27AL2381 Pyramid State Park - Denmark Unit Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for agricultural farming services on 409.20 acres within Pyramid State Park's Denmark Unit under IFB 27AL2381, with sealed bids due October 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and a mandatory pre-submission conference on October 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The scope is a five-year pasture-grazing and farm-management lease covering four fields designated for continuous cattle grazing from May 1 through October 15, with specified stocking rates by field: 60 animal units in field 2658-9B (180.50 acres), 10 animal units in field 2658-9A (32.90 acres), 20 animal units in field 2658-9C (148.50 acres), and 12 animal units in field 2568-6 (47.30 acres), where one animal unit equals 1,000 pounds. Maintenance grazing heights must remain between 3 and 8 inches. The lessee must maintain pasture infrastructure (fences, gates, watering facilities), apply maintenance fertilizer to University of Illinois Extension standards, manage soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5, comply with specified Atrazine herbicide label directions, and submit documentation of all chemical and fertilizer applications. The lessee is prohibited from double cropping, using neonicotinoid-treated seed, applying Dicamba herbicide, subcontracting grazing rights, or allowing cattle beyond the approved framework without written approval from the Site Superintendent and District Wildlife Biologist. The lessee may offset cash rent payments through in-kind services (equipment rental, field maintenance, chemical application, labor) reimbursed at University of Illinois or Iowa State University Extension custom rates.

The contract term runs from March 1, 2027, through February 28, 2032 (five years). Pricing is submitted on a per-acre annual basis for each of the five years, with award based on total sum. The lessee must provide either prepayment by March 1 annually, an irrevocable letter of credit covering estimated 2027 cash rent and real estate taxes, or split payment (half by July 15, balance by December 15). The lessee bears all leasehold property taxes and must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, plus Auto Liability and Workers' Compensation coverage. A $15 Minority Contractor Initiative fee applies. Bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. No bid bonds or performance bonds are required. The pre-submission conference is held at the Denmark Multipurpose Building, 1165 Tangen Cemetery Road, Cutler, Illinois 62238, with virtual attendance via WebEx. Questions are due in writing no later than 7 days after the pre-submission conference. Sealed bids are submitted electronically through BidBuy or in paper format to One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702, Attention: Melanie Dodd.