Ag Services-Norton Wildlife Area

This state and local contract opportunity is for agricultural services at the Norton Wildlife Area in Norton County, Kansas. The Kansas Department of Administration Procurement and Contracts Division is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for a 16-year contract to provide agricultural services on approximately 1,500 acres of farmland within the wildlife area. The contract includes six tracts of cropland ranging from 92 to 370 acres each. Bidders must submit the highest annual cash rental rate per acre, except for alfalfa fields which have a different payment structure. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder, and the first half of the annual rental payment is due by April 1st, with the second half due by December 1st, except for wheat acres which are due in the year the crop is planted. The permittee will be responsible for all farming activities and costs, while the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will provide wildlife habitat management guidance and oversight.

This opportunity is open to invited bidders only, and bidders must obtain a current Kansas tax clearance certificate and comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. The state has set preferences for certified businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses that discourage human trafficking. Bidders must also disclose any criminal convictions or judgments that may affect their responsibility as a state contractor. The state reserves the right to confirm the tax status of all potential contractors and subcontractors, and to accept or reject any or all bids. The estimated value of the contract is not provided, but the state encourages qualified bidders to submit their proposals by the March 29, 2024 deadline.