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PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Department of Resource Management
Vendor: Hansen & Sons Farm, Crete, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Row crop farming at 19101 Cottage Grove, 1588 E. 13th Street, and 1413 Joe Orr Road
Contract Value: N/A
Contract Period: 4/1/2025 - 12/31/2025, with four (4) one-year extension options to be exercised at the discretion of the General Superintendent or their designee
Estimated Fiscal Impact: Revenue generation of up to $138,000.00 over approximately five (5) years
Accounts: Corporate Land Use Fees 51001.411366 (revenue generating)
Contract Number(s): #74000015751 issued under Project #25RM 101
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final contract is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 5
Summary: The Forest Preserves has solicited a contract for row crop production at three (3) unnamed sites that were recently acquired in Glenwood, Ford Heights, and Lynwood. These sites were historically used for agricultural purposes prior to acquisition by the Forest Preserves, and as such, do not exist in an ecologically natural state. Farmers will have use of the property for seeding one (1) or more of the following row crops: wheat, oats, soybeans, and/or corn. This practice allows the Forest Preserves to generate revenue, while at the same time preventing invasive plant species from overtaking fallow land. It is the Forest Preserves’ intention to restore fallow land as capacity and funding allows, and these interim farming practices are a good method to keep lands in a more manageable condition until a restoration project can take place, thereby reducing future restoration costs. The contract term for row crop farming is a period of nine (9) months, with four (4) one-year mutual renewal options to be exercised at the discretion of the General Superintendent or their designee, which allows the Forest Preserves the option to discontinue farming practices in order to restore these lands to a natural condition.
A total of two (2) responsive bids were received. Hansen & Sons Farm offered the highest potential revenue generation per acre across all sites, for a total potential revenue generation over the next approximately five (5) years of $138,000.00, or $27,600.00 per year.
Site Acres Revenue
19101 Cottage Grove 42 $42,000.00
1588 E. 13th Street 50 $50,000.00
1413 Joe Orr Road 46 $46,000.00
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