26IFB32 Hay Lease for Berry Springs Park and Preserve

Williamson County, Texas has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 26IFB32 for a hay lease opportunity at Berry Springs Park and Preserve located at 1801 County Road 152, Georgetown, Texas 78626. The procurement seeks a qualified lessee to rent the surface rights only, excluding mineral rights, of approximately 11.7 acres for hay farming operations. The lessee will be responsible for growing, cutting, and baling hay, with historical data indicating two to three cuttings per year yielding up to 50 bales per cutting. The contract term commences May 1, 2026, and concludes April 30, 2027, with four additional one-year renewal options available. Evaluation criteria include bidder experience and reputation, quality of services, financial capabilities, and other relevant factors. The bid submission deadline is April 14, 2026, with award decisions expected approximately sixty business days after bid opening. Compensation is structured as cash rent only, calculated on a per-acre basis with payment due in two equal annual installments on January 31st and September 30th, plus the lessee must provide up to twelve round bales of hay annually to Williamson County.

Bidders must meet specified qualification requirements, including submission of bidder references demonstrating recent experience with similar agricultural or leasing services, cancelled or terminated contract disclosures covering the preceding five years, and completion of all mandatory compliance forms including conflict of interest questionnaires and anti-boycott statements. The County requires successful bidders to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Worker's Compensation (statutory), Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Comprehensive Auto Liability ($1,000,000 per person/$1,000,000 per occurrence), and Umbrella coverage ($5,000,000 minimum), with all policies issued by insurers rated A- or better by A.M. Best Company and authorized to conduct business in Texas. No set-aside designations or incumbent vendor information is provided in the procurement documents. While exemptions from anti-boycott compliance requirements are available for sole proprietors, companies with fewer than 10 full-time employees, or contracts valued below $100,000, the specific budget range or award value for the hay lease is not disclosed in the available documentation. The lease agreement is provided as a reference document outlining that rent adjustments in renewal years will be calculated using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the South Region, with the base rent amount to be established through the competitive bidding process.