Fall River Sunflower Hay Lease

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, through the Kansas Department of Administration's Office of Procurement and Contracts, is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for a hay harvest lease at Fall River State Park in Ellsworth County. The procurement seeks competitive bids for the harvest of native grasses from the Sunflower Hill Hay meadow, which comprises two tracts: Sunflower Hill East (approximately 35 acres) and Sunflower Hill West (approximately 70 acres). The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through August 15, 2031, with an option to renew for one additional 60-month period, and all haying activities must be conducted between July 1 and August 15 of each contract year. Bidders must have a minimum of three years of continuous active participation in hay production or comparable agricultural services. Payment is structured on a per-ton basis of hay removed, with bids submitted in US dollars per ton format; payment is due before hay is removed from the property, and all hay bales and equipment must be removed by August 15, with a $10 per-day late fee applied for late payment. The bid closing date is March 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, with written questions due by February 27, 2026, directed to procurement officer Bridget Martinez; bid results will be publicly read via teleconference on March 10, 2026, at 2:30 PM CST. Bids must be submitted electronically to Procurement@ks.gov or hand-delivered to 900 SW Jackson, Suite 451, South Topeka, Kansas 66612-1286, and award will be made to the highest responsible bidder based on dollars per ton.

All bidders must obtain a current Tax Clearance Certificate from the Kansas Department of Revenue prior to bid submission and include it with their response; faxed bids will not be accepted. Bidders may claim applicable bid preferences, including the Disabled Veteran Owned Business Category or Certified Business Bidder Preference Category, if supporting documentation is provided. Bidders are required to complete and submit certifications regarding Boycott of Israel compliance, sexual harassment policy acknowledgment, immigration compliance, and nondiscrimination, as well as certifications that the company is not engaged in procurement of covered telecommunications equipment from specified foreign adversaries. All bids must affirm acceptance of Kansas state terms and conditions, including conflict-of-interest certifications and contractor debarment considerations. No bid guarantee is required, and the State reserves the right to accept or reject any bid responses and waive informalities. While no specific budget range or award value is listed, payment is contingent upon the actual tonnage of hay harvested and removed, with the contract subject to all provisions of Kansas law and Form DA 146a (Contractual Provisions Attachment).