title
PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Department of Resource Management
Vendor: Kopping Farms, Lemont, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the "Forest Preserves") to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Hay farming at Holy Family, Morrill Meadow, and Sag Valley preserves
Contract Value: N/A
Contract Period: 1/1/2023 - 12/31/2023, 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 $22,007.25 over five (5) years
Accounts: Corporate Land Use Fees 51001.411366 (revenue generating)
Contract Number(s): #74000011237 issued under Project #22 RM 111
Concurrences:
The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final contract is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 17
Summary: The Forest Preserves has solicited a contract for hay farming at select sites which 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 cutting and collection of hay. 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 Preserve's 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 hay cutting is a period of one (1) year, with four (4) one-year mutual renewal options to be exercised by the General Superintendent or their designee, which allows the Forest Preserves the option to discontinue farming practices at our discretion in order to restore these lands to a natural condition.
Kopping Farms was the sole bidder for t...
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