Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project Design Build: Design Oversight

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Feb 20, 2026
Due:	Mar 3, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Minnesota
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction Y - Construction of Structures and Facilities Z - Maintenance, Repair or Alteration of Real Property
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Brief Description: MnDOT requests proposals for design-build design oversight for State Project (SP) 6981-26 Blatnik Bridge Replacement Design-Build project. The project is primarily located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The project limits extend 0.3 miles from the existing bridge structure on the Minnesota approach to 0.75 miles from the existing bridge structure on the Wisconsin approach, along US 53. The goal of this design oversight contract is for MnDOT to receive assistance in performing the tasks necessary to review the Design-Build Construction Contractor’s (DB Contractor) designs and that they are meeting all requirements of the Design-Build Conformed Contract for the Project.

Date posted: 02/02/2026
Due date: 03/03/2026

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MnDOT Contract No. 1061262

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

1 Introduction and Background Information

1.1 General Statement of Scope of Work

Work with State as the Design Oversight Verification Consultant (DOVC) which will be called the

Contractor throughout this scope of work. The State Staff and Contractor are collectively known as the

Design Oversight Verification Team (DOVT) for the State Project (SP) 6981-26 on I535 for Blatnik Bridge

Replacement Design-Build Project (Project). Contractor will provide design oversight for the Project.

The goal of the DOVC contract is that State receives assistance in performing the tasks necessary to

verify that the Design-Build Construction Contractor (DB Contractor) is meeting all design requirements

of the Design-Build Conformed Contract for the Project. Contractor will attend conferences or meetings

necessary for close coordination during day-to-day progress of the work or as required to carry out the

Project. Contractor will notify State’s Project Manager immediately of any unanticipated design related

project conditions. Contractor will provide design reviews of the DB Contractor’s Release For

Construction (RFC) plans and specifications. Contractor will have a thorough understanding of State’s

(both Wisconsin Department of Transportation [WisDOT] and Minnesota Department of Transportation

[MnDOT]) standards, specifications, requirements and applicable state statues. Contractor will consult

with State’s Project Manager when an interpretation involves complex issues or may have an impact on

the cost of performing the work. When warranted, State’s Project Manager may request an

interpretation from the Contractor.

1.2 DB Project Letting

The DB Project letting is June 23, 2026.

1.3 Project Scope

The project is primarily located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin

between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The project limits extend 0.3

miles from the existing bridge structure on the Minnesota approach to 0.75 miles from the existing

bridge structure on the Wisconsin approach, along US 53.

The project includes replacement of the existing John. A. Blatnik I-535 Bridge (Minnesota Bridge

number 9030, Wisconsin Structure B-16-5) on Interstate 535 (I-535) connecting Duluth, Minnesota and

Superior Wisconsin across the St. Louis River and Bay. The project also includes reconstructing an

interchange in Superior, WI that routes I-535 directly to US 53, with local connections to Hammond

Avenue and WIS 35. The project includes design and construction of a new mainline bridge (Minnesota

Bridge number 69913, Wisconsin Structure B-16-0153) and new exit ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-

0154) and entrance ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-0155). The new mainline bridge includes new

Minnesota approach spans, a new main span over the Main Navigation Channel, new spans along

Connor’s Point, new spans over the Howard’s Pocket Navigation Channel, and new Wisconsin approach

spans that connect to US Highway 53 in Wisconsin.

The project includes a new shared use path on the easterly side of the new mainline bridge and

Wisconsin entrance ramp bridge with trail connections in Duluth and Superior, drainage improvements,

retaining walls, and improvements within the City of Superior. The existing bridge will be closed for the

majority of construction and traffic will be detoured to the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge.

Approximate Project cost: The estimated cost of the Project is between $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion.

To find additional project information related to the Project, refer to the project website located here:

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/designbuild/blatnik-bridge/index.html

MnDOT Contract No. 1061262

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

Project information such as design files, layouts and more can be found on the project SharePoint

site, which is found on the project website. Download and review all files on the project SharePoint site.

Contact peter.a.davich@state.mn.us for Design Build Request for Proposals SharePoint site access.

MnDOT anticipates the work to extend past 5-years, which may result in a subsequent contract

being set up. The Design Phase of the project is expected to be June 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028.

1.4 Co-Location

Co-location is required for this project. The following positions are required to be onsite two days a

week (specific days of the week to be determined) during the Design Phase of the project:

A. Design Manager

B. Geotechnical and Foundations Engineer

C. Bridge Design Oversight Engineer

D. Roadway Design Engineer

Other personnel can perform their role from their home office. However, personnel are required to

report to the project meeting office or project site as needed for specific meetings, over the shoulder

reviews, and other duties in a timely and efficient manner to fulfill the obligations of their roles on the

DOVC if requested by the State’s Project Manager. It is incumbent upon DOVT members to utilize

current web-conferencing to be an effective resource to the DOVT and the DB Contractor during

meetings, over the shoulder reviews and questions that arise from the DB Contractor for the DOVT. If

web-conferencing is not working efficiently to communicate between the two teams, the role member

will be expected to be present at the project meeting office as needed so the DB Contractor is not

unduly delayed. It is important that any phone or web conference technical difficulties be minimized or

eliminated so that travel times can be effectively minimized for each role. Keep in mind, personnel on

the DOVT are obligated to meet the requirements of Section 2.2 Flexible Workforce of this scope.

2 Project Management

Contractor will perform all work necessary to manage this DOVC Contract and its personnel.

Contractor will perform all design oversight work necessary to assist with managing the DB Conformed

Contract.

2.1 DOVC Project Manager

This person is responsible for managing the consultant contract and its personnel.

2.1.1 Staffing Requirements

Supply one person, in total, to perform the duties of the DOVC Project Manager. The person serving

as the DOVC Project Manager may also serve other positions in the Contract

2.2 Flexible Workforce

DOVC personnel approved by the State’s Project Manager are considered by the State to be

committed to performing services for the durations listed in this scope of work. Any changes will

require written approval from the State’s Project Manager and include both adding additional staff and

reducing staff.

No personnel will be assigned until written notification by the State’s Project Manager has been

issued.

If the DB Contract is suspended for any reason, the Contractor’s forces will be adjusted to

correspond with the type of cessation, either complete or partial suspension. Contractor will

continuously look ahead to fully understand what type of staff are needed and in what numbers. The

Contractor’s schedule will be dictated by the DB Contractor’s schedule. Contractor will provide a flexible

work force so that only those staff that can be fully utilized during any given project activity are present

MnDOT Contract No. 1061262

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

and billing hours to the contract.

Contractor will continuously monitor all activity to verify that all work carried out is within the

agreed scope and completed with resources that can complete the work as budgeted. In the event it

becomes necessary to complete work outside the original scope of work, the Contractor’s Project

Manager will notify State’s Project Manager immediately before proceeding. No work outside the

original scope will be done without written authorization from State’s Project Manager.

Throughout the course of the Project, it may become evident that two or more Contractor roles

would be more efficiently staffed by a single qualified person. If this situation arises, the Contractor can

make a request to the State’s Project Manager to modify the staff by combining roles. The State’s

Project Manager will evaluate the experience and workload of the remaining staff member and will

make a determination of whether the roles should be combined. If multiple roles are allowed to be

staffed by a single person, the State Project Manager may reverse that decision at a later date, if

circumstances call for more attention to those roles than the single person can effectively handle.

Conversely, it is expected that the Contractor will have staff available to fulfill the obligations of

each role described within this contract.

2.2.1 Flexible Workforce - Project Support Staff

The Contractor will need to leverage additional project support staff, whether within their company

or through subconsultants, to assist the various roles on the DOVT. The additional staff are expected to

be available to help with the task of reviewing plans and calculations, use OpenRoads designer (ORD) to

draft alternative designs/create quantities to counter claims by the DB Contractor, and use other

software listed in this scope to evaluate products the DB Contractor creates using that software.

2.3 Items Provided by the State

For roles requiring co-location as specified in Section 1.4 Co-location, the State will provide office space

for this Contract.

2.4 Items Provided by Contractor

Provide durable office supplies and reference material for their own employees as needed. Durable

office supplies are defined as items that can be reused and include, but are not limited to: computer/laptop,

monitors, keyboard, mouse, docking station, software and software licenses needed for Contractor to

complete their work of analysis and review for this Contract, staplers, tape dispensers, scissors, rulers, three

hole punches, staple removers, and mechanical pencils.

2.5 Tasks

2.5.1 DOVC Staffing Approval

Contractor will utilize only personnel who are qualified by experience and education. Contractor

will submit, in writing, to the State’s Project Manager the names of all personnel to be considered for

assignment to the project, together with detailed resumes with respect to education, experience

(including specific durations) and qualification of each individual. Minimum qualifications for the

Contractor personnel are set forth in this Scope of Work. State may require that these minimum

qualifications be altered in instances when the unique nature of the work requires specific specialized

skills.

No personnel will be assigned to this Project by the Contractor until the qualifications of each

person proposed have been reviewed and approved in writing by the State’s Project Manager. The

Contractor’s personnel approval request will be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date an

individual is scheduled to report to work.

An individual previously approved by the State’s Project Manager whose performance is later

determined by the State to be unsatisfactory will be replaced by the Contractor within two weeks. The State

also reserves the right to remove scope and/or Contractor supplied staff from this contract if their

performance is unsatisfactory or if the State determines the services are no longer needed for this contract.

MnDOT Contract No. 1061262

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

(A) Deliverable: DOVC Personnel Approval Request. One request may include multiple people.

(B) Format: Electronic Microsoft Word 2013 document (docx extension). Deliver to State’s

Project Manager electronically either by email or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site.

(D) Standard: Written as a letter/email.

(E) State Review: Five business days.

(F) Contractor Update: Update and resubmit the deliverable to State within five business days

of receiving State review comments.

2.5.2 Weekly Design Oversight Team Meetings

Contractor’s Project Manager will schedule and if requested, facilitate weekly meetings with State’s

Project Manager and the entire DOVT. Meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams.

(A) Deliverable: A weekly verification team meeting. Meeting minutes are not required.

(B) Format: Microsoft Teams Meeting

(D) Standard: Intentionally left blank. Minutes are not required.

2.5.3 Monthly Progress Report Meetings

Contractor’s Project Manager, when requested, will meet with State’s Project Manager to review

the monthly progress reports and invoices. Contractor’s Project Manager will solicit feedback from

State’s Project Manager to assess whether all services meet or exceed the requirements of the project.

If needed, Contractor will direct changes to personnel and/or procedures to correct identified

deficiencies and implement opportunities for improvements.

(A) Deliverable: An informal meeting with the monthly progress reports and invoices supplied.

(B) Format: See requirements in contract and in this Scope of Work.

(D) Standard: Intentionally left blank. Meeting minutes are not required.

(E) State Review: During the meeting.

(F) Contractor Update: Update progress reports and invoices as needed within five business

days of State review.

2.5.3.1 Perform other duties as assigned by the State’s Project Manager.

3 Contract Team

3.1 Design Manager

Contractor will manage the verification of the DB Contractor’s design by making sure the right

specialized engineers are reviewing the relevant plans, making sure designs are well coordinated across

all disciplines, maintaining a consistent and predictable enforcement of the DB Conformed Contract

(including all Books and Sections), and meeting all verification responsibilities of the DB Conformed

Contract. Assist the State’s Project Manager to complete the duties of the State’s Project Manager,

which includes leading the team that is responsible for achieving the project objectives. This person

must be familiar with and understand the Design-Build Conformed Contract.

3.1.1 Staffing Requirements

Contractor will provide one person to perform the duties of Design Manager. This position may also

serve as other positions in the Contract.

3.1.2 Tasks

MnDOT Contract No. 1061262

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties and Scope of Work

3.1.2.1 Design Review

This person will oversee the design submittals and verify standards and requirements of the RFP are

being met in Released for Construction documents submitted by the Design-build Contractor. The

Design Manager duties include the following:

A. Become familiar with and understand the Design-Build Conformed Contract

B. Train design staff, including State staff and separate consultant contracts, on Design-Build

verification process and procedures for each package submitted for comment.

C. Verify the design and plans appear to meet the requirements of the Design-Build

conformed Contract including current State standards and practices.

D. Review Design-Build Verification Team comments and/or redlines of Design-Build

Contractor submitted plans for consistency and accuracy to verify we are not submitting

preferential comments.

E. Develop quality management processes and procedures for verification team staff.

F. Participate in over the shoulder and other design related meetings with the Design-Build

Contractor

G. Maintain a record of design submittals, approvals, changes, and modifications.

H. Review and monitor the Design Builder’s schedule for design.

I. Keep all records and documentation in accordance with standard State procedures, formats

and content.

J. Perform other duties as assigned by the State’s Project Manager.

K. Must be a registered engineer in the State of Minnesota or Wisconsin now or within 6

months from contract award

4 Design Team

4.1 Geotechnical and Foundations Engineer

Perform all verification and oversight tasks related to geotechnical and foundations design,

geotechnical related construction, and oversight of geotechnical instrumentation monitoring, which

includes all requirements covered under the DB Conformed Contract. Duties include coordination

with all project participants, maintenance of records, interpretations of plans and specifications, and

recommendations regarding dispute resolution. Must have general familiarity with the entire DB

Conformed Contract, and State manuals, standards and specifications related to foundation and

geotechnical design and construction. Must have relevant experience with all the review work

identified below. Attend all design and construction meetings as needed.

Work includes review of subsurface investigations, geotechnical engineering analyses, geotechnical

recommendations, geotechnical reports, and geotechnical features included in roadway and bridge

plans and special provisions. Geotechnical design review may include capacity and stability for deep

or shallow foundations, settlement analysis, slope stability analysis, locations of unsuitable soils, sub

cut depths and type of backfill, muck excavation limits and treatment, ground improvement

techniques, culvert treatments, pavement designs, and geologic recommendations.

Contractor will verify that the DB Contractor’s plans appear to meet the requirements of the DB

Conformed Contract including current State standards and practices. These reviews will include over-

the-shoulder reviews, release for construction plans, notice of design changes, field design changes,

and as-built plans.

Contractor must thoroughly understand the Submittal Control methods. They will be responsible for

entering comments and reviewing and tracking responses in the Microsoft SharePoint Document

Control System for all design related issues. State will perform the Document Control System training.

Contractor will schedule monthly meetings with MnDOT Geotechnical Section and Bridge Office staff

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

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Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project Design Build: Design Oversight

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