Los Padres National Forest - Prospectus for Campground & Related Granger-Thye Concessions

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service issued this Special Notice on January 27, 2026, to solicit applications for a Granger-Thye concession special use permit to operate and maintain recreation facilities across the Los Padres National Forest in California. The concession encompasses 48 developed recreation sites—including campgrounds, day-use areas, and trailheads—distributed across five ranger districts: Monterey, Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara, Mount Pinos, and Ojai. The three-year average gross revenue for this opportunity is $3,292,716.00, based on 2021-2023 data. This is a civilian contracting opportunity falling under NAICS 713990 (All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries) and PSC M1FB (Operation Of Recreational Buildings). The prospectus invites qualified organizations to submit comprehensive applications for the five-year permit by the April 24, 2026 deadline.

Applicants must provide a detailed annual operating plan, a comprehensive business plan with financial projections, three years of audited financial statements, professional references, and proof of liquid assets equal to at least 25 percent of first-year operating costs. The selected concessionaire will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations, staffing, maintenance, water system management, fee collection through Recreation.gov, and compliance with accessibility and resource protection standards. The minimum annual land use fee is $149,822.05, calculated as 4.67 percent of three-year average gross revenue, though applicants may propose alternative percentages with justification. Required services include campground hosting, reservation administration, facility cleaning and repairs, waste management, and hazard tree removal, with the option to provide interpretive programs. The Forest Service will evaluate applications based on the proposed operating plan, applicant qualifications and experience, fees to government and the public, and available financial resources, prioritizing best overall value rather than the highest bid price. Granger-Thye fee offset provisions allow for permit fee reductions based on maintenance and improvement projects undertaken by the permit holder, subject to annual agreements with the Forest Service.