Water Transportation Services for the Grand Island National Recreational Area

Business Opportunity-Grand Island National Recreation Area- Water Transportation Services The Hiawatha National Forest is soliciting all qualified applicants who have or can acquire all necessary facilities and services to provide water ferrying services for the Grand Island National Recreation Area. Services shall include, but not be limited to, the furnishing of all personnel, equipment, supplies, materials, and incidental transportation and related facilities and services for the public's (and Government's) use in gaining access to and from the USDA, Forest Service's Grand Island National Recreation Area. The primary services for which proposals are being sought are: 1. Providing passenger ferrying services from the mainland near Munising, Michigan to Williams Landing on GINRA. A government owned 30 passenger aluminum pontoon boat is available for use by the applicant. 2. Collecting recreation use fees from people accessing Grand Island via passenger ferry, including accounting and reporting of fees. (Recreation use fees are in addition to ferry service fees). 3. Providing vehicular transport services (including passenger vehicles, heavy construction equipment, and utility vehicles) to and from GINRA. A government owned 130 gross tons tug and barge is available for use by the applicant. This permit will offer exclusive rights to the permit holder to provide passenger ferrying services and vehicle ferrying services to Grand Island National Recreation Area. No other permits will be issued. Interested parties must provide offers of both passenger ferrying services AND vehicle ferrying services. Offers not including both types of service will be considered non-responsive and will be rejected. Applicants are responsible for producing their own business plans and for their own financial predictions in responding to this prospectus. The current permit for this concession expired on December 31, 2012. Over the past three years, this concession has generated the following gross revenues: Year Gross Revenue 2010 $96,289 2011 $101,306 2012 $117,432 The following is a description of the minimum services to be provided: Passenger Ferry Service Ferrying services shall provide ferrying of passengers (including those with disabilities) personal equipment, pets, and bicycles to and from Grand Island National Recreation Area. At a minimum, services shall be offered between the periods from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through October 9. Services shall also be provided seven days a week as follows: --May, June and after Labor Day: Three times daily at a minimum --July and August: Four times daily at a minimum The trips must be evenly spaced through the day between the hours of 8 am and 7 pm. Ferry Vessel: The ferrying vessel must meet the following requirements: - a minimum of 20 feet in length - licensed to carry a minimum of six passengers - approved by U.S. Coast Guard or Michigan Department of Natural Resources - licensed (depending on jurisdiction) and - must operate under existing regulations and law - must be piloted by individuals licensed and insured to do so. During July and August the Provider will utilize the Forest Service provided Kitchi-Miniss or equivalent capacity vessel. The rationale for requiring a 30-passenger-capacity vessel is to reduce the waiting time for the passengers arriving or departing the island. The greatest need for the larger capacity vessel has traditionally been the 3:30 departure from the island. The Kitchi- Miniss or equivalent vessel must be inspected and licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Provider's expense and also insured by the Provider. Provider will coordinate transportation services for up to 800 people connected with the annual Grand Island Marathon and Half Marathon held in late July. In the past, the Permittee has contracted with a local boat company. In addition, the Provider will be required to work collaboratively with the Permittee authorized by the Forest Service to provide an interpretive bus tour on the island and rental cabins available to the public. The Provider will collect and show accounting of use fees from people accessing Grand Island via passenger ferry and deposit the fees collected with the Forest Service. The Provider will maintain, on a daily basis, the Grand Island Landing parking lot and dock areas. Responsibilities include litter pick-up in the parking area and waiting area, cleaning the double vault toilet daily, and emptying the garbage cans into the dumpster. The Provider will provide information and materials to any party traveling on the passenger ferry, including maps, recreation opportunity guides and "special alert" information provided by the Forest Service and/or as warranted for safe ferry operations. Provider may be interested in providing a ticket sales outlet at Grand Island Landing. In the past this has been the base of operations for the Grand Island Ferry Service. The 18' by 40' office and gift shop is currently owned and operated by the previous permit-holder, "Grand Island Ferry Service." Interested parties are advised to contact the company regarding the disposition of the building for continued use as an office and gift shop. (Grand Island Ferry Service, P.O. Box 333, Wetmore, MI 49895). Vehicular Transport Services Provider shall provide transport of vehicles, equipment, supplies and other large items to and from Grand Island. At a minimum, services shall be offered between the periods from approximately June 1 through Columbus Day weekend. Services shall be provided on Monday and Friday mornings between 8am and noon. If the trip cannot be made due to inclement weather, the run will be made within 36 hours after the weather becomes suitable. Provider should plan to make approximately 60 round trips per year and carrying an average of three to four vehicles per trip. Some days multiple trips may be needed to accommodate all of the vehicle needs. The most frequent users of the service are the island's seasonal residents. Additional trips on days other than Friday and Monday are sometimes needed to accommodate contractors or Forest Service maintenance crews. Vehicle Stickers: The permit holder will ensure all vehicles transported have a current year Motor Vehicle Permit sticker or have authorization from the Forest Service. Ferrying vessel shall accommodate all requested needs in the form for which it is intended. Vehicles needing transport include cars, pick-ups, SUV's, graders, loaders, loaded dump trucks, power company utility trucks, bulk fuel/gas trucks, and septic trucks. Vessels shall be U.S. Coast Guard approved and licensed and operated under existing regulation and law. Vessels shall be piloted by individuals licensed to do so. The vessel and the captains must be covered by liability insurance. The Provider may use a Government furnished tug and barge after the barge's hull has been inspected, licensed, and certificated by the US Coast Guard at government expense. The tentative date for completion of this inspection and licensing process is August 1, 2013. Additional points about the government provided tug and barge are as follows: -----The tug captains must be licensed by the US Coast Guard for the respective tonnage. -----The Provider must provide liability insurance for the captains and vessel. ----- The permit holder will enter into a Vessel Agreement, as with the Kitchi-Miniss, that would spell out details of the operation and maintenance of the tug and barge. Items covered would be similar to those in the Kitchi-Miniss agreement. All vessels, whether contractor-provided or government-provided, will be maintained on a daily basis by the permit holder for, meeting standards for safety, seamanship, mechanical, and cleanliness. Two documents are attached to this offering: -----Prospectus for Granger-Thye Concessions, Hiawatha National Forest, Water Transportation Services for the Grand Island National Recreation Area -----Appendices for Prospectus for Water Transportation Services for Grand Island 2013 02 18 Timeline for issuing a special use permit: Prospectus Release on FEDBIZOPS............................February 27 Pre-bid Meeting......................................................March 12 Proposals Due........................................................April 1 Notification to Applicants of Results...........................April 10 Financial Ability Determination Completed..................May 10 Commence Operations............................................May 24