As one of the means by which the public can be provided the facilities and services they need to enjoy national park areas, Congress established a Concession Program in the National Park Service through the passage of the 1965 Concession Policy Act, (Public Law 89-249). On November 13, 1998, the Concessions Policy Act was reformed with the passage of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998, Public Law 105-391, Title IV.

Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains important regulations for the preservation of the parks and administration of concession operations (36 CFR 51). NPS Concession Program Management is not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).