20AL2524 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property located within the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Madison County, Illinois. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) requests bids from responsible vendors to farm approximately 385.9 acres per year for a 4-year term from 2020 through 2023. The selected vendor will be required to adhere to specific operational and environmental requirements, such as using Integrated Pest Management and Best Management Practices, controlling weeds and pests, obtaining approvals for chemical applications, and submitting chemical and fertilizer application reports. A mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for January 29, 2020, and bids are due by February 11, 2020. Pricing is to be submitted as a dollar amount per acre per year, and the contract does not allow for subcontracting.

The contract opportunity does not include any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. Only one bid was received for this IFB, which was awarded to High Prairie Farms, Inc. for an estimated financial return to the state of $7,872.36 over the 4-year contract term. The procurement process appears reasonable, with the contract being awarded to the highest responsive and responsible bidder. No other incumbent vendors or budget ranges are provided in the available documentation.