22AL2385 Weinberg-King SP Farm Lease 2385

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for a multi-year agricultural farm leasing contract on approximately 2,385 acres of state-owned property located within Weinberg-King State Park in Schuyler County, Illinois. The contractor will be responsible for providing all necessary labor, machinery, tools, seed, fertilizer, equipment and insurance to farm the land. The contract term is for four years, from March 1, 2022 or upon signature of the IDNR Director, whichever is later, through February 28, 2026, with no option to renew. Bids are due by January 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM. The contractor must either prepay the full annual lease amount within 30 days of contract execution or provide an irrevocable letter of credit, with payments due by July 15th and December 15th each year. The contractor will also be responsible for paying all leasehold taxes on the leased lands.

There are no Small Business Set-Aside or Minority Contractor Initiative requirements for this solicitation. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who submits the highest bid per acre. The previous contract rent was $134.51 per acre, and the 2019 taxes were $1,218.16. The current incumbent contractor is not identified. The total estimated value of the four-year contract is $59,831.52, based on the previous rent amounts. No Business Enterprise Program (BEP) or Veteran Business (VBP) utilization goals have been set for this contract.