27AL2246 Jim Edgar Panther S. F. W. A. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for agricultural farming services on approximately 527 to 537 acres annually at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area in Cass County, with bids due October 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a mandatory pre-bid conference on October 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the site (10149 County Highway 11, Chandlerville, IL 62627), with remote WebEx participation available.

The lessee will operate the farm under a five-year term from March 1, 2027 through February 28, 2032. The scope includes all farming operations—labor, machinery, equipment, seed, fertilizer, and insurance—across 22 crop fields with a required six-year rotating cropping plan featuring corn, soybeans, and cover crops. Key operational constraints include mandatory 33-foot field borders, 66-foot wildlife corridors, prohibition of neonicotinoid-treated seed and Dicamba applications, cover crops on designated fields targeting approximately 52 percent of leased acres annually, soil testing at specified intervals with minimum pH 6.0–6.5, and annual submission of operational records and yield monitor data by December 15.

Pricing shall be submitted on a per-acre, per-year basis; the contract award is based on the highest total price across all five years that meets all specifications and requirements. Acreage varies by year: 537.33 acres in 2027 and 2031, 533.03 acres in 2028, 527.43 acres in 2029, and 531.73 acres in 2030. The lessee must guarantee annual lease payment by March 1 prepayment or irrevocable letter of credit and is responsible for all leasehold property taxes (approximately $24,551–$26,668 annually based on recent Cass County assessments). The lessee must maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million annual aggregate, auto liability of $1 million, and worker's compensation as required by law. No bid bond or performance bond is required. A $15 fee applies to any awarded contract of $1,000 or more. Bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. Bidders must submit vendor disclosure forms, an offer to the State of Illinois, contract documentation, an equipment list, and utilization plans as applicable. All questions must be submitted in writing no later than seven days after the pre-bid conference. The contract may be partially or fully funded with federal funds, with the percentage disclosed upon award.