MOD | 99 | Responses to Questions (Part 1) regarding the Prospectus for a Concession Business Opportunity to provide Bicycle Rentals, Limited Retail and Food Service on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park. (Questions 1- 51)

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF DECEMBER 15, 2011 FBO #3673
MODIFICATION

99 -- Responses to Questions (Part 1) regarding the Prospectus for a Concession Business Opportunity to provide Bicycle Rentals, Limited Retail and Food Service on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park. (Questions 1- 51)

Notice Date: 12/13/2011
Notice Type: Modification/Amendment
Contracting Office: IMDE - CM - Business Resources Division 12795 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood CO 80228
ZIP Code: 80228
Solicitation Number: CC-GRCA034-12
Response Due: 1/6/2012
Archive Date: 12/12/2012
Point of Contact: Jennifer L. Bonnett Concessions Management Specia 3039692782 Jennifer_bonnett@nps.gov;
E-Mail Address: Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
Small Business Set-Aside: N/A
Description: Part 1 of the National Park Service's (NPS) responses to questions submitted for the Prospectus for a Concession Business Opportunity to provide Bicycle Rentals, Limited Retail and Food Service on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park. (Questions 1-51) 1.In reference to the construction of the proposed building, what materials will be used for the following interior items?A)Flooring B)Countertops C)Walls Materials are as follows:A)Flooring is concrete with epoxy paint and sealant in the counter / storeroom areas; concrete with sealant in the rest of the area.B)Countertops are laminate: Wilsonart or equal.C)Walls are painted drywall. Counter and storeroom areas will have epoxy paint on walls. 2.Pending approval by the Park Service, will there be options by the concessioner to make improvements to the grounds of the building? (i.e. Patio Seating, Shade Umbrellas/Canopies, Outdoor Foldable Advertising Stands)Yes. 3.Is the Equipment and Fixture Schedule provided in Exhibit 12: Proposed Drawing of Concession Facilities a recommended list or a list of required equipment? These items are not required, but are an NPS estimate of what might be used; so that utilities, power, drains, and all anticipated service requirements can be met. 4.Is it safe to assume that in Appendix 9 all references to Boat Marina activities (fuel sales, slip rentals, etc.) can be replaced by the bidder with relevant categories for bike rentals and grab-n'-go food service?Yes. Because the NPS does not have a form that suits this specific opportunity, the boat marina activities sections on this form can be ignored or replace by the Offeror with relevant categories. 5.Are the temporary housing units (the brown trailers currently in the park scheduled to be removed) available for purchase by the Concessioner? There are 10 2-bedroom and 10 3-bedroom brown temporary housing units currently installed in the area where the concessioner will be assigned housing. These are leased by the Service from a private firm, Modular Solutions. They are scheduled for removal on April 1, 2012. If an entity wishes to purchase one or more, it will be a private arrangement between that entity and Modular Solutions. Contact Information: Modular Solutions, LtdA NATIVE AMERICAN COMPANYP O Box 15507/Phoenix, AZ 85060-5507(800) 441-8577- TOLL FREE(602) 952-9741 - office/ (602)292-5673 -mobilewww.modularsolutionsltd.com 6.Is it possible to retrieve the updated 2011 figures from the current CUA holder? (i.e. Total Gross Receipts, Number of Tours, Number of Shuttles, Number of Rentals) At the time of Prospectus release the season was not concluded and the Service did not have total 2011 figures. The below tables contain the final numbers for the 2011 season, as supplied by the current CUA permittee for bicycle rentals and tours only. TotalsTotal Adults5,929 Hourly2,872 Half day2,561 Full day496Total Children2,681 Hourly1,269 Half day1,141 Full day271Special Needs (probably tricycle)5 Hourly3 Half day2 Full day0Total Tours Given1,980Total Customers10,595 7.Can the concessionaire provide a guided tour of the park using Segway Personal Transporters? No. Please refer to the Draft Contract for the list of required and authorized services. Rental of or tours using Segways are not authorized under the terms of the Draft Contract. Furthermore, no motorized vehicle or equipment is permitted on the Park's Greenway Trails, with the exception of motorized wheelchairs. 8.Is there a copy of the Commercial Services markup price list available or should we be using something else for our rate schedules?The 2011 Commercial Services markup list is available in a PDF document on the NPS Commercial Services website. A link to that can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/grca034-12.htm 9.Does G.C.N.P. know what percentage or total number of visitors to the Park visit the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (CVIP), either annually or monthly?Door counters at the Visitor Center for the federal fiscal year 2010-2011 provided the following statistics. Please note that these devises only measures number of entries to the Visitor Center, and therefore this data may include some people entering multiple times, while possibly missing others. FY2011Door counter numbersNotesOctober 201070,397November 201042,200December 201040,365January 201128,877February 201128,067March 201180,479April 201196,975May 201196,452June 2011125,131July 201155,041Construction during July affected visitation to this building.August 201134,731Construction during August affected visitation to this buildingSeptember 201162,963Total761,678 10. Is there a proposed date for the announcement of the winning bid?As originally stated in the Prospectus, proposals are due December 30, 2011 and the contract is estimated to begin on March 1, 2012. Therefore, the announcement will be made after receipt and review of all proposals and prior to contract commencement. ***Please Note: Due to the volume of questions received during the open period, the Service has now decided to extend the due date for all proposals for one week until January 6, 2012. Please refer to the Modification #1 portion of this letter and as posted on Fed Biz Ops and the NPS Commercial Services website. *** 11. Can we get an electronic copy of the building floor plan that could be blown up so we can see all details, as well as measurements for those floor plans?Yes. That is available as a PDF document on the NPS Commercial Services website. A link to that can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/grca034-12.htm 12. How much space will be available next to the eastern side of the building in regards to client orientation? (assuming the covered space with the bench may not be fully adequate during busy times of the season)The Concessioner may use such space within the land assignment as it believes it will need for client orientation. Only the spaces indicated on the building plans will be paved. Landscaping of the land assignment after the building is completed will take into consideration input from the Concessioner regarding its orientation needs. 13. Will additional bike placement be possible for "quick grab" bike fitting? The plans show the limits of paving that will be provided. Bike rakes will be permitted outside the building. In response to the Prospectus, all Offerors are requested to answer the questions as written. If after award of contract, should the Offeror believe additional space is needed for bike placement outside of the paved area, it may provide a written plan for such placement for NPS review. All plans are must be approved by the park in writing. 14. Will there be parking spaces set aside for shuttle pick-up?The Service will re-designate one former ADA accessible parking space, and will hatch and sign it for 'service only' - this can be used for a standard sized vehicle for deliveries or shuttle pick-up. 15. Will there be a shuttle passenger staging area?No. There is not a dedicated shuttle passenger staging area. 16. Will there be any additional space to place a storage container for additional bike storage?The building includes a 9' x 42' overhang, along its rear side, which the Concessioner may use to design a storage space. The Service will not allow additional storage containers within the park area. 17. In the facility, how is space allocated for Food Service? For Retail? And for Bike Rental? In the design plan, Food Service is allocated in the Counter, Storeroom and most of the Retail area; Bike Rental is in the area designated on the plan, and would share the Retail area for queuing and filling out paper work. The successful Offeror may use the areas as it determines most effective for each function, given the terms and conditions of the Draft Contract. 18. What is the ceiling height of the rental facility?The Bicycle Rental and Retail sections of the facility have a ceiling height of 11' 1". The Counter and storage areas have a ceiling height of 9'6" 19. What permits are required for shuttle drivers in the Park? Please refer to the Draft Contract, Exhibit A - Operating Plan, Section 2E (4)(e) which states that "Drivers of vehicles, including passenger and delivery vehicles, will have a valid state operator's license for the size and class of vehicle they drive. They will also meet any additional requirements established by the Arizona Department of Public Safety for the vehicle driven or passengers carried." Section 2E (5) (c) states that "The Concessioner will ensure that every tour guide and shuttle driver is certified in Community First Aid and CPR at a minimum." Please read the entire contract for requirements for employees. 20. Are electric assist bikes allowed in the Park? Electric assist bicycles are not permitted on Park Greenway trails. In addition, please refer to the Draft Contract for the list of required and authorized services. The rental of electric assist bikes is not authorized under the terms of the Draft Contract. 21.What are the permitting requirements for guides? Please refer to the Draft Contract, Exhibit A -Operating Plan, Section 2E (5) (c) which states that "The Concessioner will ensure that every tour guide and shuttle driver is certified in Community First Aid and CPR at a minimum." Please read the entire contract for requirements for employees. 22.Will the Park Service allow the winning bidder to join a member organization after the contract has been awarded that may result in use of the member organization brand name as a dba by the Grand Canyon entity? This member organization would assist with marketing and best practices in the bicycle rental industry and would not be contracted to operate or perform actual onsite rental services. As stated in the Draft Contract, the selected Concessioner will identify itself as an authorized Concessioner of the National Park Service in all media material. No organization other than the selected Business Entity that signed the Offeror's transmittal letter in the Proposal Package submittal would be allowed to state it is authorized to operate within Grand Canyon National Park. Refer to the Proposal Package for guidance regarding the information required from the Offeror regarding its business structure. Among other things, the Offeror must define its relationship to all superior and subordinate entities. Any change to the business entity awarded the Contract, including a name change, must be reviewed and approved by the Service on a case-by-case basis, and there is no guarantee that such a change would be approved. 23.To what extent will the new facility be completed for the Concessioner upon taking possession including the following building elements:A)WallsB)FloorsC)Height of Ceiling (what is the bottom of structure elevation?)D)Lighting (interior and exterior)E)Mechanical System (HVAC)F)Electrical SystemG)Plumbing system (including plumbing fixtures)H)Fire Suppression systemI)Doors and door hardwareJ)Low voltage system (primarily for IT, telephone, security, A/V)K)Restroom accessories (towel and soap dispensers, trash disposal, etc.)L)Signage (exterior)M)LandscapingN)Energy Management (tied to MEP if applicable)O)Is it wired for security alarms?The new facility, including all elements except landscaping is on target to be 95% complete when the successful Concessioner takes possession. See below for other information specific to these elements of the facilities:A)Walls are painted dry wallB)Floors are stained/epoxy finish/sealed concrete. Finish varies by room and useC)Height of Ceiling (what is the bottom of structure elevation?) Ceiling height in Bike Rental and Retail areas is 11'-1"; 9'-6" in Counter and Storeroom areas.D)Lighting (interior and exterior) includes a variety of fixtures - see drawings.E)Mechanical System (HVAC) is a split system A/C unit with gas heatF)Electrical System includes 200 amp - 120 v predominant, and 220 v outlets in select locations, as shown on the plans.G)Plumbing system (including plumbing fixtures) includes a 3-compartment sink, mop sink, two hand washing sinks, rinse sink, floor drains and floor sinks, tankless hot water heater, and exterior water bottle filler.H)Fire Suppression system includes a fire sprinkler system and alarm.I)Doors and door hardware include hollow metal doors; hardware basis for design (one of the following manufacturers or comparable): IVES hardware, McKinney Products Company, or Stanley Commercial HardwareJ)Low voltage system (primarily for IT, telephone, security, A/V) includes data and telephone; security is not.K)Restroom accessories (towel and soap dispensers, trash disposal, etc.). No Restroom is included in this building. L)Signage (exterior) None.M)Landscaping - re-vegetation will be provided by SERVICE, after completion of the structure. N)Energy Management (tied to MEP if applicable) None.O)Is it wired for security alarms? No. 24.How much "design freedom" will Concessioner have in laying out the space per their operations requirements? Is the provided equipment floor plan set or is this plan a suggested blue print of the floor plan?The selected Concessioner will have flexibility with the layout of all equipment, within the confines of the walls, sinks, cabinets and counters. The Park must review and approve all equipment plans. 25.Delivery door sizes? Will a dedicated parking space be provided for multiple daily deliveries and tour vans?The Concessioner may determine which doors it prefers to use for deliveries. The side doors are 3' wide, the front doors open to 6' wide, and the overhead door is 8' wide. There is one dedicated parking space for deliveries or tour vans. 26.Is the entrance to the bike shop for the bike rental guests through the F&B/Retail area or through a separate door or both? The primary entrance to the bike shop is through the Retail area. A Dutch-style split door with service counter is also located on the south side of the building, allowing for service from the exterior. 27.Walk up window for food sales- is that part of original plan or can it be added?This is not part of the original design plan. A successful Offeror may propose such an adjustment for review and approval by the Service after award. However, Offerors should not assume that such a change would be approved. Offerors must respond to questions as asked and conditions as described in the Prospectus and Draft Contract. 28.Other than water and sewer service that are provided, where will Concessioner tie into other Grand Canyon utility infrastructures? The infrastructure for electrical, propane gas, telephone and T1 internet service will all be provided in the building. The Concessioner must make its own arrangements for service directly with those providers. For specifics regarding location of these utility infrastructures within the facility please refer to the building drawings. 29.Are utility plans available for Concessioners during the Bid proposal process?All building drawings are available on the NPS Commercial Services website. A link to that can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/grca034-12.htm 30.Will NPS allow Concessioner to store bike inventory inside vs. outside (as indicated in the prospectus)? Can we store bicycles on the ceiling?Some bicycles can be stored inside; however the space is limited. Ceiling storage is possible. The building trusses will support some additional load, which would enable storage of some bicycles hanging from the ceiling. However, the successful Offeror would need to confirm the number of bicycles that could be hung from the ceiling with a structural engineer. 31.Can the suggested bike storage area be enclosed and weather proofed?The Service will provide a covered roof area, only. The successful Offeror may submit its proposal to enclose and weather proof this area, for review and approval. No leasehold surrender interest (LSI) will be awarded for this or any improvement. 32.Is there an opportunity to add on to the facility an enclosed storage unit?Once the contract is awarded, the successful Offeror may submit its proposal to the Park for any proposed additions to the structure. However, it should not be assumed that such a change would be approved. Offerors must respond to the questions as asked and all conditions as described in the Prospectus, including the Draft Contract. 33.Is the building air-conditioned?Yes. 34.In the new building, will the NPS be providing "inside wiring" or do we need to account for the cost of this wiring? Does the building have a crawl space to run cabling or conduit installed since some of the POS locations appear to be in the middle of the floor on the provided layout?The building will be wired, per the construction drawings. There is no crawl space. The construction is slab on grade. There is an access panel in the ceiling. 35.In regards to Wi-Fi service, can we mount access points anywhere inside/outside the building or are we restricted to certain locations? If restrictions exist, what are they?A hook up for T1 internet service will be provided and the concessioner would need to establish Wi-Fi with the service provider. Equipment to allow access to Wi-Fi may be installed anywhere inside the building that the Concessioner selects, as long as it does not interfere with other operations. The Service will not permit external installation. Additionally, the Service will not approve the installation of hardwired computer jacks for use by customers. Any such jacks if approved must be for the Concessioner's business use only. 36.Will there be a closet set aside to house all IT equipment (routers, switches, patch panels, etc.)? If so, how large is this space? Is it securable (for PCI compliance), properly ventilated and have adequate HVAC?The building design team did not anticipate a significant amount of IT equipment. There is no closet set aside for this purpose. After award of contract, the successful Offeror may submit a proposal to the Park to install such a closet. However, Offerors should not assume that such a change would be approved. Offerors must respond to questions as asked and to all conditions as described in the Prospectus and Draft Contract. 37. Is there a CAD design drawing available for facility?A PDF is available on the NPS Commercial Services website. A link to that can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/grca034-12.htm 38.Can we get a list of the comparable bike operators that were used to set the Bicycle rates? No. The Service did not conduct a formal comparability study for the rates listed in the Prospectus. The only determination done was to ensure those rates were reasonable and appropriate. The CUA requirement for this operation regarding rates stated "All rates charged to the public by the permittee for commercial services authorized by this CUA shall be reasonable and appropriate for the type and quality of services required or authorized under the CUA. All rates must be approved by the National Park Service in advance." 39.What is the wheel chair rental charge or how will it be established?Please refer to the Draft Contract, Section 3(e) Rates. 40.Can we charge by fractional hours for bicycle rentals? i.e. 15 minute increments.The successful Concessioner may propose rates that are broken into fractional hours, and the Service will review and may approve them if it finds that it is common among the comparable businesses chosen to determine rates. 41.Does NPS have initial guidance estimates on the useful life of the bicycle fleet?The Offeror must make its own determination regarding this, based on its own business experience and model. 42.Does NPS have guidance of the number of shuttles needed to efficiently service the shuttle operation?The Offeror must make its own determination regarding this, based on its own business experience and model. 43.Will NPS provide or will they by the time of the contract, provide additional signage on the Bike trails/Greenway trail. This signage would be giving information to the bike rental guests, i.e., distance between points (1.5 miles to G.C. Village, 2.6 miles to Hermits Rest, going east to Yaki Point).The Service is currently developing plans to improve signage on Greenway trails. Timing for installation of new signs depends on funding. At this time, the Service does not know if such signage will be in place at the start of the contract. 44.Are the full costs of potential, future renovations to any buildings, pathways, staircases, or other physical building elements associated with the bicycle rental facility to comply with the American's with Disabilities Act (or future revisions of that Act) the responsibility of the National Park Service?The NPS believes the facility and exterior pathways currently comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Future revisions of the Act would be dealt with on an as-needed basis. 45.Is there any knowledge of a current or historical soil contamination from previous vendor on the site of the bike rental facility?The Service is not aware of any current or historical soil contamination in the project area. 46.Do exceptions to categorical exclusions under current NPS service policy apply for this area?NEPA and 106 compliance for this activity, and its associated facility, were approved under the Park's 2008 Transportation Plan Environmental Assessment. 47.What environmental attributes are being incorporated into the building of the bike rental facility as prescribed by NPS policies and guiding documents?The facility will include a number of environmentally preferable features, including a tankless water heater, low-e glass, use of low VOC paints and finishes, and recycling of construction waste. See the building specification documents (Referenced in #48) for more information. Please note that these documents are working drafts, not as-built. 48.What are the specifications for construction elements of the building?The construction documents include a 175 page set of standard construction specifications, in addition to the construction drawings. Those specifications are available at the NPS Commercial Services website. A link to that can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/grca034-12.htm Please note: these are working drafts, not as-built. 49.Does Section I, Part 1 of Exhibit E permit the Concessioner to allow a licensed contractor to perform activities approved under the authorized Integrated Pest Management plan?The Concessioner must adhere to the terms and conditions of the Draft Contract and all Exhibits regarding Integrated Pest Management. This may include the Concessioner using the services of a licensed contractor to perform IPM activities, as approved by the Service. 50.What conditions or allowances will be made and are permissible for additional housing needs?The two trailer sites as described in the Draft Concession Contract are the only housing assigned to the Concessioner. Additional housing needs must be met outside of the Park. 51.Is there an incident/accident three-year history report from current bike operations? No. The Service does not have these records, and the requirement to provide them was not a part of the previous operator's permit requirements.
Web Link: FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOI/NPS/APC-IS/CC-GRCA034-12/listing.html)
Place of Performance: Address: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; Zip Code: 3602
Record: SN02638642-W 20111215/111213234853-0af753a91b4a8998244c08689cc18359 (fbodaily.com)
Source: FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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99 -- Responses to Questions (Part 1) regarding the Prospectus for a Concession Business Opportunity to provide Bicycle Rentals, Limited Retail and Food Service on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park. (Questions 1- 51)