Eagle Creek Golf Course 3 Yr Management Contract

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is soliciting bids for a three-year golf course management contract (solicitation 26-422DNR-LNDMG-R-301626) for Eagle Creek Golf Course located at 2341 Eagle Creek Road in Findlay, Illinois, with a contract term running from April 6, 2026, through December 31, 2028. The procurement seeks a qualified vendor to professionally manage the 18-hole golf course and driving range while maintaining recreational quality and environmental stewardship. Required services include operating the pro shop concession with minimum inventory of 40 golf carts, 4 sets of men's clubs, 4 sets of women's clubs, and 6 buckets of range balls; selling golf accessories, non-alcoholic beverages, pre-packaged snacks, and beer; and maintaining operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. April through October and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November through March. The vendor must assume responsibility for all utilities, maintenance, licenses, insurance, and property security while the Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintains buildings, mechanical systems, utility lines, parking lots, and roads. Vendor qualifications require a minimum of five years' experience in golf course management, submission of one financial reference and one business/character reference, and compliance with comprehensive maintenance standards for all course elements including greens, fairways, tees, bunkers, and irrigation systems. A mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the park office, with attendance required for all bidders. All bids must be submitted electronically through BidBuy by February 27, 2026, with bid prices remaining firm for 90 days following opening. The contract features a deflating price requirement wherein Year 2 pricing shall not exceed 50 percent of Year 1 pricing, and Year 3 pricing shall not exceed 50 percent of Year 2 pricing.

The procurement is subject to Illinois Department of Human Rights public contract registration requirements and includes a $15 Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative administrative fee to be deducted from the first payment to the awarded vendor. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with Business Enterprise Program or Veterans Small Business Program utilization requirements if applicable, and all bids must include completed Vendor Disclosure forms (or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure forms for vendors registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway). The State reserves the right to award to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest overall price. The contract is subject to an underlying U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lease agreement (DACW43-1-08-32) between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which prospective vendors must acknowledge and comply with. Historical financial performance data from 2020 through 2024 is provided to assist bidders in developing realistic proposals, with the golf course demonstrating varying financial results including net income of $67,278.60 in 2020, $283,842.62 in 2021, and other periodic results reflecting seasonal and operational variations. The vendor must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Worker's Compensation insurance as required by law, with Dram Shop insurance required if alcoholic beverages are sold. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents.