: At least 220 seats

• Vessels with minimum capacities of 430 passengers: At least 172 seats

(g) Onboard Food and Beverage Facilities. Vessels must have a dedicated snack bar to provide visitors with convenient access to food and beverage items. The designated snack bar space for serving customers must be no less than 150 square feet, unless otherwise approved by the National Park Service.

Ferry vessels must have restrooms, drinking water, interior and exterior seating areas, interpretive services, and food and beverage services accessible to persons with disabilities. The concessioner must provide tie-downs for wheelchairs onboard. The U.S. Access Board is developing guidelines for access to ferries and other passenger vessels. Once finalized, the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Accessibility Guidelines (PVAG) will become minimum requirements of the contract for vessel services, facilities, and amenities. Potential offerors should refer to the proposed PVAG guidelines at https://www.access-board.gov/pvag/ when determining accessibility for vessels used to provide the required and authorized services under the contract.

The Government intends to award one concession contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive bidder whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, scores the highest based on responses to the following selection factors:

https://www.access-board.gov/pvag/

Principal Selection Factor 1: protecting park resources. Bidders must provide environmental performance characteristics of vessels they plan to use in providing the required services under the contract.

Principal Selection Factor 2: ensuring a high-quality visitor experience. Bidders must describe how they will provide for visitor safety and comfort onboard ferry vessels and how they will use personnel and technology for embarkation site management.

Principal Selection Factor 3: organizational structure and experience providing similar services.

Principal Selection Factor 4: financial capability to carry on operations under the contract.

Principal Selection Factor 5: franchise fee payable to the government.

Secondary Selection Factor 1: minimizing other aspects of environmental footprint.

Secondary Selection Factor 2: out-of-park facilities. Bidders must demonstrate that they have considered how to secure out-of-park facilities to support the services under the contract.

Notice of the official solicitation (Prospectus) and applicable attachments will be provided through SAM.gov. The National Park Services intends to issue the prospectus on or about September 1, 2022 (date is subject to change) and will post the documents to the NPS Concessions website at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/prospectuses.htm.

The prospectus will contain information about interested parties’ obligation to provide notice of an intent to submit a proposal and applicable submission dates. The National Park Service intends to announce the successful bidder on or about December 23, 2022, and award the contract on or about May 15, 2023, with an anticipated effective date of the contract on March 1, 2024.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/prospectuses.htm