SPSS FY 26 Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association

The state of Illinois, specifically the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), is seeking a contractor to conduct the Illinois Agriculture Retail Survey-Gulf Hypoxia Program Grant (Contract FWN26608). The procurement is classified as a small purchase with sole source conditions, targeting a comprehensive agricultural retail survey across the state. The selected vendor will randomly select 150 agricultural retail locations statewide, completing ten surveys at each location to collect anonymized data on 25 different agronomic practice metrics, including crop rotation, tillage types, and nutrient management. Key deliverables include a progress report due July 15, 2026, a survey report due September 30, 2026, and a final project evaluation report due October 15, 2026. The primary objective is to support the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) by tracking agricultural conservation practices, with data analysis to be performed by Iowa State University. The contract term runs from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026, with a submission deadline of September 11, 2025, for potential contractors.

While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed in the provided documents, vendors must complete the Standard Illinois Certifications form, which includes comprehensive compliance requirements spanning labor practices, tax compliance, workplace standards, and ethical business conduct. The contract emphasizes equal opportunity requirements and potentially offers employment tax credits for hiring qualified veterans and ex-offenders. Vendors must comply with state and federal laws and undergo a thorough certification process that could result in contract voiding, suspension, or penalties for non-compliance. Although the total contract amount is not specified, the documentation indicates that all payments will be electronically processed, with invoices submitted to EPA.FiscalServ@illinois.gov. The survey methodology is based on an existing approach used by the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council, which will allow for regional comparisons of nutrient management practice adoption and inform targeted educational programming in watersheds with the greatest conservation needs.