Possible development of a boutique hotel on cameron county owned property located at isla blanca park on osuth padre island, texas (adjacent to the former helipad location & d. J. Lermas pavilion)

Cameron County Purchasing Department has issued Request for Proposals (RFP #240502) for the development and operation of a boutique hotel on county-owned property at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, Texas. The project requires the design and operation of a boutique hotel containing a minimum of 20-25 rooms with associated amenities including conference and meeting rooms, dining facilities, outdoor eatery and bar facilities, retail space, parking, landscaping, wi-fi/internet services, business services, and optional family recreational facilities such as swimming pools, children's swimming pools, water playgrounds, and game rooms. The procurement is structured as a long-term ground lease and concession agreement with cancellation rights available to either party with thirty days' prior written notice, except the proposer cannot exercise this option during the first ninety days of the contract. Evaluation will be weighted across four criteria: proposer background and experience demonstrating capability to design and operate a similar resort hotel concession (25 points); financial and management ability including financial statements, management and marketing plans, and staffing (30 points); proposed highest and best use of the property including quality, variety, and creativity of the proposed operation (15 points); and minimum annual guarantee/rental to the County (30 points). Key dates include the pre-proposal meeting on May 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. C.S.T. at Cameron County Parks Administration Office; proposal questions must be submitted by May 15, 2024, before 5:00 p.m. C.S.T.; and RFP responses are due by May 29, 2024, no later than 3:00 p.m., with opening at 3:01 p.m. at Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville, Texas. Proposers must submit one original, one copy, and one electronic PDF format copy in a sealed envelope accompanied by a cashier's check for Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) as a guarantee of performance.

The RFP does not indicate set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to specific organizational types or disadvantaged enterprises. Rental shall be structured as an annual flat rate paid monthly, with the security deposit equal to one month's rent based on the flat rate, though no specific budget range or award value is provided in the procurement documentation. The proposer bears responsibility for providing a survey of the leased property with meets and bounds at their own expense and acquiring all permits and environmental clearances from State and Federal Agencies including the Texas General Land Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure requiring integration are referenced in the RFP materials. The contract structure indicates that the annual rental amount will serve as the primary financial consideration, with the minimum annual guarantee/rental evaluation criterion weighted at 30 points toward the final selection decision.