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Concessions contract<br>with park remains unsigned

GC VILLAGE — Although it appears the primary concessions contract at Grand Canyon National Park will not be finalized by Dec. 31, Amfac Parks and Resorts will continue operating without interruption.

GCNPL’s Bill Johnston said they will likely receive an extension letter until the concessions contract is finalized.

Bill Johnston, Grand Canyon National Parks Lodges general manager, said Wednesday that the new contract was still unsigned. Amfac was the lone bidder to operate concessions in the park.

Johnston said Amfac was given "responsive bidder" status and met the conditions to enter into a contract.

"The final contract details are still being worked out," Johnson said. "Nobody has signed anything yet."

Amfac has handled South Rim concessions for more than 30 years, operating the past three years on a contract extension. The original contract expired in 1998. Amfac’s financial interest at Grand Canyon is approximately $165 million.

Johnson said another extension contract will not likely materialize by the end of the year. However, he said "some sort of extension letter" is expected.

"We’re getting closer, but we’re not there yet," Johnston added.

Raymond Gunn, GCNP’s chief of concessions, was not available for an interview last week. GCNP superintendent Joe Alston could also not be reached for comment.

Amfac turned in its sealed bit for the contract on Aug. 2 and it remained sealed until a panel convened to consider the proposal. The National Park Service’s Washington office organized the panel and made a recommendation before the contract was to go to the park superintendent and regional director.

Once the proposed contractor signed, then it was to be conveyed by the National Park Service to Congress where it would sit for 60 calendar days as a courtesy for legislators to review it.

NPS director Fran Mainella’s signature will be required to put everything in place.

The contract to be issued will be for 10 years, the new statutory limit. The length of the contract would run from Jan. 1, 2002 through Dec. 31, 2011.

Among the services covered in the contract are lodging, dining, retail sales, camping services and mule rides.


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