Prairie Maintenance

Background
Harper College is seeking a habitat restoration company to oversee the maintenance of the Craig Stettner Prairie, a 1.5-acre prairie reconstruction on Harper’s main campus at 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL. The goal of this contract is to maintain and restore the prairie ecosystem while providing educational access to the public.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for:

1. Monthly stewardship visits during the growing season (April-November) to control invasive and non-native vegetation using appropriate methods.

2. Conducting two monitoring visits each growing season to assess floristic quality, with reports due after each visit.

3. Performing prescribed burns in specified years (1, 3 & 5) with all necessary permitting and notifications handled by the contractor.

4. Maintaining a walking path through the prairie from May to October, with at least six visits during this period.

5. Maintaining a 1-foot mowed perimeter along the fence line to prevent overgrowth onto adjacent paths, also requiring at least six visits from May to October.

Period of Performance
The initial contract period is for 1.5 years from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, with options for three additional one-year renewals through December 31, 2029.

Place of Performance
The work will be performed at Harper College's main campus located at 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, Illinois.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must have experience providing prairie management services for public bodies of similar size and scope. They are required to provide three references and comply with insurance requirements including general liability and workers' compensation coverage.