24AL2448 Union County S. F. W. A. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property located within the Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) requests proposals for leasing approximately 1,145.20 acres of land for a 4-year term from March 1, 2024 to February 29, 2028. Bidders must provide detailed information on their cropping plan, which requires growing corn and soybeans with cover crops, leaving standing unharvested corn for wildlife habitat, and adhering to specific rotation, seed treatment, and herbicide use requirements. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on November 9, 2023, and bids are due by December 6, 2023. The contract may be partially or totally funded with federal funds, and the state reserves the right to terminate the contract due to lack of appropriation.

The IFB does not specify any set-aside requirements or designations. It also does not provide information on any incumbent vendors or current contractors. The contract is a revenue-generating opportunity for the state, with the highest bid price being $236.50 per acre per year from the awarded vendor, D & D Farms. No details are given on the overall budget or award value range for this contract opportunity.