Cash Farm Lease - South Water Treatment Plant Site

The City of Lubbock is soliciting bids for a cash farm lease covering approximately 40 acres of tillable land located in the western half of Section 72, Block S, Lubbock County, Texas, near the South Water Treatment Plant Site. This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) procurement seeking qualified farmers or agricultural operators to prepare, plant, and cultivate the land in a farmer-like manner while maintaining the property through control of noxious weeds and grasses to prevent their seeding and spread. Bidders must demonstrate agricultural expertise and the ability to manage farming operations professionally, with bids due electronically or in hard copy to the City's Director of Purchasing & Contract Management by March 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., with written clarification requests permitted no later than five calendar days prior to the bid closing. No pre-bid meeting has been scheduled. The lease term commences upon execution and continues until expiration, with options for up to four additional one-year extensions; rent increases by two percent for each extension year. Rent is to be established at a rate per acre for dryland operations through the bidding process and paid annually. The City reserves the right to award to the lowest responsible bidder or the bidder offering the best value, considering factors including bid price, bidder reputation, service quality, alignment with City needs, past relationships, impact on historically underutilized business (HUB) contracting goals, and long-term costs.

Local preference considerations are available under Texas Local Government Code 271.9051, permitting the City to award the contract to a local bidder whose bid is within five percent of the lowest bid price if the City's governing body determines in writing that the local bidder offers the best combination of price and additional economic development opportunities such as local employment and increased tax revenues. Bidders must submit numerous required forms and certifications, including a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Insurance Affidavit, Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, Reference Form requiring three professional references, and an Affidavit of Eligibility for local preference consideration if applicable. All bids are subject to federal suspension and debarment certifications, Texas Government Code compliance regarding Iran/Sudan business restrictions, Israel boycott prohibitions, firearm entity discrimination prohibitions, energy company boycott prohibitions, and vendor risk assessment questions addressing cybersecurity and business continuity. The contract documents do not specify a funding source or explicit award value; however, rent will be established per acre through the bidding process. No incumbent vendor or existing contractor is identified in the procurement materials.