National Park Service, Gettysburg National Military Park, 97 Taneytown Rd., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325

Y -- FUND AND DEVELOP VISITOR CENTER AND MUSEUM FACILITIES, GETTYSBURG, PA. Sol 1443RP440097001, due 041197. POC Rusty Thompson, Administrative Officer, 717-334-3949. Summary of the Development Opportunity. The National Park Service (``NPS'') is seeking proposals from highly qualified persons to cooperate with NPS in the development of visitor center and museum facilities (the ``Visitor Center/Museum Facilities'') for Gettysburg National Military Park (the ``park''), under the terms of an NPS cooperative agreement. The cooperator may also develop and operate in cooperation with NPS specified related facilities (the ``Related Facilities'') as part of the overall NPS and cooperator project (the ``Complex''). This Request for Proposals (``RFP'') represents a unique opportunity for a visionary, creative organization which cherishes our nations's past to be part of a history-making public-private collaboration which is intended to create the premier facility of its kind. The specific goals of NPS (``NPS Goals'') for this project are described in the section of this RFP entitled ``National Park Service Goals for the Complex.'' NPS seeks to consider proposals for the cooperative agreement from all possible sources, including for-profit, not-for-profit and/or governmental entities. Because there is no federal funding for construction, only limited federal funding for the operation of the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities, and no federal funding for construction or operation of the Related Facilities, NPS will consider a variety of mechanisms and locations to make the Complex a reality. Gettysburg is the site of the July 1-3, 1863 battle which many consider to be the turning point of the Civil War. The park encompasses 5,900 acres of terrain upon which most of the battle occurred. Located throughout the park are monuments built by the battle's survivors to memorialize their comrades who fell in battle, as well as state memorials and unit markers. The national cemetery, where many Union dead are buried, and whose dedication was the occasion of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, is also included in the park. The park also owns a notable collection of artifacts, archives and printed texts, many of which are priceless and irreplaceable. There is a long tradition of living history programs, guided walks by interpreters, and personalized tours by the park's federally licensed battlefield guides which help the park's more than 1.7 million visitors each year understand the meaning and magnitude of the Battle of Gettysburg. A more detailed description of the park and its environment can be found in the Draft Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment, Collections Storage, Visitor and Museum Facilities, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania. The Visitor Center/Museum Facilities will be the gateway to the park. The visitors' experiences in these facilities will prepare them to understand and appreciate fully the Gettysburg Battlefield. The facilities will include the park's main visitor center, a history museum, a bookstore for sale of interpretive materials, a gallery for the display of the world-famous Gettysburg cyclorama painting, housing for the park's extensive collections of artifacts and archives, and administrative office space. NPS envisions this facility as an educational, enriching, enlightening and entertaining destination where park visitors can learn about the Gettysburg Campaign. The museum will tell the story of the battle in its broad context of the Civil War and American History, and of its legacy and enduring importance to the American people. At the end of their stay at the facility, visitors should want to visit the battlefield, participate in related programs and activities in the community, and learn more about the era of the Civil War. The Visitor Center/Museum Facilities building program includes site rehabilitation, the removal of the existing Cyclorama Building, and removal of most of the existing Visitor Center. A very small visitor contact station will be developed somewhere in the vicinity of the existing centers. NPS considers that most proposals received will suggest, as part of the overall cooperative arrangements, general NPS operation and maintenance of the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities, including, as is done now, collection of interpretive fees by NPS and general NPS operation of its programs. Proposals, however, may also suggest other strategies to operate and maintain cooperatively the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities. Such strategies may include a blend of public and private management and operation or other solutions that provide the park with needed facilities and services while limiting NPS financial participation. No specific site for the Complex has been proposed or selected. Sites both inside and outside the park's boundary will be considered under the Site Evaluation Criteria set forth below so long as it is within the area of consideration. NPS intends that the general scope of the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities will be the same no matter where the Complex is located. However, a cooperator's Related Facilities may be broader in scope if located outside of Park boundaries as discussed below. Whatever the location, however, NPS wishes to provide a fitting setting in which to honor the events comprising the Gettysburg Campaign and to serve its visitors. Therefore, the Complex must convey an image compatible with the mission and purpose of NPS. In preparation for the selection of a proposal, NPS has completed a Draft Development Concept Plan. The Draft Development Concept Plan describes objectives and options for the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities and selects a preferred option. The Draft Development Concept Plan has been reviewed by the public and NPS and NPS has an environmental assessment of its impacts. Although it is the general desire of NPS that proposals will suggest implementation of the preferred alternative of the Draft Development Concept Plan (Option D), the NPS Goals, which are incorporated by reference in the Proposal Evaluation Criteria, are the controlling goals for this RFP. They are significantly more general than the description of Option D. Proposals are not required to adhere to Option D. Proposals may suggest any alternatives or modifications to Option D that are consistent with the NPS Goals, including, but no limited to, modifications to Option D's descriptive building program for the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities. NPS believes that most proposals received will include suggestions for Related Facilities. However, NPS points out that potential cooperators do no have to propose Related Facilities. Potential cooperators may submit proposals regarding only the cooperative development and operation of the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities or may propose simply to donate all necessary funds to NPS to develop the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities. NPS will consider a credible proposal to donate the Visitor Center/Museum Facilities as superior to proposals which call for development of Related Facilities. As of the time of issuance of this RFP, however, NPS has no indication that a credible poroposal of this nature will be submitted. Any proposal which has a fundraising component or proposals to solicit donations will be effectuated under NPS Fundraising and Donor Recognition Guidelines. The terms and conditions of this RFP, including the NPS Goals and Site and Proposal Evaluation Criteria, are generally consistent with the Draft Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment. To the extent that there are inconsistencies between the Draft Development Concept Plan, the Environmental Assessment and this RFP, this RFP controls. Six items are requested as part of your proposal: 1. Transmittal Letter; 2. Concept and Development Strategy; 3. Site Recommendation and Description; 4. Demonstration of Qualifications and Experience; 5. Demonstration of Financial Capability; 6. Description of NPS Cooperative Agreement. NPS will hold a pre-submittal conference at 10:00 am on February 7, 1997, in the Visitor Center Conference Room at Gettysburg National Military Park. Key dates for this RFP are as follows: Pre-submittal conference, February 7, 1997; Submittal Deadline, April 11, 1997. The anticipated date for selection of a proposal or proposals for further negotiation is within 60 days of receipt of submissions. Expected release date of the RFP is December 11th, 1996 with proposals due April 11th, 1997. To obtain a copy of the RFP, please send written requests to Rusty Thompson, Administrative Officer, Gettysburg National Military Park, 97 Taneytown Rd., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 or Fax 717-334-6871. (332)

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