Timber Sale - Harvest at Hidden Springs State Forest

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking a licensed timber buyer to conduct a commercial harvest at Hidden Springs State Forest in St. Clair County, Illinois. The timber sale involves harvesting approximately 478 trees across 67 acres of mature mixed upland hardwood timber, with primary objectives of forest regeneration, wildlife conservation, and fuel load reduction. The procurement aims to improve forest health by reducing tree densities to promote oak and hickory regeneration, with an estimated total timber volume of 163,200 board feet. Bidders must submit electronic proposals through the BidBuy platform by November 19, 2025, with a required 180-day bid firmness period. Key deliverables include utilizing cable and winch-equipped log skidders, following forestry best management practices, and protecting environmental resources. The contract term is 24 months from execution, with work to be completed during dry or frozen ground conditions, and operations must be suspended during specified deer hunting seasons.

The procurement encourages participation from small businesses and veterans, with specific requirements for Business Enterprise Program and Veterans Small Business Program utilization. Vendors must complete mandatory registrations, including the Illinois Board of Elections Business Entity Registration for Procurement (BEREP), Secretary of State registration, and potentially the Illinois Department of Human Rights for companies with 15 or more employees. Bidders are required to submit various mandatory documents, including Vendor Disclosure forms, Offer to the State of Illinois, and a Business Enterprise Program Utilization Plan. The state will evaluate bids based on responsiveness, responsibility, and pricing, with the intention to award to the highest-priced responsive and responsible bidder. The payment structure requires a 50% initial payment plus a 10% performance deposit at contract execution, with the remaining balance to be submitted before work begins. The performance deposit will be refunded within 30 days of successful harvest completion, contingent on meeting all contract specifications.