[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14959-14960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8020]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, FL; Concession Contract 
Negotiations

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Public notice.

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SUMMARY: Public Notice is hereby given that the National Park Service 
proposes to award a concession contract authorizing a concession to 
provide, operate, and maintain interpretive tram tours, bicycle 
rentals, limited snack items, and sundries for the public at Shark 
Valley located at Everglades National Park, Florida, for a period of 10 
years from approximately January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2009.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Offers will be accepted for sixty (60) days under the 
terms described in the Prospectus. The sixty (60) day application 
period will begin with the release of the Prospectus, which will occur 
on or before April 27,

[[Page 14960]]

1998. The actual release date of the Prospectus shall be the date the 
notice is published in the ``Commerce Business Daily''.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should contact Henry Benedetti, Chief-
Concessions Management, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 
9336, Homestead, FL, 33034 for a copy of the Prospectus.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This contract renewal has been determined to 
be categorically excluded from the procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act and no environmental document will be 
prepared since the improvement program includes only replacement of 
existing facilities on previously disturbed land.
    The existing concessioner has performed its obligation to the 
satisfaction of Secretary under an existing contract which expired by 
limitation of time on November 30, 1992, and therefore pursuant to the 
provisions of Section 5 of the Act of October 9, 1965 (16 U.S.C. 20 et 
seq.), is entitled to be given preference in the renewal of the 
contract, and in the award of a new contract providing that the 
existing concessioner submits a responsive offer. Responsive means a 
timely offer which meets the terms and conditions of the Prospectus. 
This means that the contract will be awarded to the party submitting 
the best offer, provided that if the best offer was not submitted by an 
existing concessioner, then the existing concessioner will be afforded 
the opportunity to match the best offer. If the existing concessioner 
agrees to match the best offer, then the contract will be awarded to 
the existing concessioner. If the existing concessioner does not submit 
a responsive offer, the right of preference in renewal shall be 
considered to have been waived, and the contract permit will then be 
awarded to the party that has submitted the best responsive offer. The 
Secretary will consider and evaluate all offers received as a result of 
this notice.
    Any offer, including that of the existing concessioner, must be 
received by the (Superintendent), Everglades National Park, 40001 State 
Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, no later than the sixtieth (60th) day 
following the day notice is published in the ``Commerce Business 
Daily'' to be considered and evaluated.
Henry Benedetti,
Chief, Concessions Management, Everglades National Park.
[FR Doc. 98-8020 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M