Purpose of the Bill

• The bill aims to create a pilot program for using a qualification-based selection process for choosing engineering and design professionals for certain road construction projects by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

Main Provisions

• Qualification-Based Selection Requirement: From October 1, 2025, to March 1, 2028, MnDOT must use qualification-based selection methods for at least five road construction projects annually, each exceeding $800,000 in consultant fees.
• Pilot Program Phases: Qualification-based selection can be applied to different phases of a project, including predesign, design, construction, and reconstruction.
• Project Selection: Different projects or phases must be selected each year during the program.

Reporting Requirements

• Preliminary Report (Due October 1, 2026): MnDOT must provide initial findings on using qualification-based selection, including:
  • Evaluation of its use
  • Criteria for selecting eligible projects
  • Recommendations for legislative changes
  • Impacts on procurement timelines, project quality, change orders, and sustainability.
• Final Report (Due October 1, 2028): This will update the preliminary findings and include:
  • Recommended number of projects for qualification-based selection
  • Cost-benefit analysis compared to current best-value engineering practices
  • Legislative recommendations for broader implementation of qualification-based selection methods.

Significant Changes

• Introduction of Qualification-Based Selection: This new method emphasizes the quality and qualifications of the providers over cost alone for selecting engineering services, differing from the current best-value practices primarily focused on cost.
• Pilot Program and Reports: Establishes structured evaluations and reporting to determine the program's effectiveness and potential permanent adoption.

Expiration

• The provisions of this bill will expire on January 15, 2029, or upon submission of the final report, whichever comes first.

Relevant Terms

qualification-based selection, engineering services, road construction projects, pilot program, MnDOT, procurement timelines, sustainability, best-value engineering practices, cost-benefit analysis, legislative recommendations.