---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 101920"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "101920"
heading: "Contracting for services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/101920"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — National Park System"
  - "Division A — Establishment and General Administration"
  - "Chapter 1019 — Concessions and Commercial Use Authorizations"
  - "Subchapter II — Commercial Visitor Services"
---

# §101920. Contracting for services

- (a) **Contracting Authorized.—**
  - (1) **Management elements for which contract required to maximum extent practicable.—** To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall contract with private entities to conduct or assist in elements of the management of the [Service](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) concession program considered by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) to be suitable for non-Federal performance. Those management elements shall include each of the following:
    - (A) Health and safety inspections.
    - (B) Quality control of concession operations and facilities.
    - (C) Strategic capital planning for concession facilities.
    - (D) Analysis of rates and charges to the public.
  - (2) **Management elements for which contract allowed.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may also contract with private entities to assist the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) with each of the following:
    - (A) Preparation of the financial aspects of prospectuses for [Service](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) concession contracts.
    - (B) Development of guidelines for a [System](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5) capital improvement and maintenance program for all concession occupied facilities.
    - (C) Making recommendations to the [Director](/usc/54/100102.md?p=1) regarding the conduct of annual audits of concession fee expenditures.
- (b) **Other Management Elements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall consider, taking into account the recommendations of the [Advisory Board](/usc/54/101911.md?p=1), contracting out other elements of the concessions management program, as appropriate.
- (c) **Authority of Secretary Not Diminished.—** Nothing in this section shall diminish the governmental responsibilities and authority of the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) to administer concession contracts and activities pursuant to this subchapter and [section 100101(a)](/usc/54/100101.md?p=a), [chapter 1003](/usc/54/chstI/dA/ch1003.md), and sections [100751(a)](/usc/54/100751.md?p=a), [100752](/usc/54/100752.md), [100753](/usc/54/100753.md), and [102101](/usc/54/102101.md) of this title. The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) reserves the right to make the final decision or contract approval on contracting [services](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) dealing with the management of the [Service](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) concessions program under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3149.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 101920 | 16 U.S.C. 5959. | Pub. L. 105–391, title IV, § 410, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3514. |