D--MISS - Self Service Kayak Rentals

Request for Information on Self Service Kayak Rentals This is a Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought notice issued in accordance with FAR 15.201(e) to conduct market research. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The National Park Services (NPS) is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The NPS, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) has identified a need for updating its self-service kayak rental kiosk operations. The NPS is trying to create a self-service kayak rental system that will be 1) easy to use, 2) reliable, and 3) low maintenance. In partnership with its friends group Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), MISS has operated a self-service kayak rental system since 2016 (www.paddleshare.org). The system of seven kayak rental kiosks serves over 2,500 users annually as they paddle on the Mississippi River through the Twin Cities region in Minnesota. The current kayak rental system is dependent on a reservation and locking system that is operationally burdensome and not easy to use on the frontend or backend. With recent advances in technology there is an opportunity to explore more cost effective and modern systems to facilitate self-service kayak rentals. Statement of Need The NPS, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) has identified the need to modernize and simplify the self-service kayak rental system. MISS recognizes the need to continually reflect current industry practices in our projects and part of this RFI is to ensure that the most reliable and recent technology is being implemented. The government seeks to determine what the industry is using for self-service rentals. The system for kayak rentals must allow visitors to purchase a kayak rental on their mobile device and then access the kayak by opening a locked door in a kiosk that inside contains kayaking supplies. The rental system must allow for remote shut down of the kiosks in the event of emergency weather, the ability to easily provide refunds to customers when there are weather shutdowns, and the generation of simple reports to summarize past, current, and future daily/weekly/monthly bookings. Other requirements are listed in Appendix A. This RFI is for a system that operates the rental purchasing and access system, not for the entire physical kiosk stations or physical kayaks. Please review Attachment A for the description of the current kiosk rental system and service needs. What Offerors Must Submit: 1. Company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and email address 2. A description of how their service will or will not meet the conditions in the statement of need and Attachment A. The response narrative should be brief. 3. Specific examples demonstrating how their service has been used successfully. RESPONSE DEADLINE: Interested sources shall submit no later than 5:00 pm CST on 31 March 2023. Potential sources shall submit electronic responses via email to [email protected].