25AL2341 Siloam Springs S. P. -Buckhorn Unit - Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for an agricultural farm lease at Siloam Springs State Park's Buckhorn Unit, covering approximately 380 to 459 acres of land. The procurement is a five-year farm lease contract running from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2030, with the successful vendor responsible for providing all labor, machinery, tools, seed, fertilizer, and equipment to manage the agricultural land. Bidders must submit pricing on a per-acre, per-year basis and comply with specific cropping requirements, including planting sunflowers and millet, leaving crops standing for wildlife, and maintaining old fields. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for October 29, 2024, at 2 PM CST, with bids due by November 13, 2024. Evaluation criteria include the highest submitted price, and vendors must demonstrate capability through equipment listings, reference letters from financial institutions, and comprehensive reports on proposed chemical, fertilizer, and seed applications. Bidders will also need to provide various vendor disclosure forms and comply with state procurement regulations.

There are no specific set-aside designations for small businesses, minority-owned enterprises, or veteran-owned businesses for this contract. The most recent awarded contract was to Alec Boylen, who was selected with a total award amount of $302,471.40, with an estimated gross revenue of $1,513,494.11 over the contract's lifetime. Vendors must submit comprehensive documentation, including the State of Illinois Vendor Disclosure form, which requires detailed information about business ownership, financial interests, and potential conflicts of interest. Insurance requirements include providing a certificate of liability insurance with the IDNR listed as an additional insured. The contract allows for potential additional services to be performed in lieu of cash payments, such as chemical application, land clearing projects, and construction and maintenance activities. Bidders must maintain specific soil test levels for pH, phosphorus, and potassium and adhere to the detailed land management guidelines provided in the solicitation documents.