RFP 110118 otter creek outdoor recreation area

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, issued Request for Proposals (RFP) 110118 to lease, operate, and maintain a campground and associated facilities at the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area located in Meade County, Kentucky. The procurement seeks a qualified private entity to assume full operational responsibility for 219 campsites (87 water and electric, 48 water only, 80 primitive, and 4 equestrian sites), 5 cabins, 3 bathhouses, playground facilities, a check-in station, and Wi-Fi capability. The successful offeror must achieve full operational implementation by March 1, 2019, and operate the campground Wednesday through Sunday each week from March through October, maintaining 24-hour security and all utilities at the offeror's sole expense. Key evaluation criteria include the percentage of gross receipts proposed as rent payment (50 points maximum), overall development plan (25 points maximum), campground schedule (25 points maximum), and corporate background and experience (25 points maximum), with a total possible score of 125 points. The original proposal deadline was November 1, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. EDT; however, amendments extended the deadline to November 15, 2018 and subsequently November 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, with an offeror's conference held on October 10, 2018 and oral presentations scheduled on or by December 7, 2018. Offerors must submit a $1,000 proposal guaranty check, demonstrate financial viability through audited financial statements and bank references, and submit financial proposals in a separate envelope marked "Financial Data and Benefits to Kentucky."

The RFP requires a 10 percent Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal based on total estimated contract cost, with acceptable certifications from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, state Transportation agencies, the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District, the Kentucky Minority Supplier Development Council, or the Small Business Administration; bidders failing to meet this goal must document good faith efforts using forms DB-2-A and DB-2-B. All offerors must submit a sworn Vendor Report of Prior Violations disclosing any final determinations of violations within the preceding five years in categories including tax law compliance, wages and hours, occupational safety and health, unemployment insurance, and workers compensation. The lease agreement provides an initial 10-year term with two optional five-year renewal periods, with rent payments structured as a percentage of gross receipts remaining unchanged during Years 1-5, increasing by 0.5 percent for Years 6-10, by an additional 1 percent for Years 11-15, and by an additional 1.5 percent for Years 16-20. The offeror must maintain a $250 monthly maintenance escrow account in a Kentucky bank jointly with the Commonwealth's KDFWR Commissioner and assume all costs for construction, renovation, permits, and utilities, as the property is offered in as-is condition with no incumbent operation identified. Historic financial data from 2013-2017 indicates annual campsite income ranging from $89,348 to $147,758, with a four-year average of $117,089.14, providing baseline revenue projections for the facility.