Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that the park is issuing a prospectus to solicit proposals to provide for the continuation of guided, interpretive snowmobile and/or snowcoach tours in Yellowstone National Park. It is the intention of the National Park Service (NPS) to encourage operators to provide a variety of winter services to the public, including shuttle services, freight hauling, towing disabled vehicles, and access for mobility, sight, and hearing impaired visitors. All existing concessioners currently providing these services and interested parties must submit responsive proposals to the prospectus in order to be considered.

This prospectus addresses the commercial aspect of the March 25, 2003, Record of Decision (ROD) for Winter Use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. A critical element of the ROD is the requirement that access, by either snowmobile or snowcoach, be guided. Eighty percent (80%) of snowmobile access will be commercially guided beginning this coming winter, and snowmobiles used by commercial tours must be best available technology snowmobiles, as called for in the ROD.

The prospectus will describe guide requirements, daily limits, the services to be provided, the terms and conditions of the contract, and instructions for completing proposals.

Copies of the prospectus can be obtained by contacting the Business Management Office at (307) 344-2271. There will be a $35 fee for each copy in order to recover administrative and printing costs.