The Collection of Fees at the ISDRA for 08/09 Season

[Jerry Seaver]

The TRT has been informed that the BLM's goal is to send out a Request For Proposal (RFP) as soon as possible but probalby not before the end of Dec. of 2007 for collecting Fees at the ISDRA for the 2008/2009 season.

It will ask for a set amount to be paid to the BLM.

There will be a performance bond required.

The goal is to award the contract within thirty days after the release of the RFP.

Contract for fee collection will possibly start in June.

BLM is working on a incentive program to encourage permit sells before arriving at the ISDRA that would become a part of the contract if approved by the RRAC.

If you know anyone that is interested in bidding this project, let them know that is coming up soon.

[crash]

I just don't see how this fee system will ever work. If an outside vendor is responsible for the sales, yet can't do any enforcement for non compliance, they have no leverage to be sure they will be profitable. If the ICSO remains in charge, then there is a conflict of interest.

BTW- Is the possible roll back of FLERA going to effect the ISDRA fee system? I thought I remembered a discussion about how the current fee/tax structure is technically called something different so as to slip through a loophole. Is this the case?

[Jerry Seaver]

BTW- Is the possible roll back of FLERA going to effect the ISDRA fee system? I thought I remembered a discussion about how the current fee/tax structure is technically called something different so as to slip through a loophole. Is this the case?

Anything is possible, if the bill submitted to abolish FLERA (collecting fees) was passed by congress and signed into law, and it said that non-commercial special recreation permits would not be required any more to recreate on Federal land, then there wouldn't be any fees at the ISDRA. From what I've seen of the bill, it abolishes the collection of entrance fees and doesn't say anything about the fee that is being charged at the ISDRA. There is no way to tell what will become of the bill that was just submitted or if it passes, or what it will look like. There is normally many changes in most bills as they work their way thru congress. I think we will have to just wait and see. Meanwhile the BLM will continue with the program that they have now, until told different. I don't think it will affect the 08/09 season, no matter what happens with the bill.

[Jerry Seaver]

Latest Information on submitting a proposal for Fee Collection at the ISDRA


Announcement Details (NAR080070)ACTION: P - Presolicitation Notice
SOLICITATION NUMBER: NAR080070
SET-ASIDE: N/A
RESPONSE DATE: 05/12/2008
CLASSIFICATION CODE: M - Operation of Government Owned Facilities
CONTRACTING OFFICER:
BLM-BC NATIONAL BUSINESS CENTER*
BC663 BLDG 50, DFC, PO BOX 25047
DENVER, CO 80225-0047
POINT OF CONTACT:
Sara Oletski, Contracting Officer, (303) 236-6498, Sara_Oletski@blm.gov

SUBJECT: BLM Request for Proposal NAR080070, Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Fee Collection
DESCRIPTION:
Solicitation Number NAR080070 applies and will be issued as a Request for Proposals for the following services: Contractor will provide a means to allow all visitors to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area a reasonable way to purchase a permit, at any time before arrival, or in the dunes, to allow visitors to be compliant with the BLM supplemental fee rule and the Imperial County fee ordinance.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:
Background - The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA), managed by the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) El Centro Field Office, is located in eastern Imperial County, California. At 40 miles long and averaging five miles in width, it covers almost 160,000 acres, the largest area for sand dune off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation experience in the U.S. It draws visitors from throughout California as well as other States, and receives the highest visitor use concentration of any BLM recreation area in the country.

General - The contractor shall provide the following services: collect non-commercial special recreation permit fees (dunes permit) through the most efficient combination of the following methods: off-site sales, on-site sales and/or fee collection kiosks. The contractor shall also educate visitors of pertinent State, County and applicable Federal law as it relates to fee collection and compliance.

Collection Objective - The goal will be to increase off site sales by 10% each year until 80% of all permit sales are completed off site. 2007 will be considered the base year. Objective will be measured by monthly reports of on and off site sales. In 2007, 12,478 or 14% of all Dunes permits were sold out of the fee area. BLM is striving to have the majority of all permits sold off site to reduce the workload and traffic congestion in the recreation area.

Compliance Objective - Contractor will educate visitors and gain voluntary compliance with the County fee ordinance in order to maintain fee compliance at a minimum level of 80% at any time. BLM will respond to the contractor's request for assistance when there is a visitor who refuses to comply with permit regulations.

The awarded contract will include performance incentives for the collection and compliance objectives above. Additional information will be posted in the solicitation.

The standard NAICS classification is 721211. Size standard is $6.5 million. The Government intends to award this contract on an all-or-none basis. The solicitation will be issued on or about April 11, 2008. The solicitation may be downloaded from the IDEASEC website: http://ideasec.nbc.gov/j2ee/login.jsp. Please print the Standard form (SF-1449) and print all clauses and attachments. Proposals are due May 12, 2008 by 1:00 PM Mountain Time. Send proposals by U.S. Mail to: Department of the Interior; BLM, OC-663; Attention: Sara Oletski; BLDG 50, DFC, PO Box 25047; Denver, CO 80225-0047. By express or hand delivery: Department of the Interior; BLM, OC-663; Attention: Sara Oletski; Mail Room, Entrance S-2; BLDG 50, Denver Federal Center; Denver, CO 80225. No fax or electronic proposals will be accepted. An award will be made based on technical experience, past performance and price, which are of equal importance. Submit proposals to the address indicated above. Offerors must be registered at http://www.ccr.gov to be considered for award.

http://ideasec.nbc.gov/j2ee/announcemen ... Id=1430897

[crash]

What a joke!! Anybody who's dumb enough to take this project is gonna get KILLED by these requirements. ROFLMAO.

This is the best part:

In 2007, 12,478 or 14% of all Dunes permits were sold out of the fee area. BLM is striving to have the majority of all permits sold off site to reduce the workload and traffic congestion in the recreation area.

It's not worded very well, but if it's saying what I think it's saying, then 86% of permits were sold AT THE DUNES!!

Sounds like Jason and I were NOT just a couple cry babies as some of you have suggested when we said that many people get their passes AT THE DUNES and forcing them to do it any other way would be, at least, a major inconvenience.

I'm just shaking my head and laughing. One ridiculous decision after another is how we've got to this point. Somebodies heads should roll.

[HozayKwarvo]

Is the BLM planning on doing the fee compliance/enforcement end of it?

What % or $ is this pass sales contract worth?

[LoBuck]

Is the BLM planning on doing the fee compliance/enforcement end of it?

Yes,

BLM will respond to the contractor's request for assistance when there is a visitor who refuses to comply with permit regulations.

There was discussion about some people like "Meter Maids". This has popped up as a option ever year without resolution.

What % or $ is this pass sales contract worth?

I believe the BLM will hold a pre-bid meeting that will cover a lot of the details about items mentioned above.