27AL2084 Mount Vernon Game Propagation Center Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for agricultural farming services on 92.38 acres of cropland at the Mount Vernon Game Propagation Center in Jefferson County under IFB 27AL2084, with bids due November 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., and a mandatory pre-submission conference on October 15, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

The contract is a five-year farm lease from March 1, 2027 through February 28, 2032, with no renewal options. The lessee must provide all labor, machinery, equipment, seed, fertilizer, and insurance. Cropping is mandated under a detailed plan requiring corn, soybeans with cover crops, and wheat on designated fields; cover crops must be planted at 3–4 bushels per acre without harvesting on specified acreage. Neonicotinoid-treated soybean seed and Dicamba are prohibited; violation allows immediate termination. The lessee must maintain soil conservation practices consistent with USDA standards, obtain prior approval for pesticide and herbicide applications, maintain detailed chemical and seed application records, and provide yield monitor data. Atrazine buffer management and twelve rows of unharvested corn and soybeans in specified fields are required. Lessees may offset lease payments through acceptable services including equipment operation, field preparation, drainage maintenance, and timber stand improvement, valued at University of Illinois or Iowa State University Extension custom rates.

Pricing is submitted on a per-acre-per-year basis for 92.38 acres across all five contract years. The lessee must guarantee lease payments through full prepayment by March 1 each year or an irrevocable letter of credit, with payment split half by July 15 and balance by December 15. The lessee is responsible for all leasehold property taxes, payable by December 15 annually. Comprehensive liability insurance of $1,000,000 general commercial liability per occurrence and workers' compensation are required. Bid prices must remain firm for 90 days. Bidders must submit a Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, an Offer to the State, the Contract, and Attachment G (Equipment List); failure to submit these documents renders the bid non-responsive. The pre-submission conference will be held in person at 13995 E. Game Farm Road, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864, or by phone/WebEx. Bids are opened in person and via WebEx at DNR Headquarters, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield.