RFB 09092021 lease of agriculture land sloughs WMA

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Division of Real Properties, on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is soliciting bids for the lease of approximately 1,460 acres of row crop land at the Sloughs Wildlife Management Area located in Union and Henderson Counties, Kentucky. The procurement is structured around five distinct management tracts: Cavanaugh/Muddy (289 acres), Crenshaw/Duncan (440 acres), Woods (324 acres), Grassy Pond-Powell's Lake (237 acres), and Highland Creek (170 acres). Bidders may submit proposals for any or all tracts and must commit to annual crop rotations comprising approximately 50% yellow corn and 50% soybeans. The successful lessee must comply with soil testing and fertilization requirements in the first year, maintain crop rotation patterns without deviation, coordinate with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources staff regarding crop placement to protect wildlife habitat, deliver designated amounts of road rock and winter wheat seed to specified tracts annually, and carry liability insurance while indemnifying the Commonwealth for claims arising from the bidder's negligence. Sealed bids were due on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EDT and must be submitted to the Division of Real Properties at 403 Wapping Street, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-2607, with hand-delivered bids placed in the mail slot on the Bush Building door. The lease will be structured on an annual basis with renewal options for up to four successive yearly renewals occurring between February 1-15 of each year, with the crop year running from March 15 to October 25. Prospective bidders were instructed to inspect the property prior to submission and could contact Thomas Young, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, at (270) 827-2673 or thomas.young@ky.gov for property discussions, and Holly Thompson at 502-782-0373 for general procurement inquiries.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-asides for disadvantaged businesses, minority-owned enterprises, or other designated contractor categories, indicating this procurement is open to all qualified bidders regardless of business classification. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are explicitly identified in the solicitation materials provided. Bidders must submit annual rental rates per acre for row crop acreage that remain firm for the entire five-year lease term, with payment terms requiring 10% as a spring deposit in February accompanied by a security bond for the estimated 90% balance, and final payment adjusted to actual acreage planted due by December 1st of each contract year, subject to a 3% late charge if missed. The Commonwealth reserves the right to withdraw acreage from agricultural leases at its discretion for wildlife habitat management and may cancel the contract without cause upon 30 days' written notice. While specific award values or budget ranges are not detailed in the solicitation documents, the competitive bidding process will result in award based on the annual rental rates per acre submitted by qualified bidders, with the contract term extending for five years with potential renewal through 2026.