SB-FP-17-2526 Cattail & Phragmite Weed Management

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Illinois is soliciting competitive bids for cattail and phragmite weed management services across approximately 189 acres distributed among eight separate forest preserve locations. The project requires herbicide applications to control cattail (Typha spp.) and common reed (Phragmites australis) with a primary objective of achieving a one-season kill rate of 95% for target species through treatments conducted between July and September 2026. Eight individual contracts will be awarded separately by project area to the lowest responsible bidder, with specific project sites including Aurora West Forest Preserve (28 acres of common reed), Braeburn Marsh Forest Preserve (3 acres of cattail), Freeman Kame Forest Preserve (49 acres of cattail), Hannaford Woods-Nickels Farm Forest Preserve (19 acres of mixed species), Oakhurst Forest Preserve (12 acres of common reed), Stearns Road Forest Preserve (57 acres of common reed), Willoughby Farms Forest Preserve (4 acres of mixed species), and Rutland North Forest Preserve (17 acres of common reed). Prospective contractors must demonstrate documented past experience with weed management projects in State Nature Preserves and possess staff with advanced knowledge of regional wetland flora, and must hold a valid Illinois Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicators License. Deliverables include glyphosate herbicide applications using approved aquatic herbicides, with contractors responsible for positive species identification to prevent damage to non-target vegetation, use of specialized equipment including marsh masters, ATVs, backpack sprayers, and wick applicators, and daily reporting documentation. Bid submissions are due June 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST via the Bonfire online portal with public bid opening at 3:00 PM CST the same day; project award is scheduled for July 14, 2026, with all work completion required by September 30, 2026; questions must be submitted by May 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, with any addenda posted by June 1, 2026, at 4:00 PM CST.

The solicitation documents do not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other protected classifications, indicating this is an open competitive procurement available to all qualified vendors. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the available documentation. Contractors must comply with Illinois prevailing wage requirements and maintain performance bonds and payment bonds equal to 100% of the contract price, along with commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation insurance as required by statute. All contractors must submit substance abuse prevention programs in compliance with Illinois Act 095-0635 prior to work commencement and perform a minimum of 50 percent of the work with their own staff rather than subcontractors. Payment terms establish that the District will pay 90 percent upon satisfactory completion of initial herbicide treatment and retain 10 percent until the performance standard of 95 percent target species kill is achieved and approved by the Project Manager. Specific budget amounts or contract values are not disclosed in the procurement documents; however, costs are required to be submitted on a not-to-exceed basis covering all herbicide, equipment, materials, labor, and permit expenses. Liquidated damages of $500 per day apply for failure to meet completion deadlines, and damage to trees remaining in place are assessed at $400 per caliper inch measured at 4.5 feet above ground.