Simple explanation: Thanks

I've generally been under the impression that the CHS is on a fishing expedition here; looking into all options. I didn't really understand why they would be on such an expedition until RG pointed out that the CHS, being a public entity will be subject to "various governance mandated proceedures that need to be followed in the overall contract award process".
The process may be "moronic" and "stupid", it's likely to be a one size fits all sort of thing, but if the CHS doesn't follow it, they're in deep doo doo, the RR is in deep doo doo, lawyers may get involved, and the RR may even go on "court hold" while the whole mess is sorted out.
Occam's razor says the simplest solution is the most likely. The idea that the CHS has to follow some specific process before rewarding a contract is simple, it makes sense, and it fits the information available. Heck, the CHS may even be using the process against itself; issue an unreasonable RFI, then when nobody responds, they're free to reopen negotiations with the current operator continuing the current lease more or less as it is. They're clear.
I don't know if this is actually what's going on at the CHS, but it makes a lot of sense, certainly more sense than the mass-insanity idea.
Don