Special Uses – Campground Concession

Campground Concession Desk Guide

Zip files containing the entire Desk Guide (ZIP, 2.81 MB)
Sample Business Plan for use with Campground Concessionaire Permits (RTF, 1.4 MB)

Cover Page (PDF, 19 KB)

Table of Contents (PDF, 41 KB)

Chapter 1: Introduction 1-1 (PDF, 230 KB)

Preface 1-1
Acknowledgements 1-1
Program Objective 1-1
Purpose of the Desk Guide 1-1
Background 1-2
Benefits of Campground Concessions 1-2
Authority for Campground Concessions 1-3

Chapter 2: Concession Feasibility 2-1 (PDF, 145 KB)

Programmatic Feasibility 2-1
- Conversion to Dispersed Use 2-1
- FS Management 2-1
- Recreation Fee Demonstration Program 2-1
- G-T Concessions 2-2
- Private/Public Ventures (PPV) 2-2
- Term Permit Program 2-2
Site-Specific Feasibility 2-3
- Local Site and Facilities 2-3
  - Condition of the Facility 2-3
  - Review of Concession in Context of Recreation and Infrastructure Maintenance Program 2-3
  - Site History 2-3
  - Scope of the Concession 2-3
- Agency Management 2-3
  - Budgetary Constraints 2-3
  - Other Considerations 2-4
- Economic Viability 2-4
- Customer Service Needs 2-4
- Effects on the Local Community 2-4
NEPA Documentation 2-4
Appendix 2A: Feasibility Assessment 2-5 (PDF, 314 KB)
Appendix 2B: Economic Feasibility of Conversion to a Concession 2-9 (PDF, 188 KB)
Appendix 2C: Cost/Benefit Analysis for Conversion to a Concession 2-11 (PDF, 86 KB)
Appendix 2D: Income/Expense Worksheet for Determining Economic Viability of a Concession 2-13 (PDF, 85 KB)

Chapter 3: The Prospectus 3-1 (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Considerations for Issuing a Prospectus 3-1
- Developing a List of Potential Applicants 3-1
- Customer Service 3-1
- Application Evaluation Plan 3-1
  - The Evaluation Team 3-2
  - The Evaluation Criteria 3-2
  - Relative Importance of Evaluation Criteria 3-5
- Time Frame for Preparing a Prospectus 3-6
Development of a Prospectus 3-7
- Cover Sheet 3-7
- Table of Contents 3-7
- Introduction 3-7
- Site Descriptions and Income-and-Expense Data 3-8
  - Area Description 3-8
  - FS Site Descriptions 3-8
  - Income-and-Expense Data 3-9
- The Opportunity 3-9
  - FS Programs and Policy 3-9
  - Special-Use Permit to Be Issued 3-11
  - G-T Fee Offset Agreement 3-11
  - Standard Operating Plan Provisions 3-12
- Proposed Operating Plan Provisions 3-14
  - Operating Season 3-15
  - Staffing 3-15
  - Required Services 3-15
  - Optional Services 3-16
  - Concessionaire Income and Expenses 3-17
- Other Required Submissions 3-20
  - Financial Documents 3-20
  - Miscellaneous Submissions 3-21
- Appendices and Other Documents 3-21
  - Mandatory Appendices 3-21
  - Optional Appendices 3-21
  - Documents Available upon Request 3-21
Advance Public Notice 3-22
- Notice of the Opportunity 3-33
- Target Audience 3-22
Appendix 3A: Sources for Potential Applicants 3-23 (PDF, 13 KB)
Appendix 3B: FS 6500-25, Request for Verification. 3-24 (PDF, 14 KB)
Appendix 3C: Time Frame for Issuance of a Prospectus 3-26 (PDF, 16 KB)
Appendix 3D: Prospectus Outline 3-28 (PDF, 32 KB)
Appendix 3E: Inventory of Government-Furnished Property 3-33 (PDF, 25 KB)
Appendix 3F: FS 2700-4h, 'Special-Use Permit for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions 3-35 (PDF, 63 KB)
Appendix 3G: Sample List of Holder-Furnished Property 3-54 (PDF, 14 KB)
Appendix 3H: Sample Holder Maintenance-and-Reconditioning Plan 3-55 (PDF, 21 KB)
Appendix 31: FS 6500-24, Financial Statement 3-57 (PDF, 9 KB)
Appendix 3J: Sample Notification of a Concession Opportunity 3-62 (PDF, 15 KB)

Chapter 4: Selecting a Concessionaire 4-1 (PDF, 70 KB)

Evaluation Method 4-1
- Fixed Weights 4-1
- Non-Fixed Weights 4-1
- Tradeoff Analysis 4-1
Evaluation of Applications 4-2
Selection of an Applicant 4-3
- Establishing a Competitive Range 4-3
- Written or Oral Discussions 4-3
Issuance of a Permit 4-4
Follow-Up 4-4
FOIA Requests 4-4
Appeals 4-5
Prerequisites to Issuance of a Permit 4-5
Appendix 4A: Sample Rating Sheet 4-6 (PDF, 34 KB)
Appendix 4B: Sample Notification Letter: Selected Applicant 4-10 (PDF, 23 KB)
Appendix 4C: Sample Notification Letter: Non-Selected Applicant 4-12 (PDF, 16 KB)
Appendix 4D: Determination of Financial Ability 4-13 (PDF, 26 KB)

Chapter 5: Permit Fees and G-T Fee Offset 5-1 (PDF, 25 KB)

Establishing the Permit Fee 5-1
- Establishing a Minimum Fee Based on Appraisal 5-1
  - Fee Component for the Use of Government Land 5-2
  - Fee Component for the Use of Government Improvements 5-2
  - Combined Fee 5-2
- Establishing a Minimum Fee Based on Gross Receipts 5-2
- Establishing a Minimum Fee Based on a Schedule 5-2
G-T Fee Offset 5-2
- Alteration of Government Improvements during M&R 5-3
- G-T Fee Offset Agreement and Certification 5-3
- Long-Term Government M&R 54
  - 1. Modified Fee Schedule for Accelerated G-T Fee Offset Work 54
  - 2. FS Performs Work under Collection Agreement 5-4
- Offset for Concessions Involving Multiple Sites . 5-4
- Collection Agreements for G-T Fee Offset Projects 5-4
Permit Fee Payments 5-5
Appendix 5A: Sample Government M&R Projects 5-6 (PDF, 18 KB)
Appendix 5B: Sample Annual Granger-Thye Gee Offset Agreement 5-8 (PDF, 16 KB)
Appendix 5C: Granger-Thye Fee Offset Certification Form 5-10 (PDF, 16 KB)

Chapter 6: Technical Issues 6-1 (PDF, 55 KB)

Insurance 6-1
- Master Policy Review 6-1
- Liability Insurance 6-2
- Casualty Insurance 6-2
- Combined-Single-Limit Policies 6-3
- Insurance for Multiple Permits 6-3
- Insurance for Permits Issued to States 6-3
- Insurance for Permits Issued to Federal Agencies 6-3
- Administering Insurance Coverage 6-3
Bonding 6-4
- Type of Bond 6-4
- Forms of Bonding 6-5
Collection Agreements 6-5
Appendix 6A: Performance Bond for Special-Use Permits 6-7 (PDF, 8 KB)
Appendix 6B: Sample Collection Agreement for G-T Fee Offset Work 6-8 (PDF, 18 KB)