20AL2524 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking agricultural farming services on state-owned property located within the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Madison County, Illinois. The resulting contract will have an initial term beginning March 1, 2020 or upon signature of the IDNR Director, whichever is later, and terminate on February 29, 2024. The IDNR is conducting an Invitation for Bid (IFB) process to lease approximately 385.9 acres per year for agricultural purposes. Attendance at a mandatory pre-submission conference on December 10, 2019 is required, and bids are due by January 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM. Pricing must be submitted as a dollar amount per acre per year, and the lease payment may be made via prepayment, irrevocable letter of credit, or a combination of cash payment and additional services provided to the site. The successful bidder will be responsible for all labor, machinery, equipment, insurance, and taxes associated with the farming operations. The IFB indicates this contract may be partially or totally funded with federal funds, and the State reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days' notice.

The IFB and associated documents do not indicate any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The current incumbent or contractor is not specified. The total contract value or budget range is also not provided in the attached documentation. However, the acreage to be leased and the terms of the contract suggest this could be a significant opportunity for qualified agricultural service providers.