SAM #CC-GRSM007-27

10-Year Concession Contract for Smokemont Riding Stables, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This opportunity is for a 10-year concession contract at Smokemont Riding Stables in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, managed by the National Park Service, Southeast Region. - Government Buyer: - Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Southeast Region (Atlanta, GA office) - Contract overseen by Interior Region 2 and Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff - Services Requested: - Guided horseback rides (1-hour, 2.5-hour, 4-hour durations) - Horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides (30–45 minutes, up to three vehicles per day) - Vending machine sales (soft drinks, fruit drinks, bottled water) - Firewood and ice sales (at least 20 bundles of firewood, 30 bags of ice) - Camper convenience items (packaged non-food items, limited shelf-stable food) - Souvenirs (hats, tee shirts, patches, postcards, other approved items) - Optional souvenir photography (visitor-requested) - Products/Equipment Mentioned: - Up to 35 horses for operations - Mechanized equipment for trail maintenance (tracked skid-steers, excavators, dozers, dump bed vehicles) - Crushed rock for trail tread hardening - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Concessioner must submit an Annual Plan for Mechanized Equipment Use for trail maintenance - All equipment must be approved by the Superintendent and not exceed 60 inches in width - Firewood must be USDA-certified, heat-treated, and securely bound - Extensive operational, environmental, safety, and visitor satisfaction standards - Helmets must be provided for riders - Reporting, training, and visitor satisfaction surveys required - Proposal submission requires both original signed transmittal letter by mail and electronic submission of other documents - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named; equipment examples include Sutter 500 Trail Dozer and Bosski 1600 UT ATV Wagon - Estimated initial investment for the concessioner is approximately $488,800

Description

The National Park Service (NPS) will issue a prospectus for the solicitation of offers for a 10-year concession contract to provide for guided horseback rides, wagon and/or carriage rides, vending, firewood and ice, camper convenience items, souvenirs, and souvenir photography at Smokemont Riding Stables within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All offers must be received by the NPS by the date listed on the inside front cover of the prospectus which is August 26, 2026 no later than 12:00 p.m. in order to be evaluated and considered for an award of a concession contract. The prospectus describes the business opportunity and includes the terms and conditions under which the NPS will award the concession contract.

Questions are due July 17, 2026, and Notification of Intent to Propose must be received by July 27, 2026, via email by the National Park Service no later than 12:00 P.M. ET on the due dates listed on the cover page which is to William Gordon, Jr., Commercial Services Specialist, at william_gordon@nps.gov

The website below includes a number of helpful links and information including tips for submitting a competitive proposal that addresses due diligence, proposal content, and the presentation of your proposal.  This presentation can be found at:  www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/prospectuses.htm

Proposals to include the original signed transmittal letters must be received via the process explained in the Proposal Instructions no later than 12:00 pm ET on the due which is August 26, 2026, to National Park Service, Concessions Office, 100 Alabama Street, N.W., Bldg 1924, 6th Floor, Mailroom, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Please note that the original signed transmittal letters must be mailed. The remaining portion of the proposal will only be accepted electronically via the process explained in the Proposal Instructions.

View original listing