Public Land


The National Park Service awarded Dornbusch Associates five consecutive Indefinite Quantity consulting contracts since 1993, the latest 5-year contract being awarded in 2014.  The work has entailed:

  • Market analyses, service and operations improvement conceptualization, financial feasibility analyses, and business plans for new concession operations and changes to existing concession operations;
  • Assistance in preparation of solicitations of proposals for concession contracts;
  • Assistance to Park Service evaluation panels in evaluating proposals for new concession contracts;
  • Recommendation to improve concession contract terms;
  • Expert witness testimony and assistance to the attorneys in arbitration of concessioner franchise fees and determination of asset recovery values; and
  • Evaluation of the terms of sales and transfer of concession contracts.

Sample Projects: 

The types of NPS concession operations addressed have included:

  • Lodging facilities (hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, and all types of campgrounds);
  • Conference and retreat centers;
  • Interpretive & learning centers;
  • Mobile home and travel trailer developments;
  • Food and beverage facilities of a wide range of types and sizes;
  • Retail sales of gifts, souvenirs, groceries, sporting goods, and other merchandise;
  • Interpretive tours;
  • Marinas;
  • Ferry services;
  • Tour bus services;
  • Shuttle bus and light rail transportation services; and
  • All of the various recreation services and operations at the nation’s national parks.

 Other experience with public lands and leasing includes:

  • National Park Service concession financial analysis projects
  • Yosemite Valley Plan EIS
  • San Francisco Presidio management plan and EIS
  • Coast Dairies land development & management plan
  • Conference center redevelopment feasibility (New York)
  • Conference center management (Asilomar)
  • Sports complex redevelopment from airport hangars (New York)
  • Swimming facility redevelopment (New York)
  • Golf courses – San Francisco Presidio, Crystal Springs, and Sunol (California)
  • Hartsook Property (Humboldt County, California) lodging & property redevelopment and redwoods preservation
  • Lease analyses – City of Monterey, San Mateo County Harbor District, others
  • Bureau of ReclamationNew Melones Reservoir (California)
  • Owyhee Reservoir (Oregon)
  • Lake Berryessa (California)