27AL2217 Sangchris Lake State Park Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is soliciting bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property at Sangchris Lake State Park spanning Sangamon and Christian counties, with bids due November 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM and a mandatory pre-bid conference on October 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The lease encompasses approximately 468 to 625 acres across a five-year term (March 1, 2027 through February 28, 2032), with acreage varying annually: 468.14 acres in 2027, 621.10 acres in 2028, 464.70 acres in 2029, 625.78 acres in 2030, and 468.14 acres in 2031. The scope requires the lessee to manage all farming operations including labor, machinery, equipment, seed, and fertilizer under a detailed rotation schedule involving corn, soybeans, wheat, sunflowers, and cover crops. Key operational constraints include prohibition of neonicotinoid-treated seeds and Dicamba herbicide, mandatory cover-crop planting on designated acreage with species from an IDNR-approved list, soil testing and maintenance per IDNR Agronomy Handbook standards, and compliance with USDA Conservation Plan Standards. No subcontracting is permitted except for cover crop planting and hay baling.

Pricing is submitted on a per-acre basis with award based on total sum across all five years. The lessee is responsible for all leasehold taxes. Annual lease payments are due in two installments (half by July 15, half by December 15) or prepaid within thirty days of execution. The lessee may offset payments through approved on-site services valued using University of Illinois Extension rates, with services exceeding 10 percent of lease value or $10,000 requiring prior agency approval. A Certificate of Liability Insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate coverage, naming IDNR as additional insured, must be maintained. Bids must remain firm for 90 days. Award goes to the highest priced responsive and responsible bidder; bidders currently liable for delinquent leasehold taxes on IDNR agricultural leases must demonstrate payment or non-delinquency before award. Questions are due in writing seven days after the pre-bid conference. Bids may be submitted electronically through BidBuy or in paper format to DNR Headquarters, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702. Contact Melanie Dodd at Melanie.N.Dodd@Illinois.gov or 217/524-1308.