AS27-12 Jordanelle State Park Concession Operations

The State of Utah Division of State Parks is requesting proposals for concession operations at Jordanelle State Park under RFP AS27-12, with proposals due October 16, 2026 and a mandatory site visit held September 16, 2026. No set-asides or preferences apply. The contract is single-award to the highest-scoring responsive and responsible vendor, structured for an initial 10-year term with two optional 10-year renewal periods (potential 30-year total), contingent upon continued renewal of the Division's master cooperative management agreement with the United States Bureau of Reclamation.

The scope encompasses required marina and recreational services: motorized and non-motorized watercraft rentals, fuel dispensing, public vessel dry storage, concession store and pro shop, boat repair services, dock and mooring buoy field operations, and launch and retrieval services. Operating hours are 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily during peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during shoulder seasons. Optional services—restaurants, event spaces, aqua parks, facility renovations—require prior written Division Director, Park Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, and Jordanelle Special Service District approval. All operations are restricted to designated footprint areas. The concessionaire must maintain a performance bond or irrevocable letter of credit of at least $20,000, carry general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, worker's compensation coverage, and marine liability insurance. A Utah Livery Permit is mandatory for vessel rentals.

Mandatory eligibility requirements include five years of experience in high-volume marina operations, demonstrated financial viability and bonding capacity, clean operational history free of public contract defaults or terminations within the past ten years, and acknowledgment of state terms and conditions. A mandatory site visit at the park was held September 16, 2026; attendance verified on the official sign-in sheet is required for proposal consideration.

Technical proposals are scored on 850 points across four categories: Required Concession Services Plan (250 points), Business Development Plan (250 points), Company Qualifications (175 points), and Financial Plan (175 points). Proposals must achieve a minimum technical score of 595 points (70%). Concession fee proposals are scored separately on a maximum of 150 points based on proposed gross revenue return percentage, with a mandatory minimum threshold of 12.0% of monthly gross revenues; proposals below 12.0% are rejected as non-responsive. The highest responsive bidder on fee receives the full 150 points; others receive points proportional to their percentage divided by the highest percentage times 150. All concession fees must remain firm for the entire contract term; price adjustments require 30 days' notice and Division of Purchasing Director approval. The concessionaire is solely responsible for 100 percent of operational costs, all capital improvements, and utility infrastructure upgrades; all permanent structures revert to state ownership immediately upon completion.

Historical consolidated gross receipts for 2021–2025 totaled approximately $13.3 million, ranging from $2.08 million in 2022 to $3.6 million in 2025. The State explicitly disclaims these figures as guarantees of future performance. The park receives approximately one million visitors during the May 1 through October 31 operating season, operates at full parking capacity 2 to 3 times annually, and maintains theoretical on-water vessel capacity of 300–330 boats. Wasatch County population has grown over 65% since 2010, with 2026 population estimated at nearly 40,000 and median household income exceeding $117,000. The park is designated an International Dark Sky Park, requiring strict lighting compliance. All operations are subject to federal, state, and local regulations, including those of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, State Fire Marshal, U.S. Coast Guard, and Bureau of Reclamation.