Statewide Rare Plant Data Collection

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is procuring rare plant data collection and monitoring services through the Chicago Botanic Garden for the "Plants of Concern: Statewide Rare Plant Data Collection utilizing Citizen Science Volunteers" initiative. This comprehensive statewide project spans three geographic regions (northeastern, northwestern, and southern Illinois) and requires the vendor to conduct surveys of a minimum of 300 unique rare plant species annually over two years using meander survey methods and citizen science volunteers. Primary deliverables include training plant monitors through 2-4 training events per year per region, enhancing a mobile application for field data collection, providing triannual data transfers to the Department's Natural Heritage Biotics 5.0 Database, conducting triannual virtual meetings with Department staff, submitting annual reports in December and a final report within 60 days of project closure, and creating 4-6 Species Status Assessments annually. The vendor must demonstrate proven experience in rare plant identification and monitoring in the specified Illinois regions, possess the ability to coordinate regional botany staff, and have experience collecting and electronically transmitting plant data; all project staff must have a minimum of two years of botanical taxonomy field experience identifying rare plants. The mobile application must capture GPS coordinates, soil moisture conditions, population area measurements, reproductive stage, species counts, invasive species presence and impact percentages, threats to populations, management observations, and identification photographs. The procurement was posted on December 30, 2025, with a deadline for submission on January 6, 2026.

No specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, though vendors must comply with all Standard Illinois Certifications requirements and register with the Illinois Small Business Set-Aside Program if applicable. The contract value is $99,500 for the full execution period through December 31, 2027, and all deliverables become the property of the Department upon completion. Vendors must acquire necessary landowner permissions and regulatory permits prior to data collection and ensure that final Species Status Assessments conform to IDNR's Species Recovery Guidance standards and receive approval from the Department's Endangered Species Program. Standard state procurement requirements apply, including compliance with prevailing wage standards where applicable, maintenance of $1,000,000 general commercial liability insurance with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, and three-year record retention obligations (five years if federal funds are used). The State retains sole ownership of all work product and intellectual property created under the contract and reserves the right to terminate for convenience with thirty days' written notice.