Request for Proposals Operation of the Concession & Amphitheater at the Paper District Marina

Location:	Ohio
Posted:	Nov 12, 2025
Due:	Dec 3, 2025
Agency:	City of Sanduskey
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	M - Operation of Government Owned Facilities Z - Maintenance, Repair or Alteration of Real Property
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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SECTION I. NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

LEGAL NOTICE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Proposals for the City of Sandusky “Operation of the Concession and Amphitheater at

the Paper District Marina Facility” must be received in the office of the Department of

Community Development, 240 Columbus Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, to the attention of

Colleen Gilson, no later than 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Proposal packages shall be submitted with one original in sealed envelope labeled

“Operation of the Concession and Amphitheater at the Paper District Marina Facility”.

These Proposals are to be sent or delivered to:

Colleen Gilson

c/o Department of Community Development

240 Columbus Ave

Sandusky, OH 44870

Phone: 419-627-5891

Correspondence shall include contact name, address, telephone, fax, and email

information.

Copies for the Request for Proposals (RFP) can be downloaded from the City of Sandusky’s

website at www.cityofsandusky.com, or if you prefer a hard copy, please contact Melissa

Vassallo at mvassallo@cityofsandusky.com or 419-627-5932.

All questions must be submitted to Jason Werling in writing via email at

jwerling@cityofsandusky.com no later than 8:00am on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

Any questions submitted and answers thereto, clarifications or Request for Proposals

amendments shall be distributed to those parties that requested or have been sent an

original RFP.

All proposals must be received on time and in full compliance with the instructions

contained in the RFP. The City of Sandusky reserves the right to reject any and all

Proposals, and to withdraw this solicitation at any time.

The City of Sandusky reserves the right to waive any informalities or irregularities in any

of the Proposals received and award to the offeror whose proposal best meets the needs

of the City of Sandusky.

Please publish on: November 12 & 19, 2025

Approved by:

John Orzech, City Manager

II. Procurement Process, Timeline and Deadlines

This Request for Proposals is being issued by the City of Sandusky. The primary contact

for all communications regarding this Proposal shall be done through email with Colleen

Gilson at cgilson@cityofsandusky.com, with a last day for questions being no later than

8:00am on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

All private, for-profit, non-profit and public entities shall be eligible to submit Proposals

for this work.

The Request for Proposals shall be available upon Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and

publicized as follows:

• On the City of Sandusky Website at http://www.cityofsandusky.com

• Published as Legal Notice in the Sandusky Register on November 12 & 19, 2025

The Request for Proposals shall be available upon request in the following formats: hard

copy (paper) and electronic email (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF format). The Request for

Proposals shall be distributed as requested by the aforementioned eligible

Proposer/Contractors. Requests for the Request for Proposals shall be made to the

Department of Community Development. All requests shall include the Request for

Proposals format preference (hard copy or electronic email), complete contact

information of person making the request, including email address and fax number.

The Proposals shall be due no later than 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Proposals received after that date and time will not be accepted. Cost Proposal packages

shall be submitted as outlined in Section VI. Proposal Submittal and Format. The Proposals

shall be sent to:

Colleen Gilson

c/o Department of Community Development

240 Columbus Ave

Sandusky, OH 44870

Phone: (419) 627-5829

Proposer/Contractor bears total responsibility for ensuring their proposal is complete and

arrives on time.

Proposer/Contractor shall comply with each and every requirement of this RFP to be

considered responsive.

The Proposals shall be reviewed by a committee following the Request for Proposals due

date and time. The selected finalists shall be established based on the Rating Scale as

defined in Section VII. Evaluation of Proposals.

Specific Project Timeline

November 12 & 19, 2025 Advertise in the Sandusky Register that the City of Sandusky is

accepting Proposals and the Request for Proposals/Specifications packets are available.

Document will be posted on the City’s Website.

November 26, 2025 at 8:00am Last day to submit questions and clarifications regarding

the Request for Proposals for SCADA Improvements at Cedar Point Lift Station.

December 3, 2025 at 1:30pm Deadline for submittal of Proposals to the City of Sandusky.

December 3, 2025 – December 9, 2025 Review and evaluate proposals to formulate the

top three Proposer/Contractor. Demonstrations may be requested during this time.

December 22, 2025 Agreement will go to City Commission for approval.

III. OVERVIEW

The Paper District Marina is located on Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie along West Shoreline

Drive (mailing address of 611 W Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, OH). The marina consists of

sixty-two boat slips, eight jet-ski docks, one pump station, a commercial structure which

houses restrooms/showers, office space for marina operations, concession facility with

storage garage, and public parking lot. The marina is a certified Clean Ohio Marina

through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, of which the City prides themselves

on and holds high standards of its tenants to keep the grounds clean of all litter and

debris.

The facility is a public facility and should be treated as such throughout the length of the

agreement, allowing the public to have full and complete access to all portions of the

premises except for inside the concession operation and inside the marina operation

areas.

The property has been split into two separate opportunities for operation by a third party.

The marina, office space and docks are currently under the management of Tow Boat US.

As part of this request for proposal the City desires to contract with a firm for the

operation of the concession portion known as the “Food Service Area” 236 sq ft (currently

operated as Dockside Café), the amphitheater on the south portion of the property, and

share responsibilities of stocking and cleaning services of the restroom facilities.

The City envisions an operator being a qualified individual or business that possesses

experience in operating a business, restaurant experience, and interest in operating an

establishment that will enhance boating opportunities, as well as, offering programming

of the amphitheater facility.

IV. Scope of Services

A. Term of Operation and Agreement

The operation period for the concession and amphitheater facility shall be from May 1,

2026, and be for six (6) consecutive months, concluding on November 1, 2026. The City

desires to sign an agreement with an operator for a three-year period, there shall be three

(3) one-year options to extend the agreement for services full or in part written into the

agreement, which may include the negotiation of new pricing, upon the City’s discretion.

B. City of Sandusky Obligations

• Fire Alarm Monitoring,

• Building Security

• Utilities, trash, and recycling services with costs offset in rent from tenant.

• Basic internet service for credit card transactions (with costs offset in rent from

tenant.)

• Waterline/Building Winterization

• General maintenance repairs to the entire facility are not attributed to the

operator’s negligence.

• Maintenance of the grounds including grass, mulched areas, and plantings.

C. Obligation of Operator

• Market, manage, and operate the concession and amphitheater area.

• Provide necessary staffing, bookkeeping, and marketing.

• Keep grounds free of litter.

• Maintain and keep the concession and seating area located at the concession

facility in a good, safe, and cleaner manner.

• Provide bagged ice for sale to Marina patrons.

• Responsible for re-stocking restroom facilities as needed when the Marina

Operator closes office for the day.

• Provide and purchase all food, beverages and confections to customers and the

public throughout the term of the agreement.

• All food and beverages shall be of good quality and shall conform in all respects to

federal, state and local ordinances and regulations with respect to food safety. (all

costs are the responsibility of the operator)

• If alcoholic beverages are sold, the proper permits shall be required and in full

compliance with all federal, state and local ordinances and regulations. (all costs

are the responsibility of the operator)

D. Liability and Insurance

Successful respondent shall be required to supply and keep in force during the contract

period:

• Comprehensive public liability insurance against any liability for injury or death to

persons and/or damage to property occurring in, on or about the premises in the

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Description	Opening Date/Time	Closing Date/Time
Request for Proposals Operation of the Concession & Amphitheater at the Paper District Marina	November 12, 2025 7:30 AM	December 03, 2025 1:30 PM