5-RFP 26-28 - Farming Lease at Norristown Farm Park - Scope of Work.pdf

Montgomery County, PA Assets & Infrastructure – Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites

Request for Proposal (RFP): 26-28 Farming Lease at Norristown Farm Park

1. Overview Montgomery County is located approximately 20 miles west of Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners, the County government is a large, diverse organization whose mission is to provide quality services in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Montgomery County, with over 865,000 residents, is the third most populus County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has a population greater than four states (Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and North Dakota). Some of the services the County government provides its citizens include human services, a highly regarded community college, child welfare services, an outstanding park and historic site system, mental health services, and a judiciary recognized as one of the Commonwealth’s finest.

2. Background Norristown Farm Park (NFP), a 725 +/- acre facility resides within three municipalities, East Norriton Township, West Norriton Township and Norristown Borough. The property, owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is operated by the County of Montgomery as a passive recreation park. The site has a record of continuous agricultural use since 1764. Norristown Farm Park’s predominant feature is its agricultural lands, open sight lines, and unobstructed vistas interspersed amongst, gently rolling slopes and wooded creek bottoms. Historic structures dot the landscape and miles of paved walking trails allow park patrons access to the site’s scenic splendor and its day use amenities. In keeping with the park’s Master Plan and its mission statement, the County would like to continue the park’s modern agricultural usage while focusing on, and expanding, the sites educational, and historic agricultural opportunities/background.

RFP for Farming Lease at Norristown Farm Park

3. Scope of Work The County is pursuing a provider for farming operations for areas of farmland within the County of Montgomery. See “Norristown Farm Park Map” for a graphic overview of the property. The pictures are only basic representations of the property, and the County makes no guarantee of the accuracy of the information.

Schedule One: is for 380 +/- acres of tillable land and 29.9 +/- acres of hay land at the Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, Pa. 19403.

Acreages shown are best estimates only. Exact acreage available will be established prior to entering into a lease agreement.

SCHEDULE ONE

Agricultural Lease(s) includes 380 acres +/- of tillable land and 29.9 acres +/- of hay land.

• SUBLESSEE (s) must abide by all State/County Rules and Regulations. In addition, Sublessee shall implement and abide by the Montgomery County Soil Conservation District (M.C.S.C.D) standards; developed specifically for this site.

• All land included has historically been farmed using a combination of conventional, conservation, limited-till and/or no-till methods. Most recently the site was used for the production of corn and soybeans. The County desires to utilize the above lands for the production of the same while increasing the sites agricultural/crop diversity. Additionally, the County desires to integrate organic and/or sustainable farming practices wherever possible. This would entail:

• Use of cover crops, green manures, animal manures and crop rotations to fertilize the soil, maximize biological activity, build structure while maintaining long-term soil health.

• Use of biological control, crop rotations and other techniques to manage weeds, insects and diseases, in lieu of synthetic pesticides.

• An emphasis toward biodiversity of the agricultural system and the surrounding environment.

• Where applicable, the use of rotational grazing and mixed forage pastures for livestock operations and alternative health care for animal wellbeing.

• Reduction of external and off-farm inputs and elimination of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and other materials, such as hormones and antibiotics.

• A focus on renewable resources, soil and water conservation, and management practices that restore maintain and enhance ecological balance.”

• Attached map the Norristown Farm Park shows approximate natural breakout of the fields/farmland.

• The County will favorably view multiple providers and creative use of the lands including but not limited to Community Supported Agriculture, educational programming, and historic/modern agricultural programming/interpretation.

4. Lease Considerations/Requirements

• All farm fields are accessible via internal park roadways/trails.

• Subleased areas shall be utilized solely for agricultural crop production and for no other purpose unless approved/authorized by the County, in writing.

• The sale of topsoil, sod, firewood, etc. is prohibited.

• All fields, fallow and/or post-production, are to be maintained in a tillable condition. The use of cover crops to stabilize the soil is recommended. All crop fields shall be planted to a crop annually.

• Agreement does not grant Sublessee use of the park’s woodlands, wetlands, stream corridors, wildlife sanctuaries, recreational areas, building parcels, paved surfaces (other than for access), municipal compost sites, etc. All regulatory signage/ postings shall be observed.

• All hay land and pasture land shall be mowed annually.

• Field borders, waterways, diversions, warm season grass lands, etc. shall be mowed annually between July 20th and August 10th, to protect ground nesting species. Areas with high concentrations of Canadian Thistle and/or other invasive plant species shall be addressed annually, before those plants go to seed.

• The use/application of sewage sludge/humanure on agricultural fields is strictly prohibited.

• Sublessee is obligated to attend an annual Agricultural Operations Agreement (A.O.A) meeting to review/update current conservation practices either proposed and/or undertaken.

• Sublessee shall not operate a farmer’s market on site unless approved by the County, in writing.

• Sublessee shall furnish all work stock, machinery, fertilizers, seed and other farm equipment necessary to meet the goals and objectives of the Soil Conservation Plan.

• All agricultural equipment/agricultural commodities shall be stored in designated areas only after, the Lessee has received prior, written authorization from the County. The storage of non-agricultural items and/or equipment is strictly prohibited.

• No buildings/machinery and/or grain storage facilities etc. are included in the agricultural lease.

• Sublessee shall not erect any permanent and/or temporary structures without the expressed, written consent of the County.

• Subleased agricultural areas shall be subject to periodic inspections by PTHS/County Staff, to both maintain and ensure that the subleased premises is kept in a neat and orderly condition at all times. No trash, garbage and/or unsightly or offensive material shall be allowed to accumulate.

• Items and/or areas of archaeological/historical significance shall not be disturbed. All objects found by Sublessee shall be turned over to the County.

• Soil tests shall be performed by the Sublessee at the onset/award of the contract after which, soil tests shall be conducted every third year thereafter, (at a minimum). The results of which shall be provided to the County.

Sublessee shall apply at his/her expense, lime/fertilizer annually based upon the test results.

• All pesticides used shall be approved and used in accordance with the recommendations of the U.S.D.A. and the P.D.A. Sublessee shall notify the County before spraying. Additionally, Sublessee shall provide the County with a list of chemicals used along with their application rates. All chemicals shall be properly secured before, during and after use without exception.

Sublessee when spraying shall take into account the needs of the adjacent organic farming operation as outlined in schedule two and shall work to lessen and/or mitigate drift, residue and potential cross contamination issues, wherever possible.

• In lieu of synthetic herbicides/pesticides, the County encourages the use of the following: Integrated Pest Management, mechanical cultivation, crop rotation, non-synthetic fertilizers, bio/microbial pesticides, etc. or a combination of the above.

• County reserves the right to withdraw in any year, any amount of land needed for recreation, wildlife protection, forestry or agricultural research, erosion control or other purpose. In the event of withdraw, the Sublessee shall be given 90 days written notice (unless an emergency dictates), so that he/she will have sufficient time to complete his/her operations or remove crops which ever be the case. Upon withdrawal, the subleased acreage shall be revised and the lease payment recalculated; accordingly.

• Sublessee acknowledges that some wildlife (particularly deer), may adversely impact agricultural operations. To mitigate this concern (and in conjunction with the park’s wildlife management program/annual controlled hunt), Sublessee may, as permitted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission;

request in writing that he/she be allowed to harvest deer to further reduce crop damage. The harvest of any deer shall require that the County authorize the Sublessee to do so in writing. In addition, the harvest of any animal for crop damage shall only to take place pursuant to the notification of the County, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and/or their designee and the surrounding municipalities that comprise the Farm Park.

• No trees shall be cut and/or removed unless approved in writing by the County. Sublessee shall prevent at his/her expense the encroachment of existing woodland edges into existing farm fields and shall work to reclaim farm land along existing woodland edges.

• Sublessee at his/her expense shall construct and maintain all waterways, diversions and/or erosion and sedimentation controls etc. as required by the County, NRCS and/ or the M.C.S.C.D.

• Currently, the site offers no accommodation for the housing of livestock.

Requests of this nature would necessitate provisions being added to the RFP addressing shelter, fencing requirements etc. In addition, an approved manure management plan would have to be developed/approved.

Disclaimer: County reserves the right to implement at any time additional stipulations, guidelines and/or requirements not specifically addressed herein, as regulatory policies/guidelines etc. evolve and/or dictate.

5. Lease Agreement with Option to Extend

The period of the lease agreement(s) shall be for one (1) year commencing on date of execution. The agreement(s) may, by mutual written assent of the parties, be extended for nine (9) additional one (1) year periods of portions thereof, up to a cumulative total of ten (10) years. During each year said agreement is in place the County shall review its park policies and development plans for said premises.

Renewal options shall be requested by the Sublessee in writing to the County no later than (90) ninety days prior to the expiration of said agreement each year said agreement is in effect. County may by written notice to the Sublessee on or before (90) ninety days of each said termination date, either terminate said agreement with Sublessee without consideration to Sublessee or the County may by written notice renew the conditions of said agreement for another (1) one year term up to (10) ten consecutive years. County shall make its decision and give written notice to Sublessee on or before (90) ninety days prior to termination of each consecutive (1) one-year term.

6. Company Profile and Information

The Technical Proposal to this request must contain the following:

• Brief (one or two paragraphs) description of the provider’s business, its history and future plans.

• Provider identification

• Corporate name

• Corporate address

• Telephone numbers

• Contact person(s)

• Vendor size

• Vendor stability

• Number of years in business

VALUE-ADDED CONSIDERATIONS (include in Technical Proposal) It is important to outline any creative use of the lands that would not normally be addressed in a pricing evaluation as they are of non-monetary nature.

Include any relevant services or products that will be provided to the County which are not priced in this proposal, but which enhance the acquisition process.

PROVIDER RESPONSE FORMAT FOR PRICING

As a separate document (submitted under “Payment Proposal”), provide proposed annual payment per acre per schedule to the County for leased land.

7. Proposal Format

Original and all copies of the proposer’s Technical proposal should be arranged as follows:

• Title Page: showing RFP number, closing date and time, proposer name, address, telephone number, contact person and EIN.

• Letter of Introduction: one page, introducing the company and signed by the person(s) authorized to sign on behalf of, and bind the company to, statements made in response to this RFP.

• Company Profile and Provider Information: addressing the Company Profile and Vendor Information requested in Section 6 of this Scope of Work.

• Detailed Response: addressing each of the items listed under the Scope of Work and Lease Considerations/Requirements Section.

• References: provide a minimum of three (3) references for similar projects completed; include contact name, telephone number, date of contract, date of completion, and dollar value of contract.

• Payment Proposal: Annual payment per acre. Submit separately from Technical Proposal.

Proposers must conform to instructions given regarding proposal requirements as detailed in Scope of Work and Lease Considerations/Requirements sections.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

This RFP includes mandatory requirements. Proposals must meet all mandatory requirements.

8. Questions and Submissions All vendor questions must be submitted through the Bonfire (Euna) portal.

Proposals must be submitted directly into the Bonfire (Euna) portal.