Staff talking with business partner at a meeting

Vendor and Supplier Opportunities

Vendors and Suppliers at Minnesota State

Minnesota State is the third-largest system of higher education in the United States, serving 300,000 students and employing 14,400 faculty and staff each year. We continually seek vendors 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's 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

Suppliers interested in working with Minnesota State must first register with the State of Minnesota.
After registering with the state, create an account in the Minnesota State supplier portal.
If eligible, certify your business in the Targeted Group/Economically Disadvantaged/Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program with the State of Minnesota.
Also, see our supplier resources brochure.

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:

RFPs

Campus Pouring and Vendor Rights for St. Cloud State University

Submission Deadline: October 6, 2023, by 2:00 pm CST

Point of Sale for meal plans for MSU Moorhead

Submission Deadline: November 1, 2023, by 2:00 pm CST

Bookstore Services for St. Cloud State University

Submission Deadline: October 10, 2023, by 3:00 pm CST

Athletics Multimedia Rights for MSU, Mankato

Submission Deadline: October 2, 2023, by 2:00 pm CST

Snow Removal for Century College

Submission Deadline: October 9, 2023, by 2:00 p.m. CST

Faculty-led Panama and Costa Rica: Business Program

Submission Deadline: October 6, 2023, by 3:00 p.m. CST

Faculty-led Italy and Greece: Cross-Cultural Psychology and Community Planning

Submission Deadline: October 6, 2023, by 3:00 p.m. CST

Plumbing Services for Saint Paul College

Submission Deadline: October 18, 2023, by 2:00 p.m. CST

Planning & Assessment Software for Saint Paul College

Submission Deadline: October 19, 2023, by 12:00 a.m. CST

Mechanical Services for Saint Paul College

Submission Deadline: October 19, 2023, by 4:00 p.m. CST

RFB

Grain Dryer for Central Lakes College

Submission Deadline: October 12, 2023, by 1:00 p.m. CST

Interested vendors should submit their sealed responses, along with signed forms and accompanying materials by the listed deadlines to the appropriate contacts. Email quotes will not be accepted.

Announcements may be also posted on the Minnesota State Register and/or the State of Minnesota Solicitation Announcements websites.

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 $50,000 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 Qualifications (RFQs)

Minnesota State Professional / Technical Roster RFQ

Documents can be downloaded at no cost at Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface QuestCDN # 8743732

The State of Minnesota, acting through its Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (“Minnesota State”), requests information of Minnesota registered consultants, as appropriate, to assist Minnesota State in providing facilities-related Professional and/or Technical services as needed for up to a five-year period. The Professional / Technical (P/T) Roster supersedes the former Master Contract. Consultants with former master contracts are encouraged to respond to this RFQ if they wish to be placed on this P/T Roster. Campus projects will vary in scope and may involve professional or technical Specialty Services such as Architectural Design, Predesign, Building Envelope, Commissioning, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Inspectors and Laboratories, Land Surveyor, Landscape Architectural Design, Owner’s Representative, Real Estate, or Technology, among others. The Request for Qualifications documents (RFQ and attachments) are available on the Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface through QuestCDN. This RFQ is to allow a consultant to be included in the Facilities P/T Roster database. Responses must be received on QuestCDN NO later than Monday, October 23, 2023 at Noon CT; late responses will not be considered. Minnesota State reserves the right to cancel this solicitation if it is considered to be in Minnesota State’s best interest. The RFQ is not a guarantee of work and does not obligate Minnesota State to award any contracts. Minnesota State reserves the right to discontinue the use of or to cancel all or any part of the P/T Roster solicitation if it is determined to be in its best interest. All expenses incurred in responding to this notice are solely the responsibility of the responder.

Minnesota State will hold a voluntary virtual information meeting Tuesday, October 10 at 11:00 am via Zoom. The link is within the RFQ.

NEW this year is the addition of Building Envelope Commissioning.

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.

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 ($50,000)
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 ($50,000)
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 (RFPs)

Request for Proposal for Owner’s Representative Services
Management Education Center Metro Baccalaureate Initiative
Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceProposals are due 2:00 PM CT Wednesday, October 5, 2023.

A Mandatory informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 2:00 PM, meet at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Technology Building, Floor 1, room T1400.

Park in ramp located on Hennepin Ave or at city street meter parking.

Northland Community and Technical College / East Grand Forks
NCTC/EGF-23-Effective Teaching and Learning Labs
Request for Proposals

Proposal documents can be downloaded at no cost at Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface #8709148
Proposals are due 12:00 Noon CT Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

A MANDATORY informational meeting and site visit will be held Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 1:00pm, at 2022 Central Avenue NE, East Grand Forks, MN 56721 Conference Room #290.
Park in the South parking lot.

RFP for Engineering Design Services
Cooling Tower Replacement
North Hennepin Community College

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface. Quest #8723324
Proposals are due 4:00 PM CT Thursday, October 5, 2023.

There is NO Mandatory informational meeting. Please review RFP for instructions for an optional site visit.

State Designer Selection Board, project #23-13:

Request for Proposal for Architectural/Engineering Design Services
Student Services and Transportation Center
Alexandria Technical Community College

Project documents can be found at the State Designer Selection Board web-site:
https://mn.gov/admin/government/construction-projects/sdsb/projects/
Proposals are due 12:00 PM CT Monday, October 9, 2023.

A mandatory informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:00 CT at the Alexandria Technical & Community College campus at 1601 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308. Park in the Visitor’s front parking lot. Gather in the main Lobby and we will move to a room from there. The meeting will include a tour of the proposed project areas and a review of the scope of work.

Anoka Technical College (ATC)
Integrated Inventory & Facility Condition Assessment
Request for Proposals
Addendum #1
Addendum #2

Proposal documents can be downloaded at no cost at Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface #8709164
Proposals are due 1:00pm CT Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

A MANDATORY informational meeting and site visit will be held Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 1:00pm, in room 251 on the main campus located at Anoka Technical College, 1355 West Highway 10, Anoka MN 55303.

Request for Proposal for Architectural and Engineering Services
HVAC Modernization & Boiler Replacement
Minnesota West Community and Technical College – Jackson Campus

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceProposals are due 2:00 PM CT Wednesday, October 20, 2023.

A Mandatory informational meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2023, at 10:00 AM, in Room 107, at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, 401 West Street, Jackson, MN.

Request for Proposal for Owner’s Representative Services
Manufacturing Relocation
Lake Superior College

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceProposals are due 2:00 PM CT Wednesday, October 13, 2023.

A Mandatory informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 9:30 AM, in Room S255, at Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road, Duluth, MN.

RFP for Architecture/Engineering Design Services
CDL Training Course
Ridgewater College, Willmar campus

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private Interface. Quest #8743710
Proposals are due 2:00 PM CT Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

There is NO Mandatory informational meeting. Please review RFP for instructions for an optional site visit.

Request for Proposal for Architectural and Engineering Services
Davies Hall HVAC Replacement
Minnesota North College – Itasca Campus

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceProposals are due 11:00 AM CT Friday, October 20, 2023.
A MANDATORY, In-Person Informational Meeting will be held on October 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM, in Room 202, Backes Hall at Minnesota North College – Itasca Campus, 1851 East Hwy 169, Grand Rapids, MN.

Request for Proposal for Roof Design Services
Classroom Building Roof Replacement
Minnesota North College – Vermilion Campus

Project documents can be downloaded at no cost at:
Minnesota State QuestCDN Private InterfaceProposals are due 11:00 AM CT Friday, October 20, 2023.
A MANDATORY, In-Person Informational Meeting will be held on October 10, 2023, at 1:00 PM, in Room 102, College Center at Minnesota North College – Vermilion Campus, 1900 East Camp Street, Ely, MN.

None at this time. Please check back soon.

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.