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(II) the Secretary determines that the concessioner has operated satisfactorily during the term of the contract (including any extension); and

(III) the concessioner has submitted a responsive proposal for a proposed new concession contract that satisfies the minimum requirements established by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (4).

(C) Contract with estimated gross receipts of less than $500,000.—A concessioner that holds a concession contract that the Secretary estimates will result in gross annual receipts of less than $500,000 if renewed shall be entitled to a preferential right of renewal under this subchapter if—

(i) the Secretary has determined that the concessioner has operated satisfactorily during the term of the contract (including any extension); and

(ii) the concessioner has submitted a responsive proposal for a proposed new concession contract that satisfies the minimum requirements established by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (4).

(9) New or additional services.—The Secretary shall not grant a preferential right to a concessioner to provide new or additional services in a System unit.

(10) Authority of secretary not limited.—Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary to determine whether to issue a concession contract or to establish its terms and conditions in furtherance of the policies expressed in this subchapter.

(11) Exceptions.—Notwithstanding this section, the Secretary may award, without public solicitation, the following:

(A) Temporary contract.—To avoid interruption of services to the public at a System unit, the Secretary may award a temporary concession contract or an extension of an existing concessions contract for a term not to exceed 3 years, except that prior to making the award, the Secretary shall take all reasonable and appropriate steps to consider alternatives to avoid the interruption.

(B) Contract in extraordinary circumstances.—The Secretary may award a concession contract in extraordinary circumstances where compelling and equitable considerations require the award of a concession contract to a particular party in the public interest. Award of a concession contract under this subparagraph shall not be made by the Secretary until at least 30 days after—

(i) publication in the Federal Register of notice of the Secretary’s intention to award the contract and the reasons for the action; and

(ii) submission of notice to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

§ 101914. Term of concession contracts

A concession contract entered into pursuant to this subchapter shall generally be awarded for a term of 10 years or less. The Secretary may award a contract for a term of up to 20 years if the Secretary determines that the contract terms and conditions,