27AL2248 Jim Edgar Panther Creek S. F. W. A. Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property within Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area in Cass County, with bids due November 4, 2026, and a mandatory pre-submission conference on October 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

The scope encompasses approximately 350.60 acres in 2027, expanding to 506.60 acres from 2028 through 2031, and concluding with 58.32 acres in 2032. The lessee must provide all labor, machinery, seed, fertilizer, equipment, and insurance to conduct farming operations according to a detailed cropping plan specifying rotations of wheat, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and cover crops with wildlife habitat management requirements through July 30, 2032. Strict prohibitions apply: no neonicotinoid-treated soybean seed, no Dicamba herbicide, and no double cropping. The lessee is responsible for all leasehold property taxes, which totaled $22,914.82 in 2025 for the expanded acreage. Pricing shall be submitted on a per-acre, per-year basis, with bids evaluated on total five-year contract value. The contract term begins March 1, 2027, or upon signature by the IDNR Director, whichever is later, with no renewal options. No bid or performance bonds are required.

The lessee must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence with $2 million annual aggregate, Auto Liability of $1 million per occurrence, and Workers' Compensation as required by law, all with certificates due within 30 days of contract execution and annually thereafter. An irrevocable letter of credit covering annual lease payments and property taxes must be provided with expiration dates of January 31, 2028 and January 31, 2029, respectively. Annual documentation of chemical and fertilizer applications, seed usage, and yield monitor data is due by December 15.

Bidders must submit Vendor Disclosure Forms (or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure if registered), Offer to the State of Illinois, Contract, Equipment List, and any Business Enterprise Program or Veterans Small Business Program Utilization Plans. Delinquent current IDNR agricultural lessees must remedy tax debt before award consideration. The resulting contract may be partially or fully funded with federal funds, with percentage and amount disclosed upon award. A $15 administrative fee applies to any awarded contract of $1,000 or more. Questions must be submitted in writing no later than seven days after the October 6 pre-submission conference. Contact: Melanie Dodd, 217-524-1308, Melanie.N.Dodd@Illinois.gov.