RFB 12162021 agricultural land lease at ballard WMA

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, issued a Request for Bid on November 19, 2021, for an agricultural land lease opportunity at the Ballard Wildlife Management Area in La Center, Ballard County, Kentucky. The procurement seeks bids for the lease of approximately 1,101 acres of agricultural land designated for small grain production, primarily soybeans, using the no-till method exclusively. Successful bidders must submit sealed bids on the provided bid form with a $100 good faith deposit made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer, with the minimum bid set at $40.00 per acre. The resulting lease will be awarded for five years, consisting of an initial one-year term with four successive one-year renewal periods. The lessee assumes all risk from flooding or natural disasters and must maintain comprehensive records of planted acreage, fertilizer applications, herbicide use, and harvest yields. Bids must be submitted in person to the Finance Division of Real Properties at The Bush Building, 403 Wapping Street, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, with a deadline of December 16, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect the property and meet with the supervising biologist before submitting bids, with inquiries directed to Wendell Harris at 502-564-9831.

The successful bidder must provide up to $60,000 annually in white rocks for road maintenance, $15,000 for winter wheat application for green browse, $48,000 for chemical/fertilizer and application costs, $25,000 for heavy equipment services, and $15,000 for food plot seed, all of which will be deducted from the tenant's final contract payment. A 10 percent spring deposit is required upon acceptance of the annual agreement in February of each contract year, with the remaining balance due by December 1st subject to a 3 percent late charge if unpaid by the specified date. The Commonwealth retains hunting, trapping, and fishing rights, public access rights, and the right to terminate the lease for convenience with thirty days' written notice. All bidders must execute an affidavit certifying compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, tax obligations, and other statutory requirements. The solicitation does not specify restrictions on types of organizations eligible to respond or set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The total contract value will depend on the winning bid price per acre and the annual required contributions, with a potential annual expenditure range of approximately $44,000 to $163,000 based on the minimum bid of $40.00 per acre plus required service contributions.