Project Information

Bid Title

Airport News, Gift, and Retail Concession Request for Proposal

Issuing Agency

Des Moines International Airport

Location

Iowa

Published Date

Sep 19, 2025

Closing Date

Jan 6, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Airport News, Gift, and Retail Concession Request for Proposal

September 19, 2025

Airport News, Gift, and Retail Concession Request for ProposalÂ

Attachment Preview

DES MOINES AIRPORT AUTHORITY

AIRPORT NEWS, GIFT, AND RETAIL CONCESSION

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

DSM Retail Concession RFP Timeline

Friday, September 19th – RFP released

Monday, October 6th – Pre-Bid Conference & Tour 2:30PM – 5PM CST

Friday, October 10th - Requests for Clarifications due by 2PM CST

Friday, October 17th - Addendum to Clarification Requests sent by 2pm CST

Tuesday, January 6th – Proposals Due @ 2PM CST

Tuesday, January 13th - Interviews (if needed)

Tuesday, January 20th – Selection is Made

Thursday, January 22nd – Last date to notify Proposers

Tuesday, January 27th - Appeal Deadline

Thursday, January 29th – Final date for signed contract to be returned from awarded

concessionaire in order to take it to the Board

Tuesday, February 10th – Recommend the contract for Authority’s board approval

1

Airport News, Gift, and Retail Concession

Request for Proposal

Des Moines International Airport

5800 Fleur Drive

Des Moines, IA 50321

All proposals are due on or before 2:00 PM, CST, Tuesday, January 6th, and shall

be valid for 180 days from the RFP due date.

One original, three (3) copies, and one electronic copy on USB flash drive saved in

Adobe PDF format shall be submitted at:

Des Moines Airport Authority

Attn: Contracts and Reporting Administrator

5800 Fleur Drive, Room 207

Des Moines, IA 50321

(515) 256-5100

Requests for clarification regarding this RFP must be made to the Contracts and

Reporting Administrator at afredricks@flydsm.com no later than 2:00 PM CST,

Friday, October 10th. Written answers to requests for clarification will be posted

to FlyDSM.com website and e-mailed to those that attended the pre-bid meeting,

no later than 2:00 PM CST, Friday, October 17th, 2025.

Electronic copy of this Request for Proposal is available by contacting the

Contracts and Reporting Administrator at afredricks@flydsm.com

2

AIRPORT NEWS, GIFT, AND RETAIL CONCESSION

DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DES MOINES, IOWA

PROPOSALS are being requested for a Concession Agreement for the Airport news, gift, and

retail operations at the Des Moines International Airport. These proposals will be opened by the

Contracts and Reporting Administrator at the above specified date and time and a

recommendation from Authority staff will be presented to the Des Moines Airport Authority

Board.

1. On Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 2:30 PM CST, a pre-proposal meeting will be held in

the Cloud Room of the Airport Terminal Building to receive inquiries concerning this

request for proposals. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance to the

Contracts and Reporting Administrator at afredricks@flydsm.com.

a. During this time there will also be the option to take a tour of the New Terminal

currently under construction. Pre-registration for the tour is required to

afredricks@flydsm.com to ensure adequate staffing and PPE is available. In addition,

close-toed shoes will be required.

2. A written response to all inquiries in the form of an addendum will be forwarded to all

participating proposers and posted to FlyDsm.com

3. In all cases, no verbal communication will override written communications, and only

written communications are binding.

4. The Des Moines Airport Authority reserves the right to schedule proposer interviews at

its discretion in order to fully evaluate competing proposals.

3

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SUMMARY

AIRPORT NEWS, GIFT, AND RETAIL CONCESSION

DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DES MOINES, IOWA

2025

1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Des Moines Airport Authority ("Authority"), as owner and operator of the Des

Moines International Airport ("Airport"), hereby requests proposals from interested and

qualified news, gift, and retail operators ("Proposer") desiring to operate the news and

gift concession and provide related services at the Airport for a period of eight (8) years

with the option of one, two (2) year extension. Construction is to commence on July 1,

2026 with the contract term beginning at such time Beneficial Occupancy has been given.

The management services provided will be in accordance with the specific provisions of

a management agreement, a sample copy of which is attached ("Sample Agreement").

2. AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT

The Airport is a commercial service airport serving Central Iowa with facilities to

accommodate all phases of air transportation including scheduled air service, general

aviation, and air cargo operators. During calendar year 2024, the Airport accommodated

approximately 3.1 million airline passengers.

The Airport is situated on approximately 2,800 acres of land on the southwest side of Des

Moines, Iowa. Major tenants of the Airport include the Des Moines Airport Authority,

six commercial passenger airlines, two major air cargo airlines, seven car rental brands,

restaurant and gift shop concessions, three general aviation operators, U.S. Customs

Office, FAA Air Traffic Control Tower, FAA Airways Facilities Office, and the Iowa Air

National Guard.

The Authority is over halfway through construction of a new terminal, which will replace

its current 70-year-old terminal building. Space for news and gift operations have been

incorporated into the new design.

To operate successfully in an airport environment, the selected Proposer must meet and

adjust to challenges that generally do not exist in a non-airport, downtown, or shopping

center environments. Some of the challenges are listed below:

• Airport customers are primarily airline passengers traveling with carry-on luggage

and strollers. Facilities must be designed to accommodate passengers and their

luggage.

• Customers have a limited amount of time to spend shopping in retail outlets and

therefore must be served quickly. This constraint must be taken into

consideration when determining staffing levels and when point of sale areas are

developed.

4

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 713990All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries

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