Solicitation for a Concessions Business Opportunity for Non-Motorized Boat Rentals, Food and Beverage, and Firewood Sales at Julian Price Memorial Park within Blue Ridge Parkway

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking proposals for a 10-year concession contract to operate non-motorized boat rentals, food and beverage sales, and firewood sales at Julian Price Memorial Park within Blue Ridge Parkway. The selected concessioner will be required to provide services including rental of canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards with safety equipment, sales of prepackaged food and beverages, and firewood for the adjacent campground, operating from Memorial Day weekend through October each year. The contract requires a minimum franchise fee of 5.0% of gross receipts and mandates compliance with comprehensive environmental management, maintenance, and visitor service standards. Proposals will be evaluated based on five principal selection factors: responsiveness to park resource protection, provision of visitor services at reasonable rates, offeror's experience and past performance, financial capability, and proposed franchise fee, with additional consideration for environmental management programs and marketing strategies. Critical deadlines include questions due June 26, 2025, notification of intent to propose due August 6, 2025, and final proposals due September 3, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET, with submissions required to be sent electronically while original signed transmittal letters must be mailed to the NPS Concessions Office in Atlanta, Georgia.

This opportunity does not utilize any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified offerors. The current incumbent, Price Lake Boat Rentals, Inc., has been identified as a preferred offeror for this contract renewal. The projected gross receipts for 2026 range from $160,000 to $180,000, with an estimated initial investment requirement of $82,000 for the successful concessioner. The contract includes assigned real property improvements consisting of a 205-square-foot rental building valued at $12,282 and a 16-linear-foot boat dock valued at $53,618, along with existing personal property including 22 kayaks, 4 canoes, 6 paddleboards, and associated safety equipment. The contract term will be effective January 1, 2026, and the operation is located at Price Lake, approximately 4 miles from Blowing Rock and 10 miles from Boone, North Carolina, providing recreational services to visitors in this popular section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.