CITY OF MIDDLETOWN-PURCHASING OFFICE ROOM 112
MUNICIPAL BUILDING,
245 DEKOVEN DRIVE
MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457
(860) 638-4895
CITY OF MIDDLETOWN
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RFP #2023-022
LEASE OF FARMLAND
LONG HILL ROAD - 22 ACRES
Proposals due by: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 by 3:00 PM
DONNA L. FORMATO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP
SUPERVISOR OF PURCHASES
CARL R. ERLACHER
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND REVENUE SERVICES
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Invitation to Submit a Proposal
General Information/Background
Description/Scope of Lease
Additional Information
Submission of Proposal
General Terms and Conditions
Proposal Pages
Non-Collusive Statement
Equal Opportunity in Employment
Appendix B - Insurance Requirements
Bid Return Label
Attachment:
Long Hill Road Farmland Lease Area Map
Page
3
4
4
4-5
5
6-7
8-10
11
12
13-14
15
2
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT
Sealed proposals, addressed to the Supervisor of Purchases, City of Middletown, Room 112, Municipal Building, Middletown,
Connecticut, 06457 will be received until Wednesday, January 24, 2024 by 3:00 PM for the following:
RFP #2023-022
LEASE OF FARMLAND
LONG HILL ROAD - 22 ACRES
The City of Middletown (City) is requesting proposals for the lease of agricultural farmland totaling approximately 22 acres,
more or less of tillable land located at:
Long Hill Road, Map-lot, 17-0001, (Portion of)
Long Hill Road, Map-lot 17-0002 (Portion of), and
Long Hill Road, Map-lot 17-0006 (Portion of)
as described in Volume 2021, Pages 155-164 of the Middletown Land Records.
Proposal Packages may be obtained at the Purchasing Department, Room 112, Municipal Building, 245 DeKoven Drive,
Middletown, CT, Monday - Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for a fee of $.50 per page. It is preferred
that they are downloaded free of charge on the City of Middletown web site: www.MiddletownCT.gov. All questions
concerning this RFP should be directed in writing to the Purchasing Department via fax at 860- 638-1995 or email at
purchase@MiddletownCT.gov.
The City of Middletown reserves the right to waive any defect in any proposal and reserves the right to reject any or all
proposals or any part thereof. Proposals, amendments to or withdrawals of proposals received after the time set for the
receipt of proposals will not be considered.
All proposals are subject to and must comply with the equal opportunity and non-discriminatory provisions set forth in the
Affirmative Action Plan of the City of Middletown.
Date: 12/22/2023
Middletown, Connecticut
_______________
Donna L. Formato, CPPB, NIGP-CPP
Supervisor of Purchases
3
RFP #2023-022
LEASE OF FARMLAND
LONG HILL ROAD - 22 ACRES
GENERAL INFORMATION/BACKGROUND
The City of Middletown (City) is seeking a farmer to lease farmland for a period of 5 years with the option to negotiate
additional years with the awarded Lessee. The farmer may be an individual or an organization.
In 2019 the Common Council of the City of Middletown approved an ordinance appropriating $5,000,000 (“open space bond”)
for the acquisition of lands and interest therein to preserve open space and farm lands in the City of Middletown.
In 2021, the City purchased 39 acres of land, containing 22 acres more or less of tilled land, on the east side and west side of
Long Hill Road, Middletown using funds appropriated in the open space bond. This acquisition supported the City’s goals
protecting prime agricultural land, all of which are described as goals of the 2020 Plan of Conservation and Development for
the City of Middletown.
DESCRIPTION /SCOPE OF LEASE
The City of Middletown (City) is requesting proposals for a farmer to lease farmland from the City of Middletown for a period
of five (5) years with the option to negotiate additional years with the awarded Lessee. The farmer may be an individual or an
organization.
The lease area totals 22 acres, more or less of tillable land located at Long Hill Road, Map-lot, 17-0001 (Portion of), Long Hill
Road, Map-lot, 17-0002 (Portion of), and Long Hill Road, Map-lot, 17-0006 (Portion of), as described in Volume 2021, Pages
155-164 of the Middletown Land Records.
A copy inclusive of the highlighted tillable area is available on our website to view and download.
The City of Middletown invites interested applicants to propose possible agricultural uses on one or all sites listed above.
Potential agricultural uses may include fruit/vegetable crop shares, fruit/vegetable wholesale, flower gardening and sale,
viticulture, orchards, or any other use within the scope of agriculture.
Pest management and use of pesticides on City property should be done in accordance with the recommendations
presented in the New England Vegetable Management Guide (https://nevegetable.org/pest-management) and the
Connecticut Manual of Best Management Practices for Agriculture. Uses of organic and/or natural chemical approaches
to pest management are preferred.
The farmer is responsible for leaving the farmed property in a condition similar to existing conditions in that the land shall
be void of any pesticide or other contamination, accumulation or depletion of soil (e.g. stockpiles, pits, etc.), and
significant alterations to the localized landscape upon the departure of the farmer from the Site. Any significant
alterations to the landscape (e.g. construction of buildings, farm ponds, paved roadways, etc.) deemed necessary by the
farmer must first be approved by the City and will be required to go through the appropriate permitting process in
accordance with State and local regulations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The City reserves the right, either before or after the opening of proposals, to ask any proposer to clarify its proposal or to
submit additional information that the Town in its sole discretion deems desirable. The successfully accepted proposal will
4
be referred to as the “Lessee” The Lessee does hereby further agree to comply with, and conform to, all the laws of the
State of Connecticut, and the bylaws, rules and regulations of the City of Middletown relating to health, nuisance, fire,
highways, and sidewalks, so far as the Lessor harmless from all fines, penalties, and costs for violation of or non-
compliance with the same.
The Lessee does agree to comply with and conform to, all Federal, State and Town laws pertaining to the use and
application of any chemicals to be used noting that the use of organic and/or natural chemical approaches to pest
management is preferred.
In order to maintain and protect the viability of the subject farmland for the current producer and for future producers
the awarded Lessee have to meet the following requirements:
1. A USDA-NRCS conservation plan must be developed and submitted to the City of Middletown Commission on
Conservation and Agriculture (“CCA”) within two years of the contract commencement date. Recommendations
listed in the conservation plan will be reviewed by the CCA, after which a determination will be made regarding
implementation of the recommended practices.
2. All recommended practices set forth by the CCA must initiate implementation within one year of the receipt of
the plan. Refusal to implement the recommendations may result in the termination of the contract.
The Lessee does agree to pay for all water and utilities supplied to any sheds, buildings or for other purposes, on the
demised premises, if any.
The Lessee agrees to make no structural repairs or alterations without proper approvals from the City.
If this lease is to be renewed, or extended, the parties agree to renegotiate the rental of these premises no less than 120
days prior to lease period.
Subletting of any kind of the farmland is prohibited.
RFP SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Submittal Deadline
Proposals shall be addressed to Supervisor of Purchases, City of Middletown, 245 DeKoven Drive, Room 112, Middletown, Ct
06457. Proposals received after Wednesday, January 24, 2024 by 3:00 pm will not be accepted.
Each proposal submittal should include the following:
1. Submittals are to be in an 8½“x 11” format and shall include one original hard copy and one electronic copy on
USB sealed using the bid return label provided. Fax or email submittals will not be accepted.
2. Cover Letter
3. Bid Proposal Pages
4. Non-Collusive Statement
5
