Qualification-based selection requirement established for certain projects at Department of Transportation, reports required, and money appropriated.
HF2759 creates a pilot program at the Minnesota Department of Transportation requiring the commissioner to use qualification-based selection (QBS) to choose engineering and design professionals for at least five road construction projects per year that exceed an $800,000 annual consultant-fee threshold. The pilot runs from October 1, 2025, through March 1, 2028, and may apply to different phases of a project, including predesign, design, construction, and reconstruction. The bill also directs the department to avoid selecting the same project or phase in a later year of the pilot.
The bill requires MnDOT to report to legislative transportation committees twice: a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by October 1, 2028. Those reports must evaluate how QBS affects procurement timelines, project quality, change orders, sustainability, and overall costs, and must include recommendations on whether the state should expand QBS use or require it for more projects. The pilot expires January 15, 2029, or earlier if the final report is submitted first. The bill also includes a one-time general fund appropriation to MnDOT for implementing the pilot and preparing the required reports.
HF2759 would temporarily change MnDOT procurement practices by requiring qualification-based selection on a limited number of high-cost engineering-service projects, rather than relying solely on best-value methods. It would not permanently rewrite statewide procurement law, but it would create a structured test of QBS for road construction projects and generate legislative findings that could support future statutory changes. The bill also appropriates state money to cover implementation and reporting costs, affecting the general fund and MnDOT administrative responsibilities.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears policy-oriented and exploratory rather than sweeping, using a time-limited pilot and reporting requirements to assess whether QBS improves project outcomes. The absence of recorded controversy in the provided context suggests the bill was still in early consideration when the materials were compiled.
The main likely points of contention are whether qualification-based selection is preferable to best-value procurement for engineering services, how much discretion MnDOT should have in choosing the five projects each year, and whether the $800,000 threshold is set appropriately. Potential supporters would likely emphasize project quality, sustainability, and reduced change orders, while potential critics may focus on procurement efficiency, timeline impacts, cost, and whether QBS limits competition or transparency. Another possible issue is whether the pilot should remain limited or be expanded more broadly if the reports show favorable results.