RFB 09022021 agriculture land lease at big rivers WMA

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, through the Division of Real Properties, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 09022021 for an agricultural land lease at Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area located in Union and Crittenden Counties. The procurement seeks to lease approximately 895 acres of row crop land divided into three distinct tracts: Union (228 acres), Crittenden South (280 acres), and Crittenden North (387 acres). Qualified agricultural operators will be awarded a five-year lease with an initial one-year term and options for four successive yearly renewals, running from March 15 through October 25 annually. Bidders must propose an annual per-acre rental cost for their selected tract(s) and commit to a specific crop rotation plan emphasizing approximately 50 percent yellow corn and 50 percent soybeans. Key requirements include maintaining soil test documentation, complying with fertilization recommendations, delivering road maintenance rock, providing wheat seed for specific tracts, and leaving designated crop percentages in fields for wildlife purposes.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate any set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses or specific vendor restrictions. A $100 deposit check is required with bid submission, and successful bidders must provide a payment structure involving a 10 percent spring deposit and a security bond for the estimated 90 percent balance. Financial obligations include annual payments calculated based on GPS-verified planted acreage, with final adjusted payments due by December 1st and a three percent late charge for payments not received by November 15th. While specific award values are not detailed, bidders will be responsible for operational costs including fertilization, crop management, and wildlife habitat maintenance. The Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all bids and can withdraw acreage for wildlife habitat management purposes. Interested parties were encouraged to inspect the property and contact supervising biological staff for additional information, with sealed bids due by September 2, 2021, at 3 p.m. EDT at the Division of Real Properties office in Frankfort, Kentucky.