Lincoln National Forest Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service has issued a Special Notice soliciting applications for a concession campground special use permit on the Lincoln National Forest. This prospectus invites qualified applicants to operate and maintain approximately 20 developed recreation sites, including campgrounds, group campgrounds, picnic areas, a day-use site, and an equestrian facility across three ranger districts in New Mexico. The permit opportunity encompasses government-owned recreation facilities with a three-year average gross revenue of $222,888.53. The current permit expires December 31, 2026, with the Forest Service anticipating award in fall 2026, subject to administrative appeal procedures outlined in 36 CFR 214. This is a Granger-Thye concession opportunity, a federal program allowing private operators to manage public recreation facilities on National Forest lands.

Applicants must submit applications by May 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., along with a $200 processing fee and a $300 Small Business Development Center review fee. The permit will be issued for up to five years with potential extension for an additional five years based on satisfactory performance. Successful applicants must operate all sites seven days per week during the minimum operating season (May through September for most sites), provide appropriate staffing and on-site hosts at primary locations, maintain liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 combined single limit, and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws including water system certification requirements. There are no specific eligibility restrictions; prior Forest Service concession experience is not required, but applicants must demonstrate capability to meet operational and maintenance standards. Applicants will be evaluated based on proposed annual operating plans, business experience, public fee structures, financial resources, and the fee percentage proposed to the government, ranked in descending order of importance.