24AL2107 Horseshoe Lake S. P. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property located within Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County, Illinois. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) provides detailed information on the specific parcels of land available for lease, totaling approximately 160.60 acres from 2024 to 2027 and 82.20 acres in 2028. The successful bidder will be responsible for all farming operations and maintenance of the leased property, including planting specific crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and cover crops according to a detailed cropping plan. The initial contract term is from March 1, 2024, or upon signature of the IDNR Director, whichever is later, until July 31, 2028, with the possibility of two 5-year renewal options. Interested bidders must submit their proposals by November 1, 2023, and a non-mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for October 19, 2023.

The contract is not subject to any small business, minority, women, or veteran-owned business set-aside programs. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is provided. The pricing for this contract is based on a per acre/per year rate, with additional services allowed as requested by the Site Superintendent. The lessee must either prepay the full amount of rent within 30 days after contract execution or provide an irrevocable letter of credit as a guarantee. The total contract value is not explicitly stated, but the current contract price is $187.50 per acre, with a total annual contract amount of $123,825.00.