25AL2165 Hamilton County S. F. W. A. - Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking agricultural farm lease bids for approximately 174.20 acres of land within the Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA) for a five-year contract period from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2030. The procurement is a competitive bid process with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for January 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM, accessible both in-person and via WebEx. Bidders must submit comprehensive proposals by January 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with award criteria focused on the highest responsive and responsible bid. The lease requires detailed agricultural management, including specific crop rotation requirements involving corn, soybeans, and cover crops, with restrictions on neonicotinoid treated seeds and Dicamba use. Successful bidders must provide extensive documentation, including comprehensive insurance coverage with $1,000,000 per occurrence in General Commercial Liability and Auto Liability, as well as Workers' Compensation Insurance.

The procurement does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though vendors must complete standard Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) vendor disclosure forms. Potential bidders must demonstrate financial stability through institutional references and detailed equipment listings. The contract has an estimated value exceeding $50,000, with payment structures allowing either full prepayment within 30 days of contract execution or an irrevocable letter of credit with two installment payments. The IDNR has received a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partners Program (RCPP) grant, which offers potential cost-sharing opportunities for cover crop implementation. The most recent available documentation indicates a previous award to Justin Wallace at $57.40 per acre annually, with a total contract value of $49,995.40, suggesting competitive pricing will be a critical evaluation factor.