Project Information

Bid Title

Blatnik Bridge Construction Contract Administration & Verification

Issuing Agency

State Government of Minnesota

Location

Minnesota

Published Date

Apr 2, 2026

Closing Date

Apr 29, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Blatnik Bridge Construction Contract Administration & Verification

Brief Description: MnDOT requests proposals for assistance in performing tasks necessary to verify that the Blatnik Bridge Design-Build Construction contractor (DB contractor) is meeting all construction requirements of the Design-Build Conformed Contract for the Project. The project is primarily located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The goal of this project is to perform all required construction contract administration and verification tasks for the project.

Date posted: 04/02/2026
Due date: 04/29/2026

• RFP-QBS
• Scope of Work
• Exhibit A Attachment 1
• DBE Special Provisions

Attachment Preview

MnDOT Contract No: 1061634

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

Introduction and Background Information

1.1 General Statement of Scope of Work

Work with the State as the Design-Build Construction Contract Verification Consultant (DBCVC), which

will be called the Contractor throughout this scope of work. The State Staff and Contractor are

collectively known as the Design-Build Construction Contract Verification Team (DBCVT) for the State

Project (SP) 6981-26 on I535 for Blatnik Bridge Replacement Design-Build Project (Project). Contractor

will provide construction verification and contract administration for the Project. The goal of the DBCVC

contract is that the State receives assistance in performing the tasks necessary to verify that the Design-

Build Construction contractor (DB contractor) is meeting all requirements of the Design-Build

Conformed Contract for the Project. Contractor will attend conferences or meetings necessary for close

coordination during day-to-day progress of the work or as required to carry out the Project. Contractor

will notify the State’s Project Manager immediately of any unanticipated project conditions. Contractor

will maintain a record of submittals, approvals, changes, and modifications using the State’s Document

Control System Microsoft SharePoint. Contractor will collect, properly label or identify, and deliver to

the State all original calculations, drawing and sketches, electronic design files, records, reports, and

other documents prepared by the DB contractor in the performance of the work as described in this

contract upon completion or termination of the Project. Contractor will provide interpretations of the

plans, specifications and contract provisions. Contractor will consult with the State’s Project Manager

when an interpretation involves complex issues or may have an impact on the cost of performing the

work. When warranted, the State’s Project Manager may request an interpretation from the Contractor.

1.2 Project Letting

The Project letting is June 23, 2026.

1.3 Project Scope

The project is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin between the cities

of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The project limits extend 0.3 miles from the existing

bridge structure on the Minnesota approach to 0.75 miles from the existing bridge structure on the

Wisconsin approach, along US 53.

The project includes replacement of the existing John. A. Blatnik I-535 Bridge (Minnesota Bridge number

9030, Wisconsin Structure B-16-5) on Interstate 535 (I-535) connecting Duluth, Minnesota and Superior

Wisconsin across the St. Louis River and Bay. The project also includes reconstructing an interchange in

Superior, WI that routes I-535 directly to US 53, with local connections to Hammond Avenue and WIS

35. The project includes design and construction of a new mainline bridge (Minnesota Bridge number

69913, Wisconsin Structure B-16-0153) and new exit ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-0154) and

entrance ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-0155). The new mainline bridge includes new Minnesota

approach spans, a new main span over the Main Navigation Channel, new spans along Connor’s Point,

new spans over the Howard’s Pocket Navigation Channel, and new Wisconsin approach spans that

connect to US Highway 53 in Wisconsin.

The project includes a new shared use path on the easterly side of the new mainline bridge and

Wisconsin entrance ramp bridge with trail connections in Duluth and Superior, drainage improvements,

retaining walls, and improvements within the City of Superior. The existing bridge will be closed for the

majority of construction and traffic will be detoured to the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge.

Approximate Project cost: The estimated cost of the Project is between $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion.

1

MnDOT Contract No. 1061634

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

To find additional project information related to the Project, refer to the project website located here:

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/designbuild/blatnik-bridge/index.html

Project information such as design files, layouts and more can be found on the project SharePoint site,

which is found on the project website. Download and review all files on the project SharePoint site.

State anticipates that this work may extend past 5 years, which may result in a subsequent contract

being set up to finish the work.

1.4 Verification Team Organization Chart

Exhibit A - Attachment 1 is the DBCVC organization chart and shows how the State will staff the DBCVT

for this project. It graphically shows the chain of command. It also shows how the DBCVC staff

described in this contract interacts with the State staff.

2 Project Management

Contractor will perform all work necessary to manage this DBCVC Contract and its personnel. Contractor

will assist State with managing the DB Conformed Contract.

2.1 DBCVC Project Manager

This person is responsible for managing the contract.

2.1.1 Staffing Requirements

Contractor will supply one person, in total, to perform the duties of the DBCVC Project Manager. The

person serving as the DBCVC Project Manager may also function as the DBCVC Contract Change

Manager and/or the Office Manager Document Control

2.1.2 Co-location

The DBCVC Project Manager is not required to be co-located.

2.2 Flexible Workforce

DBCVC personnel approved by the State’s Project Manager are considered by the State to be committed

to performing services for the durations listed in this scope of work. Any changes will require written

approval from the State’s Project Manager and include both adding additional staff and reducing staff.

The Contractor will be advised of the official Notice of Award of the DB Conformed Contract and will be

ready to fully staff all personnel on the DBCVT for the project within one week after notification. No

personnel will be assigned until written notification by the State’s Project Manager has been issued.

If the DB Contract is suspended for any reason, the DBCVC’s forces will be adjusted to correspond with

the type of cessation, either complete or partial suspension. DBCVC will continuously look ahead to fully

understand what type of staff are needed and in what numbers. The Contractor’s schedule will be

dictated by the DB contractor’s schedule. DBCVC will provide a flexible workforce so that only those

staff that can be fully utilized during any given project activity are present and billing hours to the

contract.

DBCVC will continuously monitor all activity to ensure that all work carried out is within the agreed

scope and completed with resources that can complete the work as budgeted. In the event it becomes

necessary to complete work outside the original scope of work, the Contractor’s Project Manager will

notify the State’s Project Manager immediately before proceeding. No work outside the original scope

will be done without written authorization from the State’s Project Manager.

2

MnDOT Contract No. 1061634

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

Throughout this scope of work, the availability in the co-located facility will be defined as full-time (40

hours per week) or part-time (less than 40 hours per week) for a specified duration.

Throughout the course of the Project, it may become evident that two or more DBCVC roles would be

more efficiently staffed by a single qualified person. If this situation arises, the DBCVC can make a

request to the State’s Project Manager to modify the staff by combining roles. The State’s Project

Manager will evaluate the experience and workload of the remaining staff member and will make a

determination of whether the roles should be combined. If multiple roles are allowed to be staffed by a

single person, the State Project Manager may reverse that decision at a later date, if circumstances call

for more attention to those roles than the single person can effectively handle.

Conversely, it is expected that the DBCVC have staff available to fulfill the obligations of each role

described within this contract. Certain roles are defined as being co-located with the DBCVT office and

have estimates of the amount of time expected to be co-located per week. To meet the requirements of

this Flexible Workforce section, team members that are co-located and even those that are not co-

located may need to be present at the co-location office more often than estimated in order to

efficiently and effectively fulfill the duties of those roles so that the DB Contractor is not unduly

burdened by the verification activities.

When the DB Contractor’s operations on the Project diminish, the DBCVC will reduce the number of its

personnel assigned to the Project as appropriate. Any adjustment of DBCVC forces as recommended by

the State’s Project Manager will be accomplished within one week after notification. The State’s Project

Manager will provide said notification to the DBCVC in writing, and the DBCVC will provide confirmation

of notification in writing.

2.2.1 Flexible Workforce - Project Support Staff

The DBCVC will need to leverage additional project support staff, whether within their company or

through subconsultants, to assist the various roles on the DBCVT. The additional staff are expected to be

available to help with the task of reviewing plans and calculations, create quantities to counter claims by

the DB contractor, and use other software listed in this scope to evaluate products the DB contractor

creates using that software.

2.2.2 Co-location

Throughout this scope of work, some roles of the DBCVT are designated as being co-located and others

are not. Co-located personnel are expected to be physically located in the project field office for the

time indicated for each role. Keep in mind, all personnel on the DBCVT are obligated to meet the

requirements of the Flexible Workforce section of this scope.

In order to effectively manage the budget for the DBCVT, co-located personnel will be expected to

inform the Verification Consultant Project Manager and the State Project Manager, if co-location

requirements are excessive based on the current verification activities of the role. If, in agreement with

the State’s Project Manager, it is decided that the co-located role can be just as effectively performed

partly from the team member’s home office then it may be determined that the co-location

requirements be temporarily relaxed.

Personnel that are not to be co-located at the project field office can perform their role from their home

office. However, non-co-located personnel are required to report to the project office or project site as

needed for specific meetings, over-the-shoulder reviews, inspection verification, and other duties in a

timely and efficient manner to fulfill the obligations of their roles on the DBCVT if requested by the

State’s Project Manager.

3

MnDOT Contract No. 1061634

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

It is incumbent upon all DBCVT members to utilize current web-conferencing best practices to be an

effective resource to the DBCVT and the DB Contractor during meetings, over-the-shoulder reviews and

questions that arise from the DB Contractor. The purpose of a co-location office is to minimize difficulty

of communication between the DBCVT and the DB Contractor, so technology cannot be a hindrance in

this relationship. If web-conferencing is not working efficiently to communicate between the two teams,

the role member will be expected to be present at the co-location office as needed so the DB Contractor

is not unduly delayed. It is important that any phone or web conference technical difficulties be

minimized or eliminated so that co-location can be effectively minimized for each role.

2.3 Items Provided by the State

The State will provide office space, basic furniture, and access to State servers. Expendable office

supplies will be paid for by the State and will be ordered by the DBCVC through the State supply system.

Expendable office supplies are defined as items that generally are used one time and then discarded and

include, but are not limited to: staples, rubber bands, note pads, paper, folders, pens, and paper clips.

2.4 Items Provided by Contractor

1. Cellular phones, computer, and printer.

2. Durable office supplies and reference material for their own employees as needed. Durable office

supplies are defined as items that can be reused and include, but are not limited to: staplers,

tape dispensers, scissors, rulers, three-hole punches, staple removers, and mechanical pencils.

3. Own equipment and testing supplies for all testing of component materials used on the Project.

4. A sufficient number of clearly identifiable vehicles to maintain the necessary coverage of the

Project and to adequately transport personnel and equipment. The vehicles will have the

necessary safety features to be within the work zone. DBCVC will be solely responsible for risk

of loss of or damage to vehicles and will replace or repair vehicles at its own cost. DBCVC will be

required to obtain adequate insurance coverage for such loss or damage. Contractor will service

and maintain the vehicles as needed.

5. Cellular phones for all DBCVC field personnel assigned to the Project. Provide a list of these

phone numbers to the State’s Project Manager. DBCVC will be solely responsible for risk of loss

of or damage to cellular phones and will replace or repair cellular phones at its own cost.

Contractor will service and maintain the phones as needed.

Verify and obtain approval from the State Project Manager prior to equipment and office supply

purchases.

2.5 Web Based Teleconferencing

Contractor will provide the means for the DBCVT to meet via web-based teleconferencing. Such a

system will allow participants to log into a website to view the desktop of the meeting organizer.

Participants will be able to “take control” of the virtual desktop as needed to point out things on the file

being displayed. Voice communication will occur via phone teleconferencing.

2.6 Tasks

2.6.1 DBCVC Staffing Approval

Contractor will utilize only personnel who are qualified by experience and education. Contractor will

submit, in writing, to the State’s Project Manager the names of all personnel to be considered for

assignment to the project, together with detailed resumes with respect to education, experience

(including specific durations) and qualifications of each individual. Minimum qualifications for the

4

MnDOT Contract No. 1061634

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

DBCVC personnel are set forth in this Scope of Work. The State may require that these minimum

qualifications be altered in instances when the unique nature of the work requires specific specialized

skills.

No personnel will be assigned to this Project by the DBCVC until the qualifications of each person

proposed have been reviewed and approved in writing by the State’s Project Manager. The Contractor’s

personnel approval request will be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date an individual is

scheduled to report to work.

An individual previously approved by the State’s Project Manager whose performance is later

determined by the State to be unsatisfactory will be replaced by the DBCVC within two weeks.

Be responsible for obtaining proper licenses for equipment and personnel operating equipment when

licenses are required.

(A) Deliverable: DBCVC Personnel Approval Request. One request may include multiple people.

(B) Format: Electronic Microsoft Word 2013 document (docx extension). Deliver to the State’s Project

Manager electronically either by email

(C) Due: At least two weeks prior to the date an individual is scheduled to report to work.

(D) Standard: Written as a letter/email.

(E) State Review: Five business days.

(F) DBCVC Update: Update and resubmit the deliverable to the State within five business days of

receiving State review comments.

2.6.2 Weekly Verification Team Meetings

The State’s Construction Manager will schedule and facilitate weekly meetings with the entire DBCVT.

Meetings will be held at the co-housed facility. Any personnel not co-housed may attend the meeting

via conference call or web-based teleconference. The State conference call system may be used if web-

based teleconferencing is not required for a particular meeting.

(A) Deliverable: A weekly verification team meeting. Meeting minutes are not required.

(B) Format: Meet in co-housed office conference room.

(C) Due: Weekly.

(D) Standard: Intentionally left blank. Minutes are not required.

2.6.3 Performance of the DBCVC Reviews

During the life of the Project, the State’s Project Manager may conduct reviews of the various phases of

the DBCVC performance and operations.

Reviews will be to determine compliance and the sufficiency with which procedures are being effectively

applied to ensure that this contract’s scope of work is being performed in substantial conformity with

State policies, plans, specifications, and DB Conformed Contract requirements. The DBCVC will

cooperate and assist the State’s Project Manager, or his representative(s), in the conduct of the reviews.

When deficiencies are indicated in a review, remedial action will be immediately implemented by the

DBCVC in conformance with the State’s Project Manager’s recommendations. The State’s Project

Manager’s remedial recommendations and the Contractor’s actions will be properly documented by the

DBCVC in a Performance of the DBCVC Review Report. In general, remedial action will be required

commensurate with the degree and nature of the deficiencies cited. Additional compensation will not

be allowed for remedial action taken to correct deficiencies by the Contractor. Remedial actions may

include any or all, but are not necessarily limited to, the following actions:

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 237310Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
• NAICS 541330Engineering Services

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