Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford has partially re-opened to staff and members of the public as of Tuesday, February 3. The DEEP records room has re-opened. The DEEP Central Permit Processing Unit (CPPU) will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For updates, click here

DEEP Issues Request for Proposals (RFP) for Operation of Paddlecraft Rental Services in Seven State Parks

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services to the public at seven state parks including Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold, Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield, Pattaconk Lake/Reservoir Recreation Area in Cockaponset State Forest in Chester/Haddam and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield.  

The RFP is available on the CTsource Bid Board as solicitation number (search for DEEP-2026-011-MM) and proposals are due February 27, 2026. 

Public Informational Meeting

DEEP will host an Informational Webinar about the RFP and welcomes all interested parties who are considering submitting proposals to join. The informational meeting will be held on February 5, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST via Zoom. To join the webinar, click here.

DEEP will post the recorded presentation to the Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences webpage.

Site Visits

DEEP will host site visits at each state park location listed in the RFP to answer questions from prospective proposers. Attendance at the site visits are optional however registration is required. To register, email Tenia Seay at DEEP.parksdivisionRFP@ct.gov no less than twenty-four hours before the site visit. The site visit will only occur if DEEP receives registration requests.

A Location Specification Sheet highlighting the concession area and background information of each state park listed is also part of the RFP (Attachment C).

Site visits will take place from February 9-11, 2026, following the schedule below:

February 9, 2026

  • 10:00am: Indian Well State Park in Shelton
  • 1:00pm: Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield

February 10, 2026

  • 10:00am: Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold
  • 1:00pm: Pattaconk Lake Recreation Area in Chester/Haddam

February 11, 2026

  • 10:00am: Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent
  • 11:30am: Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield
  • 1:30pm: Burr Pond State Park in Torrington

Copies of the RFP will not be available at the RFP Site Visits (Conference). Prospective proposers are asked to bring a copy of the RFP to the site visits.  At the site visits, attendees will be provided an opportunity to submit written questions, which the Agency’s representatives may (or may not) answer at the site visits.  Any oral answers given at the site visits by the Agency’s representatives are tentative and not binding on the Agency.  All questions submitted will be answered in a written amendment to this RFP, which will serve as the Agency’s official response to questions asked at the site visits/conference.  If any answer to any question constitutes a material change to the RFP, the question and answer will be placed at the beginning of the amendment and duly noted as such. The agency will publish any updated information on the State Contracting Portal.

Accommodations Notice

DEEP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 or DEEP.accommodations@ct.gov if you seek a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language, require some other accommodation, or wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. Any person needing hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number at 711. Requests for accommodation must be made at least two weeks prior to any agency hearing, program, or event.