USACE seeks proposals for Challenge Cost-Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement for Barren River Lake’s Tailwater Campground Recreation Area

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is seeking proposals from Non-Federal Public Entities to enter a Challenge Cost-Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement (CCSCMA) for the purpose of co-managing recreational sites with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The recreational site under consideration is located at Barren River Lake and includes the Tailwater Campground in Allen County, Kentucky.

Non-Federal public entities include a state, county, municipality or local government, public institutions of higher education, and Indian Tribes.

USACE Benefits:

• Cost savings for current management, operations, and maintenance expenses.
• Sharing costs maintains eligibility of the recreation site for Corps appropriations.
• User fees collected will be reinvested in the recreation site instead of being deposited in the US Treasury. (User fees collected stay local)

Partner Benefits:

• Partners may retain up to 100% of the user fees collected to offset their costs of management, operation, and maintenance of the recreation site and will reinvest any retained amount for the management, operation, and maintenance of the recreation site. (User fees collected stay local)
• May serve to satisfy partners mission of increasing their recreational opportunity and/or green space inventory for quality-of-life improvements.
• Cost sharing instead of the full burden of management, operation, and maintenance on the Partner.

Public Benefits:

• Potential for longer operating seasons and more recreational opportunities.
• Potential for better and more services.
• May prevent closure of recreation sites.
• User fees collected will be reinvested in the recreation site instead of being deposited in the US Treasury. (User fees collected stay local)

Submittal Process: Interested parties should develop a narrative responding to the following:

1. Describe your experience managing recreation programs, activities, areas, and facilities.
2. Describe your technical resources available to execute recreation programs and activities.
3. Describe your financial capability to execute recreation programs and activities.
4. Demonstrate your past record of satisfactory performance executing recreation programs and activities.

Submit the narrative and any supporting documentation via mail or hand delivered to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Barren River Lake – ATTN: Alan Ramey, 11088 Finney Road, Glasgow, KY 42141, or via email to alan.b.ramey@usace.army.mil.

If supporting documentation is already available in documents published on web pages such as a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Annual Reports, or other comprehensive documents demonstrating recreation program management and/or financial and technical resources and capabilities, a link to the locations of those documents may be provided in lieu of the actual document.

All submissions must be received no later than 4 pm CST, May 21, 2026. Submissions may be received by mail, email or hand delivery.

Selection Criteria:

• Recreation management capability
• Financial resources
• Technical resources
• Satisfactory execution of recreation programs

Evaluation Method:

The Green River Area Operations Project Manager will create a team consisting of local project staff and Louisville District office staff. Proposals will be evaluated against the above selection criteria and scored relative to documented capabilities, resources and demonstrated accomplishments.

When a selection is made, it will be forwarded to the Louisville District Commander with an evaluation narrative and recommendation. The Louisville District Commander has final approval of the selection.

Once a selection is made and approved by the District Commander, the Operations Project Manager and the Partner will work jointly to develop a mutually agreed upon Partner Operations Plan that will describe in sufficient detail so that each party has a complete and thorough understanding of their roles, authorities, and responsibilities. This will be a mutually agreed upon document created and agreed to by both parties.

For any additional information or questions, interested parties can contact the Louisville District Public Affairs Office at 502-315-6767.