Subchapter II—Commercial Visitor
Services
§ 101911. Definitions
In this subchapter:
- (1) Advisory board.—The term “Advisory Board” means the National Park Service Concessions Management Advisory Board established under section 101919 of this title.
(2) Preferential right of renewal.—The term “preferential right of renewal” means the right of a concessioner, subject to a determination by the Secretary that the facilities or services authorized by a prior contract continue to be necessary and appropriate within the meaning of section 101912 of this title, to match the terms and conditions of any competing proposal that the Secretary determines to be the best proposal for a proposed new concession contract that authorizes the continuation of the facilities and services provided by the concessioner under its prior contract.
§ 101912. Findings and declaration of policy
(a) Findings.—In furtherance of section 100101(a), Congress finds that the preservation and conservation of System unit resources and values requires that public accommodations, facilities, and services that have to be provided within those System units should be provided only under carefully controlled safeguards against unregulated and indiscriminate use, so that—
- (1) visitation will not unduly impair those resources and values; and
- (2) development of public accommodations, facilities, and services within System units can best be limited to locations that are consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of the resources and values of the System units.
(b) Declaration of Policy.—It is the policy of Congress that the development of public accommodations, facilities, and services in System units shall be limited to accommodations, facilities, and services that—
- (1) are necessary and appropriate for public use and enjoyment of the System unit in which they are located; and
- (2) are consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of the resources and values of the System unit.
§ 101913. Award of concession contracts
In furtherance of the findings and policy stated in section 101912 of this title, and except as provided by this subchapter or otherwise authorized by law, the Secretary shall utilize concession contracts to authorize a person, corporation, or other entity to provide accommodations, facilities, and services to visitors to System units. Concession contracts shall be awarded as follows:
- (1) Competitive selection process.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, all proposed concession contracts shall be awarded by the Secretary to the person, corporation, or other entity submitting the best proposal, as determined by the Secretary through a competitive selection process. The competitive process shall include simplified procedures for
