Alberta Parks operates some "facilities" (campgrounds, group camping areas, day use areas, concessions) directly, contracts out the operation of other facilities, and purchases services to supplement some operations. All these business opportunities follow a competitive process, with Requests for Proposals (RFPs) posted on Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC).
Under a Facility Operating Agreement, a private operator manages and maintains one or more revenue generating sites (like campgrounds) and non-revenue generating sites (day use areas). Facility Operating Agreements are like a franchise model, with the operator operating under the Alberta Parks brand, being required to follow the Provincial Parks Fees Order, regulations, directives, and performance standards, and generally using Shop.AlbertaParks.ca for reservations and registration.
A Facility Operating Agreement is a type of revenue contract, usually for a 5 to 10 year term. The operator collects approved fees from visitors and pays a portion of their total revenue to Alberta Parks (Facility Replacement and Development Levy, surcharges and Return to Crown requirements). The operator keeps the remainder of the revenue to cover their expenses and as profit.
Concessions help enhance visitor experience by offering products and services such as food (prepackaged and/or prepared), sundry and gifts, laundromat, or sports equipment rentals (e.g. bikes, non-motorized watercraft). Under a Concession Operating Agreement, a private operator runs one or more concessions in a park. These contracts are generally for a 3 to 5 year term.
A Concession Operating Agreement is also a type of revenue contract, under which the Operator pays a portion of their revenue to Alberta Parks and retains the rest.
Where Alberta Parks operates a park, service contracts may be used for private contractors to provide specific maintenance tasks like grass cutting or building cleaning. Under a service agreement, Alberta Parks pays a specific fee to the contractor for the contracted service.
Private sector businesses can enhance recreational opportunities in the provincial parks system and support the development of sustainable tourism in communities across the province.
Commercial Recreation Dispositions are used for long-term third party operation of facilities within Alberta Parks. A disposition is a legal tool or contract between the Government of Alberta and a third-party business that outlines the terms and conditions for operations. The details of a disposition can vary based on the type of business operation proposed.
Some examples of development opportunities that are managed using a Commercial Recreation Disposition in provincial parks include:
New Opportunities
Alberta Parks identifies existing facilities or new opportunities for Commercial Recreation Dispositions to support recreation or tourism development in the park. These opportunities must be consistent with site’s classification, management intent and conservation considerations. Disposition holders are chosen through a competitive application process to ensure fairness and transparency for applicants.
How to Apply
Opportunities for Commercial Recreation Dispositions are posted on the Alberta Parks Partnership Opportunities, and Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals will be posted on Alberta Purchasing Connection.
Please refer to Commercial Recreation Dispositions in Alberta Parks for more details on the process.
Agreement and contract opportunities with Alberta Environment & Parks are advertised on Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC). Once signed up as a Vendor, use "Search Opportunities" with keyword "park" or "parks" to identify current opportunities.
The related Commodity Codes used on APC are:
For general information on the RFP process, Facility or Concession Operating Agreements, or service agreements, contact ABParks.ParksRevenueContracts@gov.ab.ca
Questions about a specific RFP should be directed to the RFP Contact identified in the package posted on APC.
