NPS seeks public comment on proposed rule to modernize commercial services contracts

Date: January 24, 2022
Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comments on proposed regulations that would govern the issuance of hospitality services contracts under the new Visitor Experience Improvements Authority (VEIA) given to the NPS by Congress. Comments can be submitted online from January 25 to March 28.

The National Park Service Centennial Act, enacted on December 16, 2016, establishes a new concessions contracting authority within NPS for providing visitor services for terms up to 10 years. There are concession contracts at over 150 national parks across the country to provide services such as lodging, campground, food, retail, marinas, transportation and recreation. NPS concession contracts generate approximately $1.5 billion per year in gross revenues.

Under this proposed rule, the NPS would award and administer commercial services contracts and related professional services contracts for the operation and expansion of commercial visitor facilities and visitor services programs in national parks.

• The VEIA is intended to provide additional tools to expand, modernize and improve the condition of commercial facilities and visitor services using contracting models that differ from the concession contracts used under the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998.

• The VEIA provides more flexibility in the solicitation process that may allow businesses to more effectively respond and be evaluated on how they will meet visitor needs for the services being offered. The flexibility of the VEIA also provides the potential to streamline the solicitation process to reduce the burden on businesses submitting proposals.

• The VEIA establishes a revolving fund from contract revenue to reinvest in the management, operation, construction and maintenance of commercial visitor services and facilities.

• The VEIA is a complementary tool to the NPS's existing authority under the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act for providing commercial visitors services, which will continue to be used by the NPS to provide most commercial visitor services.

Starting tomorrow, members of the public are invited to share their comments on the proposed rule online at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2022-01254/visitor-experience-improvements-authority-contracts. The comment period closes on March 28.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.