24AL2521 Albany Mounds S. H. S. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on approximately 65 acres of state-owned property located within the Albany Mounds State Historic Site in Whiteside County, Illinois. The resulting contract will have an initial term of March 1, 2024 to February 29, 2028, with no option to renew. Bidders must submit their bids by November 1, 2023 at 2:00 PM. A non-mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for October 19, 2023. IDNR will award the contract to the responsive and responsible bidder who submits the highest bid price on a per acre/per year basis. Bidders must provide an irrevocable letter of credit or prepay the full lease amount each year to guarantee payment. Additional services beyond the scope of the lease may be performed with prior IDNR approval and will be deducted from the lease payment.

The contract opportunity is not subject to any small business, minority, women, or veteran-owned business set-asides. Bidders must pay all leasehold taxes on the property and provide required documentation on chemical/fertilizer application, seed usage, and soil testing during the lease term. The current annual lease amount is $35,100 ($135/acre), but IDNR is soliciting new bids for this agricultural farming lease. The funding sources and budget ranges for this contract opportunity are not specified in the provided materials.