Horseback Riding Concession for Carter Caves SRP

The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet's Office of Procurement Services, on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Parks, is seeking a concessionaire to provide horseback riding services at Carter Caves State Resort Park. The contract will cover the period from May 1, 2025, through October 31, 2025, with four potential one-year renewal options. The successful bidder must provide a minimum of 12 horses and offer 45-50 minute guided trail rides, with an anticipated 2,000-3,000 rides annually at a fixed price of $22.00 per ride. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in horseback riding concessions, which will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The procurement will be awarded based on a best value approach, with 100 points allocated to the commission percentage proposed by the bidder. Interested parties must submit electronic bids through the Commonwealth eProcurement system by February 13, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET, with written questions due by February 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET.

The solicitation includes provisions for specific affidavit requirements, including compliance with campaign finance laws, resident bidder status, and qualified bidder status. Vendors must provide $1 million per occurrence commercial general liability insurance and be responsible for all horse care, equipment, and facility maintenance. The concessionaire will be required to pay a commission percentage on gross receipts to the Department of Parks, excluding Kentucky Sales Tax and Federal Excise Taxes. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the affidavits suggest potential considerations for nonprofit organizations serving individuals with severe disabilities. Historical revenue for this concession has ranged from approximately $57,000 to $90,000 annually. This is a re-solicitation of a previous procurement (RFB 758 2500000381) that closed on January 21, 2025, without an award, indicating potential challenges in securing a suitable vendor for the horseback riding concession.