Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. License Agreement and Required Documentation Following the Board of Commissioners award of Farm Licenses, written notification shall be sent to each prospective Licensee. Notification shall include a cover letter and a draft of the Farm License Agreement (Exhibit A). The cover letter shall indicate the awarded License Area, acreage, price per acre, annual payment schedule and required documentation. The prospective Farm Licensee shall be invited to the Forest Preserve District of Will County (Forest Preserve) office to submit all required documentation, License fee, and sign the Farm License Agreement. The prospective Farm Licensee must provide the following: • 2024 Farm License Fee • A copy of a valid State of Illinois Department of Agriculture, Pesticide ID Card for each individual applying herbicide/pesticide in the License Area, including contractors • Signed Exhibits (if applicable) • A list of all persons working in the Farm License Area The Prospective Farm Licensee shall sign the Farm License Agreement and provide the above documentation by August 31, 2023. If the required documentation, signed Farm License Agreement and Farm License Fee is not received by August 31, 2023, the prospective farm licensee will forfeit the Bid Security (Cashier’s Check). The Farm License will then be awarded to the second highest qualified bidder, and the bidder will be prohibited from bids within the Forest Preserve’s Farm License Program for the next three years. The Farm License shall be for a 3 year agreed term, subject to annual approval and extension by the Board of Commissioners. The Prospective Farm Licensee shall provide a Certificate of Insurance for no less than $1,000,000.00 (one million dollars) in general liability insurance. Certificate or Policy shall state “Forest Preserve District of Will County, Board of Commissioners, all employees and agents as additional insured”. Proof of insurance shall be received no later than January 1, 2024 and renewals on an annual basis by January 1st of each calendar year, unless the policy is continuous. If the Prospective Farm Licensee has a continuous (revolving) policy, documentation of the continuous policy shall be provided to the Forest Preserve. If at any time during the term of the license the Licensee’s insurance is cancelled, the Licensee is required to notify the Forest Preserve within 10 days of cancellation with official documentation from their insurance company. 2. Farm License Fees License fees shall be paid no later than August 31, 2023 (bid deposit will be applied to payment) for the 2024 production year upon execution of License. Annual license fees shall be paid no later than September 30, for the following production years of the Farm License. Payments shall be sent to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, 17540 West Laraway Road, Joliet, Illinois 60433, Attention: Andrew :Hawkins, Director of Conservation Programs. Failure to make timely payments shall impact the Licensee’s good standing with the Forest Preserve and may result in termination of the Farm License agreement. Questions regarding payment should be directed to the Forest Preserve’s Agriculture Specialist. 3. Farm License Retirement and Acreage Reductions If the Forest Preserve elects to permanently retire a farm license area (or portion of) a written notice shall be sent to the Licensee. The notification shall be accompanied by a map indicating the field(s) being retired. Should a license area need to be retired prior to end of the license period, the Forest Preserve will notify the Licensee in the fall of the year prior to retiring the license. Reimbursement is dependent on License payment received for that year. Upon retirement by the Forest Preserve, the Licensee shall return the pad lock key (if key was issued) used to gain access to the farm license area. If the Licensee is not allowed to harvest crops due to a reduction of the license area, the Forest Preserve will compensate the Licensee for nutrients applied, seed, and lost yield at the standard market rate.
