26AL2575 Dickson Mounds State Museum Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is procuring an agricultural farm lease for Dickson Mounds State Museum under procurement number 26AL2575 through a sole source procurement method. This revenue-generating lease involves approximately 26.67 acres located in Fulton County, Township 23 North, Range 3 East, Sections 12, 4th P.M., and will be awarded to Joe Haven for a five-year term commencing March 1, 2026, and concluding February 28, 2031, with no renewal options. The lessee is responsible for providing all necessary labor, machinery, tools, seed, fertilizer, equipment, and insurance required for agricultural farming operations in accordance with IDNR requirements and specifications. The lease is designed to support wildlife populations, recreational opportunities, and conservation agriculture practices that improve soil health and water quality. The procurement was posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin on March 4, 2026, with a deadline of March 18, 2026, for contract award. A public hearing was initially scheduled for March 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM via WebEx; however, interested parties had until 4:00 PM on March 13, 2026, to submit written comments or request a public hearing, with the hearing being canceled if no such requests were received by that deadline.

The sole source procurement is justified under Administrative Code Title 17, Chapter 1, Part 150, Section 150.20(b)(2), which permits IDNR to negotiate agricultural management leases for tracts under 50 acres without competitive bidding. This procurement is restricted to the identified vendor, Joe Haven, and does not involve set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or other organizational restrictions typical of competitive procurements. The contract is a revenue-generating agreement funded through lease revenues rather than state or federal appropriations, with an estimated total contract value of $113,415.77 over the five-year period, consisting of $102,747.77 to the vendor and $10,668.00 in annual revenue to the state (approximately $2,133.60 per year). The IDNR's rationale emphasizes that failure to approve the sole source procurement would result in an annual revenue loss of $2,133.60 to the site. The State Purchasing Officer approved the sole source justification on March 3, 2026, and the Chief Procurement Officer authorized the procurement on March 18, 2026. Inquiries regarding the procurement may be directed to Dianne Richman at the Chief Procurement Office for General Services at Dianne.Richman@illinois.gov or 217-622-1857.