Description
The State of California, via the Department of General Services on behalf of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, is seeking a qualified lessee to manage approximately 353.4 acres of land adjacent to Wasco State Prison for agricultural production and sustainable land‑management. The lessee must submit a Sustainable Land Management Plan, operate fodder‑crop farming (hay, alfalfa, sunflower, etc.), and optionally provide grazing services, while assuming all responsibilities for irrigation, weed abatement, fire and mosquito control, equipment provision, insurance, and compliance with security and environmental regulations. The lease is for an initial five‑year term with three optional five‑year renewals, and rent is payable quarterly with a 3 % annual increase.
• Lease of 353.4 acres (≈ 273 acres farmable land + open space) at Wasco State Prison, Kern County, CA.
• Mandatory on‑site walk‑through on 22 Sept 2026; all bidders must submit security clearance forms and attend.
• Lessee must develop and implement a Sustainable Land Management Plan covering all open space, provide all farming equipment, obtain necessary permits, and maintain required insurance coverages.
• Quarterly rent (fair‑market amount undisclosed) with 3 % annual escalations; lease term 5 years, renewable up to 20 years.
• Financial security of at least $10,000 (letter of credit or bank statement) required; water supply is recycled wastewater effluent with no guarantee of quantity or quality.