RFB11052025 Lease 193 Acres for Hay Crop Production

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, through the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Division of Real Property, is soliciting bids for RFB11052025, a lease opportunity for 193 acres of agricultural land designated for hay crop production at the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WKWMA) in McCracken County. The procurement is structured as a unique five-year renewable contract where bidders will propose a per-bale price that will be used to purchase white gravel for improving WMA roads. Qualified bidders must submit their proposals by November 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET, accompanied by a $100 good faith deposit. Key requirements include no hay cutting before July 15 to protect wildlife, maintaining riparian zones, controlling noxious weeds, and adhering to specific conservation practices. Bidders will access bid opening details through a conference call, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all submissions. The successful bidder must follow strict agricultural management guidelines, including restrictions on herbicide use and maintaining the leased premises in a clean condition.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on bidder types were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents. The solicitation appears open to agricultural producers or hay crop producers who can meet the specified requirements. While no incumbent vendors were identified, the contract offers a potential annual revenue opportunity based on the per-bale pricing model. Although a specific budget range was not detailed, the economic structure suggests that a bidder proposing $5 per bale with 500 bales produced would generate $2,500 in gravel credits annually. The lease terms include an annual renewable contract with a five-year duration and a 30-day termination option. Interested parties are directed to contact Kelly Hawkins at 502-229-4366 for additional information, and all bids must be submitted following the specified guidelines in the bid package.