Agricultural Lease at Hoover Ridge

Madison County, Virginia
Request for Proposal for Agricultural Lease
1. Introduction & Purpose
Madison County (the "Lessor") invites sealed offers ("Offers") to lease County-owned farmland
within Hoover Ridge Park, off Fairground Road consisting of one (1) tract totaling 31.8 acres for
cropland use for a period of three (3) years with two (2) potential additional three (3) year
terms. The reference acreage is comprised of two (2) areas. Area 1 (24.3 acres, more or less) and
Area 2 (7.5 acres, more or less,) containing in the aggregate of 31.8 acres, more or less, as shown
on the aerial photograph (HEL) attached hereto as Exhibit 1. The County seeks a responsible
tenant who will maintain the land, abide by conservation/best management practices (BMP),
avoid use of biosolids/sewage sludge, and pay fair market rent.
2. Key Dates & Submission
Issue Date: September 8, 2026
Questions Due Date: September 22, 2026
Questions Responses Date: September 29, 2026
Offer Due Date & Time: October 8, 2026, by 12 p.m.
Board consideration: October 13, 2026 (or shortly thereafter)
Lease Start Date: December 1, 2026
Contact for questions:
Mikayla Johnson
Madison County Finance Department
414 North Main Street
Madison, VA 22727
Phone: (540) 948-5709
Email: mjohnson@madisonco.virginia.gov
3. Property & Permit Inspection
The leased property is located at 53 Hoover Ridge, Madison, VA 22727.
Prospective Offerors may visit the site by appointment with County staff by contacting 540-
948-6700.
The County makes no representation or warranty about condition; the lessee takes "as is,"
subject to agreed terms.

4. Lease Term & Use
Term: 3 years, with up to 2 additional 3-year terms.
Use Allowed: Cropland (row crops, hay, etc.). Any other use must be approved in
advance in writing by the County.
Prohibited Uses: Industrial, intensive livestock CAFOs, non-agricultural commercial
use, subleasing without consent.
Application of biosolids to the fields shall be prohibited. Application of biosolids is
not allowed. Lessee shall be allowed to spread/apply fertilizer and lime on the land that is
cultivated for crops.
5. Evaluation Criteria
Offers will be evaluated and weighted based on (but not limited to):
Proposed annual rent or rent schedule (40%)
Proposed stewardship / Conservation / BMP plans (erosion control, cover cropping,
nutrient management) (30%)
Experience, references, financial capacity (30%)
The County reserves the right to reject any and all offers, or to waive informalities, and to award
the lease to the most advantageous offer, not necessarily the highest rent.
6. Required Offer Contents
Each Offer shall include:
1. Name, address, contact person of Offeror
2. Proposed annual rent / rent schedule and payment plan
3. Indicate which fields (Area 1 and Area 2 seen in exhibit 1) proposed use
4. A Stewardship / Conservation Plan, addressing soil health, erosion control, nutrient /
manure management, BMPs
5. Statement of experience / references in agricultural operations
6. A certificate of liability insurance (or preliminary evidence) stating Offeror will
carry commercial general liability insurance in the amounts of $500,000.00, naming
Madison County as additional insured. Note there are additional insurance
requirements in General Terms and Conditions for the successful Offeror/Lessee.

7. Lease Execution & Conditions
Award is subject to Board's approval after public hearing.
The successful Offeror (Lessee) will enter into a formal written Agricultural Lease with
Madison County.
Lessee must comply with all federal, state, and local agricultural, environmental, and
zoning laws.
Lessee must maintain insurance, permit County inspections, maintain the property, and
abide by lease terms.
8. Submission & Deadline
Sealed proposals shall be marked in the upper left-hand corner "Hoover Ridge Agricultural
Lease". Proposals are due on or before 12 pm, Thursday, October 8, 2026, delivered to: (late
offers will not be considered)
Mikayla Johnson
Madison County Finance Department
414 North Main St.
Madison, VA 22727
9. General Terms and Conditions
A. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION: By submitting a proposal, the offeror represents and
warrants to Madison County, Virginia that it will conform to the provisions of the Federal
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Virginia Fair Employment Contracting Act of
1975, as amended, where applicable, the Virginians with Disabilities Act, the Americans
With Disabilities Act, Section 2.2-4311 of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA),
and all other applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws, codes, rules, and
regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, during the performance of this contract, the
offeror agrees as follows:
1. The offeror will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or
any other basis prohibited by state or federal law relating to discrimination in
employment, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification
reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the offeror. The offeror agrees to
post in conspicuous places, available to employees, notices setting forth the
provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.

2. The offeror, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by
or on behalf of the offeror, will state that such offeror is an equal opportunity
employer.
3. Notices, advertisements and solicitations placed in accordance with federal
law, rule or regulation shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of meeting these
requirements.
4. The offeror will include the provisions of the above 1, 2 and 3 in every
subcontractor or purchase order over $10,000 in connection with this RFP, so that
the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.
B. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: During the performance of the contract, the offeror
agrees to (i) comply with the drug-free workplace provisions of Virginia Code 2.2-4312;
(ii) provide a drug-free workplace for the offeror's employees; (iii) post in conspicuous
places, available to employees, a statement notifying employees that the unlawful
manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance
is prohibited in the offeror's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against
employees for violations of such prohibition; (iv) state in all advertisements or solicitations
for employees that the offeror maintains a drug-free workplace; and (v) include the
provisions of the foregoing clauses in every subcontract or purchase order of over $10,000
in connection with this RFP, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor
or vendor.
C. IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT OF 1986: By submitting its
proposal, the offeror represents and warrants that it does not and will not during the
performance of this contract employ illegal alien workers or otherwise violate the
provisions of the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
D. APPLICABLE LAWS AND COURTS: This solicitation and any resulting contract
shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and any
litigation with respect thereto shall be brought in a court of appropriate jurisdiction in
Madison County, Virginia. The offeror shall comply with all applicable federal, state and
local laws, codes, rules and regulations.
E. ETHICS IN PUBLIC CONTRACTING: By submitting their proposals, the offeror
represents and warrants that its proposal is made without collusion or fraud and that it has
not offered or received any kickbacks or inducements from any other offeror, supplier, or
subcontractor in connection with their proposal, and that it has not conferred on any public
employee having official responsibility for this procurement transaction any payment, loan,
subscription, advance, deposit of money, services or anything of more than nominal value,
present or promised, unless consideration of substantially equal or

greater value was exchanged. Furthermore, the provisions, requirements, and prohibitions
contained in Sections 2.2-4367 through 2.2-4377 of the Virginia Code, pertaining to
bidders, offerors, contracts, and subcontractors, are applicable to this RFP and any resulting
contract, as are the provisions, requirements, and prohibitions contained in Sections 2.2-
3100 through 2.2-3131 of the Virginia Code.
F. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFEROR: Madison County may make such reasonable
investigations as deemed proper and necessary to determine the ability of the offeror to
provide the services/furnish the goods as required under this RFP, and the offeror shall
furnish to Madison County all such information and data for this purpose as may be
requested. Madison County reserves the right to inspect the offeror's physical facilities
prior to award to satisfy questions regarding the offeror's capabilities. Madison County
further reserves the right to reject any proposal if the evidence submitted by, or
investigations of, such offeror fails to satisfy Madison County that such offeror is properly
qualified to carry out the obligations of the contract and to provide the services and/or
furnish the goods contemplated therein.
G. DEBARMENT STATUS: By submitting its proposal, the offeror represents and
warrants that it is not currently debarred by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any city,
county, town or political subdivision therein, from submitting bids or proposals on
contracts for the type of goods and/or services covered by this solicitation, nor is it an agent
of any person or entity that is currently so debarred.
H. NONDISCRIMINATION TOWARDS OFFERORS: A bidder, offeror or
contractor shall not be discriminated against in the solicitation or award of this contract
because of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,
age, disability, status as a service disabled veteran, or any other basis prohibited by state
law relating to discrimination in employment or because the bidder or offeror employs ex-
offenders unless Madison County has made a written determination that employing ex-
offenders on the specific contract is not in its best interest. MADISON COUNTY DOES
NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
I. SCC REGISTRATION: Pursuant to Virginia Code 2.2-4311.2, the offeror must
be registered with the State Corporation Commission if so required by Title 13.1 or Title
50 of the Virginia Code or otherwise required by law.
J. MINORITY CONTRACTING: It is the policy of Madison County to maximize
participation by minority and women owned businesses, small businesses, and service-
disabled veteran businesses in contracting opportunities.

K. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: It is understood and agreed by the offeror that
Madison County shall be bound only to the extent of the funds available or which may
hereafter become available for the purpose of the Contract.
L. DEFAULT: In case of failure to deliver goods or services in accordance with the
contract terms and conditions or other breach of any resulting contract by the offeror,
Madison County may terminate the contract and/or procure the goods and services from
other sources and hold the offeror responsible for any resulting additional purchase and
administrative costs. These remedies shall be in addition to any other remedies which
Madison County may have under the contract, at law, or in equity.
M. CONTRACTUAL CLAIMS: The procedure for reviewing and resolving
contractual claims and resolving contractual disputes shall be the procedure set forth in
Virginia Code 2.2-4363.C.
N. INSURANCE: By signing and submitting a bid or proposal under this solicitation,
the bidder or offeror certifies that if awarded the contract, it will have the following
insurance coverages at the time the contract is awarded.
The bidder or offeror further certifies that the contractor and any subcontractors
will maintain these insurance coverages during the entire term of the contract and that all
insurance coverages will be provided by insurance companies authorized to sell insurance
in Virginia by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
INSURANCE COVERAGES AND LIMITS REQUIRED:
Workers' Compensation - Statutory requirements and benefits.
Employer's Liability - $100,000.
Commercial General Liability - $500,000 combined single limit. Commercial
General Liability is to include Premises/Operations Liability, Products and Completed
Operations Coverage, and Independent Contractor's Liability or Owner's and Contractor's
Protective Liability. The County must be named as an additional insured when requiring
a Contractor to obtain Commercial General Liability coverage.
Automobile Liability - $500,000 - Combined single limit. (Only used if motor
vehicle is to be used in the contract.)

Exhibit 1