SUBJECT
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Approve selection committee’s recommendation to authorize staff negotiations with Stuart Cattle & Equipment, LLC for a cattle grazing lease of the Friedlander property. (No fiscal impact)
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DESCRIPTION
In January 2026, Parks and Natural Resources requested Procurement to solicit proposals from qualified vendors to assist in the stewardship and maintenance through a cattle grazing lease of the Friedlander property, approximately 633 acres. This property is part of the Polk County Environmental Lands Program, which requires the County to preserve, protect, manage, and restore environmentally sensitive lands, water resources, important wildlife, and working lands. The lease allows for maintenance of the land by utilizing domestic cattle grazing as a tool for management of the pasture areas and provides revenue for the management of the land.
The Lease agreement provides an initial term of five years with two, five-year renewal options. The activities within the lease agreement require the Lessee to accomplish certain management activities which include grazing management, pasture management, and invasive plant control.
Request for Proposal (RFP) 26-095, Friedlander Grazing Lease was issued, and two vendors submitted proposals. The selection committee met on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to score and evaluate vendors, and both vendors were elevated to interviews immediately following this meeting. After the interviews, the consensus of the selection committee was to request the Board authorize staff to enter into negotiations with both proposers, beginning with the highest ranked proposer, Stuart Cattle & Equipment, LLC.
The following is a listing of the firms and their rankings:
|
Proposer |
City |
Rank |
|
Stuart Cattle & Equipment, LLC |
Lake Wales, FL |
1 |
|
Six Wynns Cattle, LLC |
Alturas, FL |
2 |
A recommendation of award was posted, and no protests were received.
RECOMMENDATION
Request Board approve the selection committee’s recommendation and authorize staff to enter into contract negotiations, beginning with the highest ranked proposer, Stuart Cattle & Equipment, LLC for RFP 26-095, Friedlander Grazing Lease, and moving to the second-highest ranked proposer, if negotiations with Stuart Cattle & Equipment, LLC are unsuccessful.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact during negotiations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jason Flucker-Williams
Procurement Analyst
Procurement
(863) 534-6716
jasonfluckerwilliams@polkfl.gov