24AL2473 Burning Star 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 Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area in Jackson County, Illinois. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) contract, identified as 24AL2473, covers approximately 514.65 acres of land available for lease. The successful bidder will be required to perform soil testing, implement cover crop activities, and adhere to detailed land management and cropping plan requirements outlined in the IFB. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for October 31, 2023, and bids are due by November 15, 2023. The contract will have an initial term of 4 years and cannot exceed 10 years total including renewals. Pricing is requested on a per-acre, per-year basis, and the contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the highest price.

The IFB does not indicate any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. There are no listed incumbent vendors or current contractors, and the IFB does not provide any details on existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration. Based on the award notice for a previous related lease, the estimated financial return to the State is $222,349.40 over the life of the contract, with an estimated gross revenue to the vendor of $1,685,674.32.