Description
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leasing approximately 2,790 acres of agricultural land within Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park for five consecutive crop years (2027‑2031). The lease is awarded to the highest‑priced responsive and responsible bidder, with no bid or performance bond required. The lessee must manage the land, comply with detailed farming and environmental practices, provide required insurance, and submit annual logs and soil‑test results. Payments are made semi‑annually (July 15 and December 15) or via pre‑payment, and lease‑hold taxes are the lessee’s responsibility.
• Lease acreage varies by year (526‑560‑584‑541‑584 acres) with an estimated vendor revenue of $219k‑$247k per year.
• Mandatory compliance includes a Certificate of Liability Insurance, adherence to wildlife‑friendly practices (cover crops, standing‑crop strips, no neonicotinoid‑treated seed, no dicamba), and detailed reporting (chemical/fertilizer logs, seed logs, yield data).
• The solicitation is an IFB (type code 10) with an open bid status; bids are due by 11/04/2026 2 PM, and the pre‑bid conference on 10/15/2026 is non‑mandatory.
• The contract term runs from March 1 2027 through February 28 2032, with annual payment guarantees and insurance requirements.