EXEMPT NOTICE: DNR Real Estate Acquisition, Cache River SNA

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is conducting a land acquisition for the Cache River State Natural Area located in Johnson County. This exempt notice details the procurement of 27.379 acres from the Walquist Land Trust No. 2, situated in Section 29, Township 13 South, Range 3 East of the Third Principal Meridian. The property encompasses portions of the Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter and the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, with a total acquisition value of $107,025.00. The land includes 27.379 timber acres positioned near a railroad right-of-way and Cave Creek, and was surveyed by Brian P. Price, an Illinois Professional Land Surveyor, with the survey dated October 10, 2024. The acquisition is scheduled for September 24, 2025, with a contract opportunity due date of October 15, 2025. The procurement process is being conducted under an exempt notice in accordance with 30 ILCS 500/1-10b)6), indicating a direct acquisition method rather than a competitive bidding process.

The land acquisition appears to be a direct purchase without specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The property is being acquired with county permanent property tax number 08-29-401-000, with no noted improvements or additional conditions. The total budget for this acquisition is $107,025.00, which covers only the land value. No incumbent vendors or existing technology integration requirements are specified in the documentation. The acquisition seems to be part of the IDNR's broader conservation efforts to expand and preserve the Cache River State Natural Area. While the notice is an exempt procurement, it provides transparency about the land acquisition through public disclosure of the transaction details, including the precise acreage, location, and total purchase price.