The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus to advertise a food and beverage business opportunity at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston National Historical Park. It is expected that the new contract will be effective in January 2014 and will end on December 31, 2023. The concession is located in historic Building 10 in the Charlestown Navy Yard adjacent to America’s Ship of State USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, USS Cassin Young, a World War II-era destroyer, and the USS Constitution Museum. Over 1.8 million people visited the Charlestown Navy Yard in 2012, which hosts a number of special events and commemorations every year.
Building 10 is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation to vastly improve its appearance and the way it functions. This project will be completed prior to the contract’s start date in 2014 and includes a new slate roof, new copper gutters and downspouts, exterior brick pointing, restored wood windows, new aluminum storm windows, new fixtures and finishes in the restrooms, and restroom painting.
Building 10 has a sit down dining service on the second floor that can also be used to serve box lunches to groups. Though included under the previous contract, this service was never provided and represents a growth opportunity. The building includes an adjacent 60-seat (approximately) outdoor dining deck with views of USS Constitution, USS Cassin Young, Dry Dock 1, Boston Harbor, and the Bunker Hill Monument.
The concessioner will offer a variety of food and beverages appealing to a wide range of visitors, including vegans, vegetarians, and children. Locally grown food products will be used in restaurant menu items whenever possible and, to the highest degree possible, fresh locally grown produce will be used in salads and accompanying entrees.
The contract will allow the concessioner a unique opportunity to work closely with National Park Service rangers and other education specialists to develop ways to convey interpretive messages to visitors on park-related themes and topics such as resource protection, NPS values, and how current menu items compare to traditional shipyard worker meals. Interpretive messages will be included on menus, place mats, paper cups, paper bags, etc.
Any proposal must be received no later than 4:00 pm (Eastern Time) June 18, 2013. Potential offerors will have the opportunity to tour the concession facilities and view the current operations on May 2, 2013. For additional information, please visit http://concessions.nps.gov/prospectuses.htm or contact Josh Yocum, Concessions Specialist, at (215) 597-1904.