RFB03092026 For License Waterfall Viewing Concession

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Department of Parks, through its Finance and Administration Cabinet's Division of Real Properties, is seeking a qualified operator to license and manage the Cumberland Falls Waterfall Viewing Concession at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin/Whitley County, Kentucky. The procured services involve operating daily waterfall viewing and rafting excursion activities, including two primary raft trip offerings (Rainbow Mist and Moonbow Mist) and paddling excursions (SUP/Kayak variants), with operations departing from the Beach Area. The successful bidder must establish a temporary concession area with a reservation office opening by 10:00 a.m. and trips typically commencing at 11:00 a.m., maintain Wednesday through Sunday service during safe daylight hours and weather conditions, and manage all operational costs including equipment, labor, supplies, utilities, permits, and maintain annual public liability insurance of $300,000 per person and $1,000,000 aggregate coverage with the Commonwealth named as additional insured. Required qualifications include ensuring all on-river employees receive documented river rescue training appropriate to the trip type, providing hold harmless disclaimers signed by customers prior to trips, and maintaining a clean, litter-free area around the trailer and leased premises. The initial license period is one year from execution date with options to renew for five additional one-year periods upon mutual consent. The original bid opening was scheduled for March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., but has been extended to March 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with a $500 bid deposit required at bid opening, site visits limited to two business days prior to March 5, 2026, and written questions due by March 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. to Jamie.Bryant@ky.gov. Bids must be submitted in sealed form to the Division of Real Properties, 403 Wapping Street, Third Floor, Bush Building, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, and authorized agent signatures are required for all non-electronic submissions. Online bidding is prohibited for this procurement.

The solicitation documents do not specify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or preferences for particular organizational types. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is identified in the procurement materials, and no existing technology infrastructure requiring integration is referenced. Pricing is structured as a percentage of gross receipts derived from concession and rafting operations, with a minimum acceptable monthly bid of ten percent of gross receipts; gross receipts include Kentucky taxes, writing fees, and applicable federal excise taxes but exclude sales tax. The successful bidder must propose a maximum cost per raft ride subject to Department of Parks approval, with price adjustment requests permitted only between June 15 and August 15 of each year. Monthly payments of the Commonwealth's percentage are due by the 10th of the following month, with a one percent late penalty fee assessed daily beginning the 11th day, and any additional license payment is due within thirty days of bid acceptance. The Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to award the license to the highest responsible, responsive bidder whose offer is most advantageous to the Commonwealth, though no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the procurement documentation.