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)

Public Art Design and Commission
Northland Community and Technical College, East Grand Forks campus
Effective Teaching and Learning Labs Renovation
 
A NON-mandatory informational meeting and site tour will be held on the NCTC/EGF campus Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 1:00pm local time.
Meet at the front reception desk.
 
Qualifications with required attachments are due not later than 1:00pm, Friday, March 14, 2025 to the two persons identified in the RFQ.

Attachment #1

 

 

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) 

 

Building Envelope Commissioning Services (BECxA) RFP
Winona State University Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Engagement & Learning (CICEL)
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceQuestCDN #9519480
 
A NON-MANDATORY, virtual, informational meeting will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, February 11th at 1:00 p.m. 
The link is provided within the RFP on QuestCDN.
Proposals are due at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 on QuestCDN.

MEP Commissioning Services (CxA) RFP

Winona State University Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Engagement & Learning (CICEL)
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceQuestCDN #9519472
 
A NON-MANDATORY, virtual, informational meeting will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, February 11th at 11:00 a.m. 
The link is provided within the RFP on QuestCDN.
Proposals are due at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 on QuestCDN.

Architectural and Engineering Services RFP.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College (MState) Detroit Lakes (/DL) Consolidation
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceQuestCDN #9535643
 
NO informational meeting will be held. 
Questions are due to the campus Vice President not later than Monday, February 24, 2025 at 1:00pm per the RFP.
They will be responded in an addendum not later than Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 1:00pm on QuestCDN.  
Proposals are due at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 6, 2025 1:00pm on QuestCDN.

 

Electrical Services at Normandale Community College

Submission Deadline: February 24, 2025, by 12:00 pm CST

Mechanical Services at Normandale Community College

Submission Deadline: March 3, 2025, by 11:00 am CST

Renewable Energy Strategic Plan Consultant at Normandale Community College

Submission Deadline: February 5, 2025, by 12:00 pm CST

RFP for Master Contract for Business Process Management Suite

Submission Deadline: March 3, 2025, by 2:00 CST


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.

Sourcing Platform

Minnesota State has developed a 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. 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.