Visitor Services
| Agency: | Mariposa County |
|---|---|
| State: | California |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Posted Date: | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Due Date: | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Original Source: | Please Login to View Page |
| Contact information: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Documents: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Title: |
Visitor Services
|
| Category: | Professional Services |
| Status: | Open |
|
Attachment Preview
Mariposa Visitor Services
RFP July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028
Request for Proposals (RFP)
for
Visitor Services
Mariposa, California
RFP Issued January 16, 2026
Proposals Due: 5:00 PM on February 27, 2026
Electronic Submittals Only
Attention: Leigh Westerlund
Assistant County Administrator, County of Mariposa
lwesterlund@mariposacounty.gov
1
I.
INTRODUCTION
Mariposa Visitor Services
RFP July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028
The County of Mariposa, California (County), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations or
individuals to provide Visitor Services in the town of Mariposa and online on behalf of the entire County.
The County expects to enter into an Agreement for Services (Agreement) with the awarded contractor. The
successful proposal will provide for Visitor Services based on a mutually agreed-upon program and
budget.
II. BACKGROUND
The County is a small, rural county at the doorstep of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada
mountains. More than four million visitors each year come to Mariposa County to recreate in and around
one of the most famous national parks in the world. Visitor services connect travelers not only with the
park but also with a myriad of other attractions and services in Mariposa County including but not limited
to lodging, shopping, restaurants, museums, adventure tours, festivals and events, wine tasting, and
outdoor amenities.
The County is seeking innovative proposals that address the ways in which the world is changing, and
visitors are seeking and obtaining information. Both in-person and online visitor services should be
included in the proposal.
Proposals that demonstrate a knowledge of the way in which visitors seek information today as well as
the information already being provided by other service providers will be prioritized. Information
dissemination practices are rapidly evolving. At the same time, generational differences in the way in
which information is sought require a variety of information distribution media to be used. It may be that
proposers offer unique and creative solutions to the complex task of meeting visitor service needs,
comprehensively, and on a budget. We welcome new ideas and new solutions to these complex
problems.
III. PURPOSE
The purpose of an Agreement for these visitor services is to welcome, orient, and inform visitors and
promote County businesses and experiences.
IV. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected contractor will deliver the following services:
A. Provide an in-person services location in the town of Mariposa
Secure a location in the town of Mariposa where in-person visitor services may be
provided.
Visitor services can be co-located with another business such as a restaurant or retail
store. This is a creative solution which has worked in other places such as Mariposa’s
North County area, and it can have a positive effect on both the level of information
visitors receive as well as retail and/or restaurant sales. There are some public
establishments that would not be suitable for co-location with visitor services due to age
restrictions (bars or dispensaries), adult content of merchandise being sold (gun shops),
etc.
2
Mariposa Visitor Services
RFP July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028
The facility must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and comply with all
state and local guidance and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility
requirements.
B. Provide online services (website/email/phone)
Maintain a website that coordinates with the organizations promoting Mariposa County
tourism online (Tourism Bureau, Arts Council, Airbnb, etc.) to ensure that all content is
current, thorough, accessible, organized, visually pleasing, and linked in a way that is
logical and clear. Online information should present a comprehensive view of what
Mariposa County offers in terms of lodging, transportation, restaurants, attractions,
activities, events, and other types of services and amenities.
Too often visitors can only access this type of information for things located in and
immediately adjacent to Yosemite National Park. We hope the proposer can clarify how
they will supplement and enhance the information available to tourists, so they are able to
see ALL of the things ALL of Mariposa County has to offer.
Create an email and phone number through which visitors are encouraged to ask
questions and seek information in advance of and even while visiting Mariposa County.
The County is roughly the same size as Rhode Island and a visitor in Buck Meadows may
need information on a bike ride in Hornitos before making the drive to enjoy it.
C. Develop community partnerships and direct visitors in person and online to their events,
activities, and information
Develop community partnerships with groups for awareness and promotion of their visitor
services, resources, and events. The groups may include but are not limited to:
1. Yosemite National Park
2. Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau
3. Yosemite Gateway Partners
4. Mariposa Bed and Breakfast Association
5. Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce
6. Mariposa Business Association
7. Main Street Mariposa
8. Mariposa County History Museum
9. Major event organizers like the Butterfly Festival, the Fair, Coyotefest, and Hornitos
Día de los Muertos
Develop a community calendar in coordination with those partners to ensure online and
in-person visitor information is comprehensive and easy to navigate. Contractor should
think of themselves as a hub for visitor information, linking visitors to existing partner
calendars and information, and should proactively solicit content to ensure the calendar
as well as all other information is current and accurate.
Promote community activities and events that are geared toward general tourism rather
than local meetings and avoid promoting events that support political or social exclusion.
Change the highlighted activities by season.
3
Mariposa Visitor Services
RFP July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028
D. Interact with visitors in person and online
1. Display and distribute brochures, maps, and other visitor information that is
reviewed on an annual basis to ensure information is up to date and accurate.
2. Provide visitors with assistance upon request and answer inquiries in a timely
manner.
3. Connect visitors with available lodging.
4. Provide information on transportation, restaurants, attractions, activities, events, and
other services and amenities.
5. Provide information in a friendly and enthusiastic manner as the first contact made
by many visitors to our area.
6. Respond to email and voicemail within 24 hours.
E. Develop an operations plan
Provide an agreed-upon annual plan of operations for management of Mariposa Visitor
Services to include, but not be limited to, proposed paid and/or volunteer staffing, hours
of operation, responsiveness to email and phone messages, and maintenance of both
online and in-person services.
F. Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
Identify and report on outcome-based performance measures – commonly referred to as
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) -- that monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and
efficiency of Visitor Services. The County of Mariposa will evaluate the proposed KPIs and
agree to or negotiate them with the successful contractor before inclusion in a final
Agreement.
G. Provide an annual spending report
Segregate funds provided by the County of Mariposa and provide an annual, auditor-
reviewed report on the use of these funds.
H. Optional: Additional Services
Additional services, including but not limited to art displays, gift shops, or any other
information/services/ideas the proposer considers appropriate to add, may be included in
the proposal for consideration. These services will be considered for inclusion or omission
in the final Agreement at the sole discretion of the County.
4
Mariposa Visitor Services
RFP July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028
V. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE FINAL AGREEMENT
A. Term of Agreement
The agreement will be for a two-year term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and may
be extended for three successive one-year terms by mutual consent of the County and the
contractor. Neither party has any obligation to extend the initial term of the Agreement.
B. Agreement Requirements
An Agreement in this matter will not be formed until executed by all parties including the
Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chair, and performance under the contract will not
begin until the Agreement is fully executed by all parties. A sample Agreement is provided
as an attachment to this RFP. Terms and conditions of the Agreement are subject to
negotiation but are likely to include the provisions in the attached sample, so please
review it to familiarize yourself with its provisions including insurance requirements, hold
harmless/indemnification statement, the contractor’s status as an independent
contractor, progress payments, and termination of contract.
C. Subject to Appropriation
Compensation for services requires the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors to
appropriate funds annually on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30) for payment of
services. The obligation of the County to provide funding is subject to the availability of
funds lawfully appropriated for that purpose by the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors.
VI. QUESTIONS DEADLINE
All questions about the RFP must be submitted via email to lwesterlund@mariposacounty.gov no
later than 5:00 PM PST on Friday, January 30, 2026. Questions received after this deadline will not be
answered. Responses to all questions submitted before the deadline will be posted to the RFP bid page
on the mariposacounty.gov website.
VII. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
A. Proposal Deadline
All proposals must be received via email no later than 5:00 PM PST on Friday,
February 27, 2026. Late proposals will not be accepted.
B. Proposal Format
Proposals shall be submitted in a single Microsoft Word or PDF file under 20MB
(approximately 30 pages) and emailed to: lwesterlund@mariposacounty.gov. The County
reserves the right to reject any proposal exceeding that limit.
5
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.
* Disclaimer: This website provides information about bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) for convenience only and does not serve as an official public notice. Individuals who wish to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the relevant government department directly.
Sign-up for a Free Trial, Government Bid Alerts
With Free Trial, you can:
You will have a full access to bids, website, and receive daily bid report via email and web.
See Also
OCA RED | Janitorial Services Events Search Event : SFGOV-0000011743
City and County of San Francisco
Bid Due: 6/26/2026
Project: RFB 6528 E-Waste Recycling Ref. #: GSA E-Waste Recycling Department: GSA Type:
Ventura County
Bid Due: 6/24/2026
Negotiation Number Negotiation Type Title Open Date Close date Details 415543 RFQ RFP
City of Oakland
Bid Due: 7/31/2026
Bid Solicitation # PW-25-648 Bid Solicitation # PW-25-648 Organization Name City of Long
City of Long Beach
Bid Due: 8/04/2026