Mandatory Pre Bid Site Attendee List.pdf

This is a Mandatory Pre-Bid Site Attendee List for the Snow Hill 25/26 Grazing Lease solicitation issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service. The procurement seeks a qualified beef producer to lease 1,415 acres within the Little Big Econ State Forest in Geneva, Florida, for cattle grazing operations. Attendance at the mandatory site visit was required on January 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST at Little Big Econ State Forest, with 29 representatives from prospective bidding entities in attendance. Written inquiries were due by February 3, 2026, with bids due on February 27, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST to 3125 Conner Boulevard, MS C-25, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. The anticipated notice of award is March 10, 2026, with a contract start date of April 1, 2026. The lease term is five years with a potential one-year renewal option, and the current stocking rate is 250 animal units subject to annual review and adjustment.

Evaluation criteria consist of Business Experience and Qualifications (50 points), a Five-Year Grazing and Land Stewardship Plan (100 points), three reference letters (no points), and bid price (50 points). Minimum qualifications require bidders to manage an existing beef production operation of at least 1,500 acres in Florida, maintain a 10-year successful track record, be enrolled in the Cow/Calf Best Management Practices Program, and maintain membership in the Florida Cattleman's Association. Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability insurance with minimum limits of $300,000. The lease payment will be calculated at a rate per allowable animal unit, with potential cost-share considerations for reasonable repairs outside normal operational maintenance. The procurement contains no specific set-aside designations, and no incumbent vendor information is provided. The lessee will be responsible for maintaining perimeter and cross-fencing, constructing and maintaining gates and cattle gaps, and managing associated costs.