Tahoe National Forest Prospectus for Concessions and related Granger-Thye Concessions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service issued a prospectus on May 29, 2026 soliciting applications to operate and maintain 38 developed recreation sites across the Tahoe National Forest under Granger-Thye Concessions, with applications due September 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. (extended one day via errata issued August 26, 2026).

The concession encompasses campgrounds, group camping areas, day-use sites, and boat facilities across four ranger districts (American River, Sierraville, Truckee, and Yuba River), generating approximately $1.32 million in three-year average annual gross revenue. The permit term is up to five years with an optional five-year extension contingent on satisfactory performance. Applicants must submit a single comprehensive application covering all 38 sites to Chris Feutrier at the Nevada City office, including a proposed operating plan, business plan with financial statements, documentation of financial resources showing at least 25 percent of first-year operating costs in liquid assets, proposed public fee schedules for the first three years, and processing fees totaling $950. The minimum annual fee to the government is $67,516.46, calculated at 5.12 percent of three-year average gross revenue; applicants may propose alternative fee structures or offset fees through Granger-Thye maintenance, reconditioning, renovation, or improvement projects. Minimum required liability insurance is $1,000,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death. The minimum operating season runs Memorial Day weekend through the first full weekend in October with all sites open seven days weekly; applicants may propose shoulder season extensions. A mandatory Forest-led site visit is scheduled for June 23–24, 2026, requiring RSVP by June 16, 2026 to Mary Sullivan at mary.sullivan2@usda.gov. Applications must be submitted as one hard copy and one electronic copy in Microsoft Office or PDF format with separate sections addressing each of five evaluation criteria in descending order: proposed annual operating plan, business plan and experience, financial resources, public fees, and government fees. The Forest Service anticipates a decision in late fall or winter 2026.