The Niagara Parks Commission

NIAGARA FALLS – The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the lease of lands needed to operate a boat tour service in the lower Niagara River, providing passengers a spectacular view of the Falls.

The RFP is the result of a process that involved experts in marine transportation and safety, a fairness commissioner, a procurement specialist, potential bidders, area residents and businesses, and others who have a stake in the success of the tour boat operation, according to Commission Chair Fay Booker.

“The process has been and will continue to be open, transparent and fair,” Booker said. “Through the lease of this land, NPC’s objective is to facilitate the offering of a boat tour which will meet the needs of NPC, while continuing to enhance the visitor experience in this tourism community.”

Booker said that the Commission is seeking new ideas that will increase the number of tourists visiting Niagara Falls, and generate additional revenue for NPC. “Potential proponents will also be assessed on their ability to meet all mandatory requirements and uphold marine safety standards at all times,” Booker went on to add.

NPC owns and leases the land in the Niagara Gorge needed to dock and pick up passengers on the Canadian side of the Niagara Gorge.

The RFP, posted on the MERX system at www.merx.com, will close on November 24, 2010. NPC will negotiate a tentative land lease agreement with the preferred proponent. The agreement will then be submitted to the provincial government for approval, expected by spring 2011.

The Niagara Parks Commission, an Agency of the Government of Ontario since 1885, operates to preserve and enhance Niagara Falls and the lands along the Niagara River Corridor for the enjoyment of visitors while remaining financially self-sufficient

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For more information, please contact:
Fay Booker, Chair
The Niagara Parks Commission
(905) 356-2241, ext 223
fbooker@niagaraparks.com

Ontario has engaged independent third-party expertise to assist the Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) in its competitive process for the land lease related to tour boat operations at Niagara Falls.

Following a competitive process, the province has selected Knowles Consultancy Services Inc. as a procurement specialist and PPI Consulting Limited as fairness commissioner. The government has also engaged Capilano Maritime Design Ltd. as naval architect consultant to the competitive process. The duties of these third-party experts will be as follows:

•  The procurement specialist will assist NPC with activities associated with the design, development, management and control of the process.
• The fairness commissioner will observe, monitor and oversee the competitive process, and issue a report to the ministry with respect to the fairness of the process.
• The naval architect consultant will provide technical advice that will assist NPC in drafting the competitive process documents.

While all three specialists will provide their expertise to the competitive process, the final decision regarding the selection of the tour boat operator will be made by NPC as a recommendation to the Ontario Government.