Grazing Permit - Bolton Wildlife Area

The Kansas Department of Administration's Office of Procurement and Contracts, on behalf of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, is soliciting bids for a grazing permit at the Bolton Wildlife Area located in Stevens County. The procurement opportunity covers approximately 600 acres of native rangeland with a total allowance of 480 Animal Unit Months (AUMs). The contract will initially run from the date of award through December 31, 2025, with options to renew for two additional 36-month periods. Key deliverables include grazing management within a patch burn management system, where approximately 1/3 of the acreage will be burned annually on a rotational basis. Bidders must submit a per-AUM price bid, with the award going to the highest responsible bidder. The solicitation requires bidders to pay 50% of the total amount at the beginning of the permit period and the remainder within 2 weeks after cattle removal. Key requirements include maintaining fences, potentially providing water, and adhering to specific grazing management protocols. The bid response deadline is January 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, with questions due by December 23, 2024.

The procurement offers preferences for Certified Businesses and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, which must be documented in the bid submission. Bidders are required to obtain and submit a current Tax Clearance Certificate from the Kansas Department of Revenue, along with mandatory forms including a Boycott of Israel form, Sexual Harassment form, and Immigration Reform and Control form. The contract allows for potential use by political subdivisions such as cities, counties, and school districts at the same pricing, with payments handled directly between the vendor and the subdivision. Procurement Card (P-Card) payments are permitted. No specific monetary bid guarantee is required for this opportunity. While no specific award value is detailed, the permit involves grazing rights for 600 acres of wildlife area land. Importantly, the area will remain open to public hunting and fishing year-round, as these are the primary management objectives for the property. Interested bidders must be officially invited to participate and must request an invitation at least 24 hours before the bid closing time if not already invited.