On-Airport Rental Car Concessionaires

Pinellas County is issuing a competitive sealed bid for three to four non-exclusive on-airport rental car concessionaires to operate at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for an initial contract term of sixty months beginning October 1, 2026, with potential extensions for two additional twelve-month periods. Bidders must demonstrate at least three years of rental car business experience with minimum gross revenues of $1,000,000 annually in each of the past two years and maintain a fleet of no fewer than 50 rental cars at the airport. The concessionaires will operate counter spaces in the Terminal Arrivals Facility (Baggage Claim) and designated parking blocks, with operations required seven days per week commencing not less than thirty minutes prior to the first scheduled departing flight and ending not less than thirty minutes after the last scheduled arriving flight. Concessionaire responsibilities include all maintenance, repairs, utilities beyond standard provisions, insurance, and improvements to assigned premises, with operations subject to Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and civil rights regulations. The non-mandatory pre-conference and site visit is scheduled for May 11, 2026 at 10:00 am at 14700 Terminal Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida; questions must be submitted by May 13, 2026 at 12:00 pm; and proposals must be submitted electronically through OpenGov by June 11, 2026 at 3:00 pm, with submittals non-withdrawable for 120 days after opening. Evaluation criteria include proof of rental business experience, gross revenues for the past two years, certified financial statements or annual reports, franchisor letters if applicable, proof of required insurance, and completed W9 forms.

Bidders must comply with several statutory requirements including execution of Common Carrier Attestation forms, Human Trafficking Affidavits, and Foreign Country of Concern Affidavits, all of which must be notarized where applicable. Concessionaire compensation to Pinellas County is structured as the greater of ten percent of annual gross revenues or a minimum annual guarantee (MAG) of no less than $500,000 per year for single-brand operations or $1,000,000 per year for dual-brand operations, plus facility rent calculated at $24.26 per square foot annually for counter and storage space through September 30, 2027, with subsequent annual adjustments based on the County's approved airport user fee schedule, and ready return block rent fixed for the contract duration ranging from $36,048 to $206,982 annually depending on block size. Successful bidders must provide performance security equal to twenty-five percent of their average guaranteed minimum annual concession fee and submit certified financial statements demonstrating financial capability. The County reserves the right to award to up to four concessionaires based on highest responsive bids, with space selection determined by bidder ranking, and bidders may submit up to two separate bids for different brand names provided each brand is one hundred percent owned or controlled by the bidder and related parties are prohibited from submitting multiple responses. Historical data indicates total on-airport tenant revenues for the most recent complete contract year (ended September 2024) were approximately $42.5 million across five major operators, while year-to-date revenues through March 2026 total $23.2 million, providing financial benchmarks for bid evaluation. Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) reporting requirements apply, though no specific set-asides are designated in this solicitation.