26-422DNR-REALT-B-50943 | IDNR - Weldon Springs Concession

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking a vendor to operate a concession at Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton, Illinois. The scope of work includes managing a restaurant, bait shop, and boat rental service. Required offerings include prepared food, beverages, ice cream, bagged ice, native firewood, and fishing supplies, with authorization to sell souvenirs, boating equipment, and state hunting and fishing licenses. The vendor is permitted to rent bicycles and various watercraft, though only electric trolling motors are allowed for boat rentals. The contract specifies strict operational hours from April through Columbus Day Weekend and prohibits video gaming. The contract is awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who offers the highest total amount for all years of the term. Payment to the state is structured as a percentage of gross receipts deposited into a reserve account. The initial term runs through December 31, 2030, with the state holding an option to renew for a total of twenty years, not to exceed a maximum term of twenty-five years. Bidders must submit all proposals electronically via BidBuy and provide necessary certifications, including vendor disclosures and proof of authorization to transact business in Illinois. Operational compliance requires the on-site manager to hold a Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification and all staff to possess valid Food Handler Cards. The vendor must adhere to strict environmental standards, specifically the prohibition of single-use plastic disposable food ware in favor of compostable or recyclable materials. Additionally, the vendor must maintain a designated section for products labeled Made in the USA and comply with all state, county, and local licensing for the sale of alcoholic beverages. Maintenance requirements include professional cleaning of grease traps and exhaust hoods twice per year.