27AL2380 Pyramid State Park - Denmark Unit Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on 425.20 acres at Pyramid State Park's Denmark Unit Farm Lease (Contract 27AL2380), with bids due November 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM and a mandatory pre-submission conference on October 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

The scope is pasture lease operations on four field tracts designated for cattle grazing from May 1 through October 15 annually. The lessee must maintain specified stocking rates by field (75, 35, and 20 animal units respectively across the three primary parcels), inspect and maintain all fencing, gates, and watering infrastructure, and comply with grazing standards requiring cattle to graze to a minimum of 3 inches and re-enter at 8 inches. Prohibited practices include double cropping, neonicotinoid-treated soybean seeds, and Dicamba herbicide applications. The lessee must also maintain soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and comply with the Department's Comprehensive Environmental Review Process for activities affecting threatened or endangered species, wetlands, or cultural resources. All management activities must adhere to a conservation-based cropping plan.

The contract term runs March 1, 2027, through February 28, 2032, with no renewal options. Pricing is structured on a per-acre-per-year basis multiplied by 425.20 acres for all five years, with award based on the total sum of all years. The lessee may submit cash payments or acceptable in-lieu services (chemical and fertilizer applications, clearing, road construction, fence installation, mowing for wildlife management, timber stand improvement) valued per University of Illinois or Iowa State University Extension custom rate surveys. The lessee must guarantee annual lease payments through prepayment by March 1 or an irrevocable letter of credit (one-half due July 15, balance by December 15) and is responsible for all leasehold taxes, with proof of payment due by December 15 annually.

The lessee must maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence ($2,000,000 annual aggregate), auto liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance as required by law. Bidders liable for delinquent leasehold taxes on current IDNR agricultural leases must provide proof of paid taxes or non-delinquency documentation before award consideration. No bid or performance bond is required. Award is made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the highest price offer meeting all specified requirements. The pre-submission conference is held via WebEx (meeting number 2865 694 3315); in-person attendance is available at Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center (13995 E. Game Farm Road, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864). Bids may be submitted electronically through BidBuy or in paper format at DNR Headquarters (One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702). Bid prices must remain firm for 90 days following opening.