Farm Lease on Apalachee Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is soliciting competitive bids for a farm lease on the Apalachee Wildlife Management Area in Jackson County, Florida, comprising thirty-six farming fields totaling approximately 395.9 acres. This revenue-generating procurement requires bidders to pay the Commission for farming rights rather than receive compensation. Qualified bidders may plant and harvest Commission-approved crops including soybeans, peanuts, corn, and small grains, with the contractor responsible for supplying all necessary seed, lime, fertilizer, labor, and equipment. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of three years of farming experience and provide three professional references for evaluation. Key contract terms include an initial three-year term with an optional two-year renewal period at the Commission's discretion, subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit on April 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET at 2781 River Road, Sneads, FL 32460; a written questions deadline of April 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET; sealed bid submission by April 24, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET; and a public bid opening on the same date with an anticipated award date of April 29, 2026. Award will be made to the bidder submitting the highest responsive bid price.

The procurement imposes several operational restrictions and requirements on awarded contractors. Contractors must comply with peanut rotation requirements, EPA-approved pesticide usage, and all area rules and regulations, with subcontracting and subleasing explicitly prohibited. All bidders must register in the MyFloridaMarketPlace and SunBiz systems prior to bid opening. The Commission retains full control of hunting rights on the property and maintains authority over public recreational activities on the Wildlife Management Area. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are specified in the available procurement documents. Bidders must submit pricing for both the initial three-year contract term and the potential two-year renewal period, though specific award values or budget ranges have not been disclosed in the procurement announcement.