Vendors and Suppliers at Minnesota State

Minnesota State is the fourth largest system of higher education in the United States, serving 270,000 students and employing 14,200 faculty and staff each year. We continually seek suppliers to fulfill purchasing and contracting needs for our 33 colleges and universities on 54 campuses across the state, as well as the system office, including Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Bids (RFBs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs).

Our values extend beyond just finding a particular good or service for the best price. Rather, it is our intention to foster relationships with vendors who embrace price, quality, compliance, service, and speed and we encourage local, women, minority, veteran, and economically disadvantaged businesses to inquire. We appreciate your interest in doing business with Minnesota State!

New Suppliers

Current Suppliers

  • Review the current opportunities below. Interested suppliers should submit their sealed responses, along with signed forms and accompanying materials by the listed deadlines to the appropriate individuals. 
  • Minnesota State is committed to enhancing and optimizing business and contracting opportunities for historically under-utilized businesses. See requirements for Supplier Diversity.

Forms

Minnesota State must bid any good or service that is $50,000 or more. Competitive bidding allows Minnesota State to properly survey the marketplace and ensures compliance with federal, state, and Minnesota State regulations. Once you have received a request for bid or proposal, carefully review the requirements. Late bids will not be considered.

Vendors are not permitted to solicit business on Minnesota State premises unless requested. Cold calls or dropping in are not permitted. We will contact vendors based on the need for current projects. Registering and/or submitting a proposal does not guarantee selection.

Check out RFP, RFB, RFI, RFQ opportunities below:

CONSTRUCTION

There are several methods used to select contractors for Minnesota State projects based on construction amount, complexity, project specific requirements, and delivery method.

Design/Bid/Build - Informal Request  - (under $100,000)

Often used for construction services less than $100,000 that may or may not require the signature of the design professional for a building permit. Quotes are obtained by a signed written proposal or by phone (with signed written confirmation) taking into consideration of TG/ED/VO preferences and selection is based on lowest cost.

Request for Bids (RFBs)

All Construction Bid Opportunities over $100,000 can be viewed at: Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface.  Selection is based on lowest responsible bidder's cost taking into consideration TG/ED/VO (Targeted Group/Economically Disadvantaged/Veteran Owned) preference.

This includes RFP/RFQs for Online selection of Designers and Construction Managers for Construction Projects.

Construction documents may be viewed without charge. Bid documents can be downloaded for a non-refundable download delivery fee of $15.00 per project. Bidders pay $30.00 for On-line Submittals.

RFP/RFQs can be downloaded at no cost. The fee for RFP/RFQ submittals is $15 per project.

Construction Manager@risk (CM@r)

Typical delivery method used on large or complex projects, where Construction Manager provides both pre-construction and construction services. Selection is by two-step process required by Minnesota Statutes 16C.34:

  • Public RFQ results in selection of 3-5 shortlist firms
  • RFP is issued to shortlist firms

Selection of Construction Manager is based on combination of qualifications and fee that includes consideration of TG/ED/VO preferences. 

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

 

Central Lakes College (CLC) Brainerd Student Services Renovation Request for Qualifications for Public Artist

Responses to Request for Qualifications are to be received by email as noted on the RFQ by 5:00pm (CST) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Respondents whose proposals best fulfil the purposes of the RFQ will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP).
 
An informational meeting will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 11:00 (CST) in Room C209 at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, MN. Please register your attendance in advance by sending an email to Jeanne Qualley at JQualley@AFOconsultants.com

Because the building is an active campus, we will tour the area together. Answers to questions from the meeting will be posted as Addenda #1 to http://www.minnstate.edu/vendors/index.html

Attachment #1

Art Addendum 1

 

Request for Qualifications for Construction Manager at risk
Winona State University (WSU) Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration Engagement & Learning (CICEL)
 
Full RFQ with attachments and current preliminary design can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface         QuestCDN #9328387
 
Qualifications responses are due no later than 12:00 noon Central Time, Thursday, October 24, 2024, submitted online only via QuestCDN.
 
A mandatory RFQ informational meeting is scheduled for October 2, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 PM at Winona State University. 

Meet in the Oak Room #223/224 of the Krysko Commons.  Parking passes will be provided to park in campus lots.

All firms interested in this meeting should contact James Goblirsch to confirm attendance. 
All potential or interested Responders must attend the meeting. Respondents who do not attend this meeting will not be considered.
 
Questions regarding this RFQ must be received by Tuesday, October 8, 2024 not later than 12:00 noon Central Time. Addenda will be posted on QuestCDN for planholders.
 
Shortlisting respondents from the RFQ to proceed to the RFP and interview process is planned for November 7, 2024.

Shortlisted Responders must attend an information and site tour scheduled for November 12, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 PM at Winona State University.

Meet in the Oak Room #223/224 of the Krysko Commons. Parking passes will be provided to park in campus lots.
Additional information will be provided in the RFP. 

There will be no additional private tours, meetings, or communications out of the provisions of the RFQ or RFP.
 
Interviews would be scheduled December 19, 2024, time and location to be provided to shortlisted respondents.

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL

Professional/Technical consultants are selected for projects based on fee amount, complexity, project specific requirements and delivery method. 

Facilities Professional Technical Roster www.minnstate.edu/system/finance/facilities/design-construction/pm_emanual/index.html

Scroll down to “Part 4: Consultant and Construction Selection and Contracts”.  P/T Roster is a convenient list for a campus to solicit for services for  projects

  • Public RFQ is issued semi-annually, with postings in the State Register and on Minnesota State - Vendor & Supplier Opportunities website
  • Interested firms may submit qualifications to be considered to be included on the pre-vetted Facilities Professional Technical Roster list for 34 professional services categories
  • Firms meeting minimum criteria for each professional service category will be listed on the Roster for campus solicitation
  • Campuses or the system office will issue a RFP to selected firms from the P/T Roster list taking into consideration of project criteria and TG/ED/VO preference
  • Selection is based on combination of qualifications and fee

Informal Requests  - Fee’s less than ($100,000)
Invited RFP issued to a minimum of two consultants.  Selection based on a combination of qualifications and criteria that includes consideration of TG/ED/VO preferences.

Other Public Solicitations—Fee’s over ($100,000)
Solicitation is posted below.  Solicitation may also be in State Register and/or college/university websites.  Quest CDN may be used to facilitate proposal process.  Selection based on a combination of qualifications and fee that includes consideration of TG/ED/VO preferences.

State Designer Selection Board Public Solicitation
https://mn.gov/admin/government/construction-projects/sdsb/about/ .   Required to be used for selection of an Architect/Engineer on General Obligation funded capital projects with construction over $4 million or planning fees over $400,000.  Public solicitation is posted in the State Register, which provides link to RFP materials.

Request for Proposals (RFP) 

 

None at this time, please check back 


Procurement Methods

Several methods are used to select professional technical consultants based on project size, complexity, and specific requirements.
  • Direct Professional Contracts are generated from selected consultants if costs are less than $50,000.
  • Professional Technical Master Minnesota State IT Contract(s), currently only forensic services, may be used to provide services for a school using a work order template.
  • Facility Professional Technical Contracts
State of Minnesota Buy.IT Programs

  • MNSITE Master Contract Program: The State of Minnesota Department of Administration and the Office of MN.IT Services operate a program for state agencies and other local units of government to contract for professional IT-related consulting and staff augmentation services in a streamlined process.

Announcing NEW Sourcing Platform

Minnesota State has developed a new sourcing platform to simplify and modernize the way we work with suppliers. This platform offers full digital transformation, transparency, supplier engagement and an easily accessible online approach. While this site is still a work-in-progress, we are eager to announce share this new site and welcome vendors to check it out. Watch this 20-minute vendor training video to learn how to register and bid on opportunities.  If you have any troubles or feedback for the team, please let the procurement team know.