Download Pre-submitted Questions and Answers* Call for Business Plans SUP

Pre-submitted Questions and Answers*
Call for Business Plans SUP-BP #21-16
At Silver Springs State Park
1. Will department (DEP) provide a pro forma that I sure you must of done on both expenses and
revenue on park operations? What does it cost to operate the park? Last Fiscal Year the Park
itself generated $864,994 in revenue, and had $1,213,094 in expenses. Please bear in mind,
these figures apply to Department operations, not Concessionaire operations. For those figures,
please consult the Profit and Loss statements posted on the website. Lastly, please keep in mind
these figures include revenue and expenses for Wild Waters Water Park (which is not part of
this Call for Business Plans).
2. Will you (DEP) provide the cost of insurance for glass bottom boat operations? This information
will be posted on the website. However, as this cost is borne by the Concessionaire, the
Department advises proposers to seek their own insurance quotes.
3. Will you (DEP) provide estimated expenses on sewage / water system that you were requiring of
last company that you were negotiating with to be responsible for? Are the plumbing, electrical,
fire, ADA, Sewage, or other utilities in proper working order as required by the DEP? What areas
does the Park Ranger and DEP project required expenditure in the next year, 2 years and 5
years? In the current arrangement, the Department has been responsible for the water/sewer
fee. It is expected to continue in this manner.
4. Will you (DEP) provide prior to the submission deadline the entire contract provisions that you
are asking people to bid on? The sample one on web site in prior bid was not accurate or
complete. Example...will concessionaire be required to staff front gate 365 days from sunrise to
sunset, even though their operations are not open? The Department will be providing an
Agreement which is representative of the final Agreement. However, final terms and conditions
of an Agreement are subject to negotiations. (To the point in the example, and as discussed, the
front gate operations are not a requirement of this Call for Business Plans).
5. Will you (DEP) provide prior to submission deadline provide a complete inventory list of what is
available at park for concessionaire to assume, inherit or / and be responsible for ? Need year
and type for all large equipment that requires or is included in State, City and County
inspections. A tentative Department-owned inventory is available on the website. Further
information can be gleaned during the tour portion of the mandatory on-site meeting. And a
final inventory will be added to the Concession Agreement after a walk through – during
negotiations.
6. Will you explain why your (DEP) negotiation with prior bid winner didn't work out to a contract?
The Department and the selected Respondent could not come to terms in Agreement writing
and final negotiations. Specifically, the Department and Respondent could not agree on the
requested changes to the Department’s standard Concession Agreement.
7. Will you (DEP) provide us a copy of the contract you were negotiating with the company of west
coast Florida events? This will be made available on the website, pending review and approval
by the Department’s Office of General Counsel.
8. Will you guarantee through contract that all electrical, Ac , plumbing and roof repair work is up
to Marion county building code ? Request a copy of the latest inspection approvals for all
spaces, fire, ADA, Health, ?? The Department is unable to guarantee the Facilities in this way, as
this portion of the Park had several deferred maintenance needs when acquired from the
previous lessee. While many projects have been completed, there is still much to accomplish.
(See Facilities, Space, and Equipment regarding “as-is, where-is”.)
9. Who is responsible for roof of main building? As listed in the Business Plan Packet, the roof of
the main building is the Department’s responsibility, unless otherwise negotiated as a Capital
Improvement with the contracted Concessionaire.
10. Would you please explain DEP rationale of the following in prior negotiation:
Concessionaire staffs front gate from sunrise to sunset, collects the parks $2 admission.
Concessionaire then submits that $2 to DEP, and then owes state of Florida an additional sales
tax of .14 cents. So concessionaire has to carry the staffing, insurance, merchant fees, etc of the
collection and on top of that loses 14 cents per every admission? While staffing the front gate is
not a required operation, previous Respondents proposed in their bids to provide these services
at the Park. Operational expenses of staffing the front gate, as with every service offered by the
Concessionaire, are at the sole cost and expense of the Concessionaire. Admission fees along
with sales and use tax are required by law/statute. It is the responsibility of the respondent to
propose what they deem sustainable, feasible, and successful for each given opportunity.
11. Are the attendance figures provided on the call for business website total visitors for both the
former Silver River State Park and Silver Springs attraction portion of the park? The total
attendance does include Wild Waters Water Park. The Department will work to provide
separate numbers, and post them to the website.
12. If so, please provide the attendance numbers for the attraction portion of the park formerly
known as Silver Springs? The Department will post to the website historical data regarding
attendance numbers.
* Questions are as submitted to the Department.