Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions

The USDA Forest Service issued this Special Notice on February 19, 2026, soliciting applications for a day-use concession permit to operate and maintain government-owned recreation facilities at Fields Point Landing on the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington State. The concession opportunity involves managing a developed recreation site on the south shore of Lake Chelan that serves approximately 11,300 annual ferry passengers. The site includes a 400-space paved parking lot, year-round boat dock, ticket booth building with customer services, and associated picnic areas. Over the past three years, the concession generated average gross revenues of $111,658.33 annually through parking fees and minor concession revenues. The permit will be issued under the Granger-Thye Act authority and will be awarded in January 2027 with a term of up to five years, with an optional five-year extension contingent on sustained satisfactory performance.

Applicants must submit written applications by June 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. PST to the Forest Supervisor, including a proposed annual operating plan, business plan with Small Business Development Center (SBDC) review (requiring a $300 fee), three years of certified financial statements prepared by a CPA, a proposed fee schedule for public use, and a proposed percentage fee to the government with a minimum annual fee of $5,415.43. A mandatory facility tour is scheduled for May 8, 2026, with RSVPs required by May 1, 2026. Successful applicants will be evaluated based on five criteria in descending order of importance: proposed annual operating plan, business plan and applicant experience/references, fee to government, fees charged to public, and financial resources. Selected applicants must obtain liability insurance ranging from $300,000 to $1,000,000, property insurance of $1,213,942, and performance bonding within 30 days of selection. Post-selection requirements also include final operating plan approval and execution of a Granger-Thye fee offset agreement. Interested parties should contact Daniel (Adam) Brown at (509) 996-4036 or daniel.a.brown@usda.gov no later than May 25, 2026, with questions regarding the opportunity.