AGR-ISF-Beer Tent Concession Operation

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is soliciting bids for Beer Tent Concession Operation services at the Illinois State Fair, a competitive procurement open to all qualified vendors under the Illinois Procurement Code. The vendor will be responsible for operating beer and beverage concessions across six locations, including three dedicated beer tents (Village of Cultures, Reisch Pavilion, and The Shed) and three additional permanent structure locations, serving an anticipated 750,000+ annual attendees during the 2026, 2027, and 2028 State Fair. The successful bidder will receive exclusive pouring rights for beer and beverages at these designated areas and must provide all necessary equipment, supplies, and infrastructure at its own expense, including three separately rented beer tents meeting specified dimensions, a minimum of 11 portable restroom units per location, electrical wiring installed by qualified electricians at prevailing wage rates, point-of-sale systems, and refrigeration equipment. The vendor must maintain maximum beverage prices of $6.00 per beer or seltzer and $5.00 per non-alcoholic beverage, remit a minimum of 13.5% of gross sales to the Department, operate from 12:00 p.m. to midnight daily, secure all required permits and licenses (including state liquor licenses, dram shop insurance, and alcohol service certifications), and maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate plus auto liability coverage. Bids must be submitted electronically through BidBuy by March 26, 2026, with vendor questions accepted until March 19, 2026, and all bids must remain firm for 90 days from the opening date. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the highest return percentage to the State, with evaluation based on responsibility, responsiveness, and price.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligibility to particular business categories are identified in the procurement documents; however, vendors claiming business preferences such as the Illinois Business Preference or Domestic Product Preference must submit required supporting documentation including relevant affidavits. A minority contractor initiative fee of $15 is required for any awarded contract valued at $1,000 or more. Vendors must complete mandatory compliance documents including either the Vendor Disclosure Form 26.2 (for vendors not registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway) or the IPG Active Vendor Disclosure form, along with an Offer to the State and applicable Business Enterprise Program or Veterans Small Business Program Utilization Plans. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the solicitation documents. The contract term extends through February 28, 2029, with renewal options of up to seven additional years at the State's discretion, exercisable as one full renewal, individual one-year renewals, or any combination thereof. Based on 2025 Fair data, historical beer tent sales approximated $630,372, though the Department notes this represents its best estimate given that prior contracts contained different payment formulas and requirements; the actual award value will depend on vendor bidding and anticipated sales performance during the contract period.