AGR-LW-Zelle Farm Seed Fertilizer

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is seeking a vendor to provide agricultural supplies and services for the Zell Farm located in Effingham and Fayette Counties through a small purchase procurement with sole source conditions. The contract requires a vendor located within 25 miles of the farm who can apply fertilizers, seeds, herbicides, and chemicals across 194 acres of farmland within 24 hours of notice. Specific procurement requirements include 14 tons of MAP 0-44-0 or DAP 18-46 fertilizer, 14 tons of Potash 0-0-60 fertilizer, and 140 units of soybean seed treatment. The vendor must apply these materials according to the department's specified dates and application schedules. The contract term is initially one year, with a maximum potential duration of ten years. Mandatory vendor qualifications include maintaining $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate commercial liability insurance, along with auto liability and worker's compensation insurance. The procurement is due by March 24, 2025, with the opportunity originally posted on March 20, 2025.

The procurement has received a Small Business Set-Aside Program Waiver due to unique geographic and service requirements. Specifically, no dealers within a 60-mile radius can meet the storage, delivery, and application specifications for the farm. The estimated contract value is $77,638.46, using NIGP Code 335-42. The waiver was requested by Leke Hoxha, an Executive II at the agency, and approved by both the Designated Agency representative Michelle Grimsley and State Procurement Officer Abigail K Bailey. Subcontractors are permitted with certain disclosure requirements, and the contract includes standard provisions for payment terms, prevailing wage requirements, and potential federal funding compliance. While the specific vendor is not named in the documentation, the procurement is structured to engage a local agricultural supply and services provider who can meet the precise operational needs of the Zell Farm. The contract follows guidelines from CPO Notice #2024.10, which establishes set-aside categories for small businesses in Illinois.