Specifications include, but are not limited to: The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, is offering an opportunity for a qualified entity to obtain a concession contract to operate and manage Independence Mine State Historical Park (IMSHP) Visitor Center / Bookstore. The IMSHP Visitor Center is located 20 miles north of the community of Palmer, Alaska along the Palmer- Fishhook Road | Hatcher Pass Road. IMSHP is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, particularly during the summer months. Interpretive opportunities and amenities for the public during the summer months will include building tours, demos and interpretive programs, bookstore/small concession stand, visitor information center, buildings open for public walk through. The project would require any potential contractor to run a bookstore/concession stand and Visitor Center (VC) and lead guided tours within the buildings. Additional services may include extra programming, such as gold panning demos. Due to the valuable and irreplaceable nature of many of the artifacts within the buildings, the Contractor will not be allowed to leave buildings open for public walkthrough (excluding the Managers House and Bunkhouse #2 – ground level floors only). Service hours and tour times must be on a reliable schedule – staying consistent between operating days - which will allow the public to plan their visits accordingly. Services do not need to be available every day of the week. Visitation is highest on weekends, and the contractor would be expected to provide services on Saturday and Sunday at the least, extra attention will be given to contractors with plans to offer services on more than just these days. The Contractor will be responsible for operating the bookstore/visitor center and running tours, they will not be responsible for opening and closing the main grounds of the park. Visitors are allowed within the park at any time of day or night, though the buildings are locked. A gate, one mile from the main complex, is opened and closed daily by concessionaire staff and allows visitors to park at the complex. The opening and closing of the gate will be coordinated with park staff as necessary.
