99--99-Misc.: Operation of cruise ship services in Glacier Bay proper with an allocation of a limited number of vessel use daysduring June-August of each year of the anticipated contract term 1/1/2010 - 9/30/2019.

The National Park Service (NPS) is issuing a prospectus under which multiple concession contracts may be awarded for the operation of cruise ship services within Glacier Bay National Park. The contracts will include the initial allocation of a limited number of vessel use days in Glacier Bay proper during June through August of each year of the contract term. The anticipated term of the contracts will be January 1, 2010 - September 30, 2019. The solicitation, selection and award of the concession contracts will be conducted pursuant to 36 CFR Part 51. In addition, Holland America Line, Inc. and Princess Cruises, Inc. are historical operators, based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Section 134, eligible to be awarded contracts for their historical (prior to January 1, 1979) level of use (39 and 32 vessel use days in June through August, respectively). Therefore, the NPS intends to award concession contracts to these operators for that level of use, pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Section 1307 (16 USC 3197) and 36 CFR 13.310. Generally, historical operators have a right to continue to provide the same kind and level of service that they were legally engaged in providing prior to January 1, 1979. The two companies can also compete for additional use days for the June through August period. The prospectus is available on the Glacier Bay website at: . Hardcopies are available upon request. If you are planning to submit a proposal, we recommend that you advise the park of your interest and provide a contact person, e-mail address and telephone number. Those who have requested hard copies or advised the park of their interest will be placed on the mailing list to receive (via e-mail) any updates, amendments to the prospectus, and questions received and answers provided by the NPS which may be issued during the response period. This information will also be posted on the website listed above. Proposals must be received at National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, 240 West 5th Avenue, Room 114, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2327, no later than 4:00 p.m. on August 18, 2008 in order to be considered and evaluated. Requests for the prospectus and other inquiries may be made to David Nemeth, Glacier Bay National & Preserve, PO Box 140, Gustavus, Alaska 99826, phone 907 697-2624, or e-mail [email protected]. The opportunity to apply for cruise ship vessel services into Glacier Bay National Park shall remain open throughout the contract term. However, it is expected that all of the available use-days for June through August of each year will be awarded during the initial allocation to companies who submit proposals by the time and date referenced above. This "open" solicitation will allow additional Cruise Ship operators to submit proposals to provide services in the under-utilized shoulder and off-season and will allow additional operators an opportunity to utilize prime season use-days which may become available over the course of the contract term.