Project Information

Bid Title

Comprehensive Guide to Pre-Wetting Application Rates and Methods

Issuing Agency

State Government of Minnesota

Location

Minnesota

Published Date

Dec 2, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 16, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Comprehensive Guide to Pre-Wetting Application Rates and Methods

Brief Description: MnDOT requests responses for a Clear Roads project that will develop guidance for determining the optimum prewetting application rate of solid materials using different delivery methods and equipment. Pre-wetting refers to the process of coating or treating dry material such as salt, abrasives, or other materials with a liquid, which are spread on roadways from a winter maintenance vehicle to keep roads clear of ice and snow. The goal of this project is to determine the optimum application rate of inhibited salt brine and untreated dry salt (gallons/ton) in different delivery systems and spreader configurations to reduce bounce and scatter, activate the melting attributes of salt and inhibit metal corrosion.

Date posted: 11/04/2025
Due date: 12/16/2025

• RFP Part A
• RPF Part B
• Addendum #1
• DBE Special Provisions

Attachment Preview

State of Minnesota

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

PART A: INSTRUCTIONS AND CONTENT

Comprehensive Guide to Pre-Wetting Application Rates and Methods

MnDOT Contract Number: 1060859

Date Posted: 11/04/2025

1. Responses must be received not later than 2:00 PM, Central Time, 12/16/2025. Late responses will not be

considered.

2. This document is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities by calling Michael Friberg at 651-

366-4683 or for persons who are hearing, or speech impaired by calling the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-

627-3529. For other information on disability rights and protections, contact MnDOT’s Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator.

3. As of July 1, 2025, certain terms are unenforceable in state contracts. See Session Laws, 2025 Regular Session,

Chapter 39, Article 2, Sec. 45.

Minnesota’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Minnesota is committed to diversity and inclusion in its public procurement process. The goal is to

ensure that those providing goods and services to the State are representative of our Minnesota communities

and include businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities.

Creating broader opportunities for historically under-represented groups provides for additional options and

greater competition in the marketplace, creates stronger relationships and engagement within the State’s

communities, and fosters economic development and equality.

To further this commitment, the Department of Administration operates a program for Minnesota-based small

businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities. For additional

information on this program, or to determine eligibility, please call 651-296-2600 or go to

www.mmd.admin.state.mn.us/mn02001.html.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This is a request for proposal. It does not obligate MnDOT to award a contract or complete the

proposed program, and MnDOT reserves the right to cancel this RFP if it is considered in its best interest.

(CSS/CM Last Updated: 09/10/2025)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Request For Proposal Content

SECTION 1 - INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS ......................................................................................................... 4

SECTION 2 - SUMMARY OF PROJECT SCOPE ............................................................................................................ 5

SECTION 3 – PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ............................................................. 6

SECTION 4 – PROPOSAL CONTENT & SUBMISSION.................................................................................................. 8

SECTION 5 – EVALUATION PROCEDURE AND CRITERIA ..........................................................................................13

SECTION 6 – TERMS & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................14

Request For Proposal Required Forms and Declarations (see PART B, posted seperately)

1. Attachment 1: Responder Declarations

2. Attachment 2: Exceptions to MnDOT's Terms and Conditions

3. Attachment 3: Responder Forms

a. Conflicts of Interest Checklist and Disclosure Form

b. Resident Vendor Form

c. Federal Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying (Standard Form-LLL)

THE BALANCE OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

(CSS/CM Last Updated: 09/10/2025)

2

SECTION 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS

Steps for

Completing Your

Response

Follow the steps below to complete your response to this RFP:

Step 1: Read the solicitation documents and ask questions, if any

Step 2: Write your Proposal and complete the required Forms in Part B of this RFP

Step 3: Submit your Proposal

Incomplete

Submittals

A Proposal must be submitted along with any required additional documents. Incomplete

Proposals that materially deviate from the required format and content may be rejected.

How to Ask

Questions

How to Write

your Response

Where to Send

Your Response

STEP 1 – READ THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT & ASK QUESTIONS, IF ANY

The Instructions for Questions and Answers section is in this link to Section 3.

The contact person for questions is:

Michael Friberg, Contract Administrator

Consultant Services

Michael.friberg@state.mn.us

The MnDOT Contract Number and RFP title must be included in the subject line of the email

Questions must be emailed to the contact by 2:00 p.m. Central Time on 11/25/2025.

Other personnel are not authorized to answer questions regarding this RFP.

STEP 2 – WRITE YOUR RESPONSE

The Proposal Content section is in this link to Section 4. Prepare a written response and supply

all requested content. Proposals must address the requested information and documents

detailed in Section 4 or be disqualified as non-responsive.

All Proposals submitted in response to this RFP will be public information under the Minnesota

Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 once the evaluation process is complete.

Make sure to review and sign your Proposal and include all necessary Part B Attachments.

STEP 3 –SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE

Proposals must be electronically submitted to:

Michael Friberg, Contract Administrator

Michael.friberg@state.mn.us

Include the MnDOT Contract No. 1060859 and Comprehensive Guide to Pre-Wetting

Application Rates and Methods in the subject line of the email. You must copy:

ProfessionalTechnicalContractForms.dot@state.mn.us on the email.

Proposals must be received not later than 2:00 PM, Central Time, on 12/16/2025. Late

responses will not be considered.

You will receive a confirmation email from MnDOT after submission. If you do not, please

email the Contract Administrator above to ensure your response was received.

By signing and submitting a Proposal, you are making a binding legal offer for the period of

time listed here. This Condition of Offer is discussed in more detail in the Terms & General

(CSS/CM Last Updated: 09/10/2025)

3

Requirements section, in this link to Section 6 (13).

SECTION 2 –SUMMARY OF PROJECT SCOPE

1. Project Overview and Goals

This project has been developed by Clear Roads. Clear Roads is an ongoing pooled fund research project aimed at

rigorous testing of winter maintenance materials, equipment and methods for use by highway maintenance crews. Clear

Roads will fund and oversee the contract for this project in coordination with MnDOT. For more information, visit

www.clearroads.org.

MnDOT requests responses for a Clear Roads project that will develop guidance for determining the optimum pre-

wetting application rate of solid materials using different delivery methods and equipment. Pre-wetting refers to the

process of coating or treating dry material such as salt, abrasives, or other materials with a liquid, which are spread on

roadways from a winter maintenance vehicle to keep roads clear of ice and snow. The purposes of pre-wetting are to:

1. Reduce bounce and scatter of solid salt

2. Activate solid salt as a melting agent

3. Reduce the corrosive effects of salt on metal

Completed research has provided an overview of the most effective pre-wetting methods, materials and practices. Clear

Roads Project 18-04 (https://clearroads.org/project/18-04/) evaluated the available information and the state of

practice of pre-wetting equipment, techniques and methods, and compiled preliminary recommendations for best

practices to help agencies maximize their pre-wetting results. Project 18-04 noted the following:

While pre-wetting practices are used by many agencies, the most effective and efficient materials, equipment, and

procedures have not been extensively studied. Recent advances in chemical products and equipment and an increase in

public expectations further the need for a comprehensive look at pre-wetting.

The effectiveness of pre-wetting can vary based on weather and road conditions, and few agencies have conducted

testing or rigorous field trials to compare the effectiveness of different materials, methods, equipment and application

rates. Even within a single agency, pre-wetting procedures can vary across districts or regions. Citing safety, costs and

environmental concerns, Clear Roads agencies wanted an overview of the most effective pre-wetting methods,

materials and practices.

The current project will conduct a quantitative analysis to determine the ideal application rates of liquids and solids

(gallons/ton) using inhibited salt brine and untreated dry salt with different delivery systems and spreader

configurations to achieve each of the three purposes of pre-wetting defined above. In addition, investigators will

determine the salt reduction at different application rates, while achieving each of the three purposes identified above.

Better designed pre-wet systems will more efficiently and effectively deliver solid deicer products and potentially

minimize environmental impacts, reduce waste and costs, and provide better road conditions.

This project will produce a comprehensive guide to pre-wetting solids that will evaluate and quantify delivery methods

for using salt brine to pre-wet untreated dry salt in different delivery systems and spreader configurations.

(CSS/CM Last Updated: 09/10/2025)

4

The goal of this project is to determine the optimum application rate of inhibited salt brine and untreated dry salt

(gallons/ton) in different delivery systems and spreader configurations to reduce bounce and scatter, activate the

melting attributes of salt and inhibit metal corrosion.

Based on approval from Clear Roads, investigators will use an inhibited salt brine product from Category A1 or A3 of the

Clear Roads Qualified Products List (QPL) to pre-wet untreated dry salt.

Spreader delivery systems are available in various designs (e.g., augur system spreader, chain delivery system, mix/no

mix system). Pre-wet configurations include nozzle selection, optimum pressure, screen size, hose diameter and flow

meter design. Investigators will present several delivery options that represent a majority of the Clear Roads member

states and evaluate the benefits and impacts of each for reducing bounce and scatter, activating salt and inhibiting

corrosion.

2. Scope of Work and Deliverables

Investigators will develop a comprehensive guide to pre-wetting that will enable departments of transportation; public

works agencies; and superintendents, supervisors and other practitioners involved in snow and ice control to

incorporate pre-wetting into their snow and ice control equipment. Specifically, the guide will provide optimal

application rates for meeting pre-wetting goals and will quantify the benefits of different rates, speeds and other

delivery factors. The guide will also present the findings of using two to four salt spreader configurations and delivery

systems (e.g., auger, Monroe hopper, zero-velocity spreader). The evaluation will include a discussion of the advantages

and disadvantages of each in meeting pre-wetting goals. Clear Roads member states may be able to make resources

available to assist with field testing.

Tasks

Responders should detail their approach to this project and outline the steps they would take to achieve the project’s

goals and anticipated deliverables.

Anticipated Deliverables

The following is a list of deliverables expected to be provided by the successful responder:

1. Kick-off teleconference at the start of the project to review project tasks and goals, and discuss the plans for all

of the tasks.

2. Check-in teleconferences with Clear Roads to review deliverables as appropriate.

3. Review / revise task deliverables that were submitted by the previous investigator. This may include additional

research. Review and revise as appropriate the literature review, survey, initial synthesis, and draft experimental design

submitted by the previous research team. These documents will be provided once the contract for this project has been

executed.

4. Develop laboratory and field test procedures to achieve each of the project goals (reduced bounce and scatter

of solids, activation of solid salt as a melting agent and reduction in corrosion).

5. Specifications for moisture content. Before testing, investigators will determine the moisture content of the

untreated dry salt and the moisture content of the material dispersed by the truck.

6. Test results to include target application rates and evaluation of delivery methods.

7. Development of a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will include the purpose of pre-wetting solid

materials, gains achieved from pre-wetting, and preferred methods, best practices, and application rates. The guide will

also include graphics and illustrations to succinctly explain how the research was conducted and interpret the research

results.

8. Final report documenting the research methodology and findings. The report will include an executive summary,

conclusions and recommendations.

9. Virtual webinar summarizing project findings.

10. Quarterly reports that document progress should be submitted to the Clear Roads TAC at the end of each

quarter of the year (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) for the duration of the contract.

(CSS/CM Last Updated: 09/10/2025)

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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