24AL2515 Union County S. F. W. A. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on 480 acres of state-owned property located within the Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area. The resulting contract will have an initial term of March 1, 2024 through February 29, 2028, with no option to renew. Bidders must submit their responses by December 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM, and a non-mandatory pre-submission conference will be held on November 9, 2023 at 2:00 PM. The successful bidder will be responsible for all labor, machinery, tools, seed, fertilizer, equipment, and insurance required to operate the farm lease, including controlling weeds and pests, maintaining soil fertility, and complying with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Pricing must be submitted as a dollar amount per acre per year. Additional services may be allowed with prior agency approval.

There is no small business, minority, women, or veteran-owned set-aside for this procurement, and there is no incumbent contractor. The contract will be funded through the IDNR's budget, and the successful bidder must provide an irrevocable letter of credit or prepay the full annual lease amount to guarantee payment. The Invitation for Bid does not specify a total award value, but the previous 4-year contract was awarded for $308,524.80.