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RFP to build, operate Outer Cove Marina to be completed
A request for proposal for the development of the closed Outer Cove Marina will soon be completed by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
“We’re very close to completing the request for proposal for the Outer Cove Marina,” DLNR Secretary Richard Seman said.
The Outer Cove Marina was closed last November after a gangway suddenly collapsed earlier in July. An inspection later on by the Building Safety Code Division of Department of Public Works recommended to DLNR to prohibit the use of its structures.
Seman said the RFP would require the company to handle the operations at the marina.
“This RFP entails design, construct, and operate. That way it would be completely out of our hands,” Seman said.
The RFP would also only involve the submerged lands and not the fast lands, which will be maintained as is, according to Seman. The fast land, or land above water, near the Outer Cove Marina is under the National Park Service and not DLNR.
“This design, construct, and operate is strictly for the docking facility in the water,” Seman said.
“Right now it’s not going to involve any building or any other facility. That has to be arranged separately with the National Park Service,” he added.
Companies who want to develop the fast land must communicate directly to the concessionaire branch of NPS.
Earlier, there were proposals to build an establishment were tourists can wait and have snacks while waiting for the boats to take them to Managaha island and other activities.
“Now we’re more concerned with the docks itself,” Seman said.
According to Seman, there are a couple of companies who are interested in developing the marina.
“There are basically two companies now that are willing to participate in the RFP. Both I guess would have their own interest in running the facility to serve their own particular, whatever venture they are in,” Seman said.
“Once the RFP is done we’re going to advertise it and whatever the number of applicant, we’ll review them and basically choose the one that is offering the most in whatever they want to do in the Outer Cove Marina, the one that will provide more development, more slips, more docks, breakwater, stuff like that,” he added.
