26-99576 REBID RFP Material Testing Services for Lakewalk and Coastal Improvement Project

Purchasing Division, Finance Department
218-730-5340 | purchasing@duluthmn.gov
Room 120 | 411 West First Street | Duluth, Minnesota 55802
www.duluthmn.gov
City of Duluth Request for Proposals
REBID Material Testing Services for
Lakewalk and Coastal Improvement Project
RFP Number REBID 26-99576
Issued: August 19, 2026
Proposals due: September 1, 2026 by 3:00 PM CT
Submit to
City of Duluth
Attn: Purchasing Division
City Hall, Room 120
411 West 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
The City of Duluth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
I-1. Introduction and project Summary. The City of Duluth is soliciting proposals from qualified
engineering and construction materials testing firms to provide materials testing, laboratory testing,
field testing, quality-assurance testing, sampling, inspection support, documentation, and related
technical services for the Lakewalk and Coastal Improvement Project.
The project consists of approximately 2.2 miles of bituminous shared-use trail reconstruction along
Lake Superior and associated improvements, including modular block retaining walls, cast-in-place
concrete structures, concrete walks and pedestrian improvements, shoreline stabilization, stone and
bedrock-anchor work, drainage and related infrastructure, lighting, landscaping, and restoration.
The selected Consultant shall provide the material testing and related services necessary to support
the City's quality assurance and acceptance of applicable construction materials and work. Services
shall include, but are not limited to, testing and sampling associated with earthwork, subgrade, backfill
and compaction; aggregate and granular materials; bituminous pavement; concrete; and coastal
infrastructure and grout.
The Consultant shall perform all testing applicable to the work in accordance with the project plans
and specifications, City of Duluth Construction Standards, applicable ASTM standards, MnDOT
requirements, the applicable 2026 State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT) Schedule of Materials
Control, and the project-specific requirements contained in the RFP appendices.
The Consultant's responsibilities include providing appropriately qualified personnel, laboratory
services, equipment, sampling materials, transportation of samples, testing, test-result
documentation, and timely communication of results to the City and project team. The Consultant
shall coordinate its activities with the City Project Manager, Engineer/design team, and Contractor to
provide testing when required by the construction schedule and applicable testing frequencies.
Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2026, with work continuing through the fall,
resuming in spring 2027, and anticipated completion in late fall 2027.
Additional detail is provided in Part IV of this RFP.
I-2. Calendar of Events. The City will make every effort to adhere to the following schedule:
Activity Date
Deadline to submit Questions via email to
8/26/2026
purchasing@duluthmn.gov
Answers to questions will be posted to the City website no later 8/28/2026
than this date.

Proposals must be received in the Purchasing Office by 3:00 PM 9/1/2026
on this date.
I-3. Questions & Answers. Any questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by e-mail to the
Purchasing Office at purchasing@duluthmn.gov no later than the date indicated on the Calendar of
Events. Answers to the questions will be posted as an Addendum to the RFP.
I-4. Addenda to the RFP. If the City deems it necessary to revise any part of this RFP before the
proposal response date, the City will post an addendum to its website
https://www.duluthmn.gov/purchasing/bids-request-for-proposals/. Although an e-mail notification will
be sent, it is the Bidder's responsibility to periodically check the website for any new information. Any
addenda issued must be acknowledged on the Proposal Sheet attached as Appendix A.
I-5. Rejection of Proposals. The City reserves the right, in its sole and complete discretion, to reject
any and all proposals or cancel the request for proposals, at any time prior to the time a contract is fully
executed, when it is in its best interests. The City is not liable for any costs the Bidder incurs in
preparation and submission of its proposal, in participating in the RFP process or in anticipation of
award of the contract.
I-6. Small Diverse Business Information. The City encourages participation by minority, women, and
veteran-owned businesses as prime contractors, and encourages all prime contractors to make a
significant commitment to use minority, women, veteran-owned and other disadvantaged business
entities as subcontractors and suppliers. A list of certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises is
maintained by the Minnesota Unified Certification Program at http://mnucp.metc.state.mn.us/ .
I-7. Agreement. The awarded proposer will be required to sign the agreement attached as Appendix
B. Questions about the agreement should be submitted to purchasing@duluthmn.gov by the question
deadline in the schedule above.
I-8. Award. The agreement award amount will be based on the time and materials submitted in the
proposal, but will be a lump-sum, not-to-exceed agreement.
I-9. Term of Contract. The term of the contract will begin once the contract is fully executed and is
anticipated to end by May 31st, 2028. The selected Bidder shall not start the performance of any work,
nor shall the City be liable to pay the selected Bidder for any service or work performed or expenses
incurred before the contract is executed.
I-10. Mandatory Disclosures. By submitting a proposal, each Bidder understands, represents, and
acknowledges that:
A. Their proposal has been developed by the Bidder independently and has been submitted
without collusion with and without agreement, understanding, or planned common course
of action with any other vendor or suppliers of materials, supplies, equipment, or services
described in the Request for Proposals, designed to limit independent bidding or
competition, and that the contents of the proposal have not been communicated by the
Bidder or its employees or agents to any person not an employee or agent of the Bidder.

B. There is no conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists if a Bidder has any interest that
would actually conflict, or has the appearance of conflicting, in any manner or degree with
the performance of work on the project. If there are potential conflicts, identify the
municipalities, developers, and other public or private entities with whom your company
is currently, or have been, employed and which may be affected.
C. It is not currently under suspension or debarment by the State of Minnesota, any other
state or the federal government.
D. The company is either organized under Minnesota law or has a Certificate of Authority
from the Minnesota Secretary of State to do business in Minnesota, in accordance with
the requirements in M.S. 303.03.
I-11. Notification of Selection. Bidders whose proposals are not selected will be notified in writing.
PART II - PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
II-1. Proposal Submission. To be considered, hard copies of proposals must arrive at the City on
or before the time and date specified in the RFP Calendar of Events. The City will not accept
proposals via email or facsimile transmission. The City reserves the right to reject or to deduct
evaluation points for late proposals.
Proposals must be signed by an authorized official. If the official signs the Proposal Cover Sheet
attached as Appendix A, this requirement will be met. Proposals must remain valid for 60 days or
until a contract is fully executed. Terms of the awarded proposal as stated must be valid for the
project length of time.
Please submit one (1) unbound paper copy of the Technical Submittal and one unbound (1) paper
copy of the Cost Submittal. The Cost Submittal should be in a separate sealed envelope.
All materials submitted in response to this RFP will become property of the City and will become
public record after the evaluation process is completed and an award decision made.
II-2. Proposal Content.
Proposals should include a cover letter that communicates the firm's understanding of the project,
construction type, and timeline. Proposal should also include the scope of proposed services,
assigned personnel and their qualifications, and any assumptions made in the proposal. Proposals
should be limited to 20 pages (10 double-sided pages), exclusive of any City-required forms or
acknowledgements.
PART III - CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
The proposals will be reviewed by City Staff. The intent of the selection process is to review
proposals and make an award based upon qualifications as described therein. A 100-point scale will
be used to create the final evaluation recommendations. The factors and weighting on which
proposals will be judged are:

Qualifications of the Bidder and Personnel 30%
Prior experience with similar work 20%
Work Plan 10%
Cost 40%
PART IV - PROJECT DETAIL
The selected Consultant will provide materials testing and related quality-assurance services for the
Lakewalk and Coastal Improvement Project. The project includes approximately 2.2 miles of
bituminous shared use trail reconstruction along Lake Superior and associated improvements,
including modular block retaining walls, cast in place structures, concrete pedestrian improvements,
shoreline stabilization, stone and bedrock-anchor work, drainage and related infrastructure, lighting,
landscaping, and restoration.
The selected firm shall provide the field and laboratory materials testing services necessary to
support the City's quality assurance and acceptance of the construction work. The Consultant shall
review and comply with the project plans and specifications, City of Duluth Construction Standards,
applicable ASTM and MnDOT requirements, Appendix B - City of Duluth Schedule for Materials
Testing, Appendix C - Project Coastal Infrastructure Material Testing Requirements; and Appendix D
- State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT) Schedule of Materials Control for additional.
The following are examples of testing and materials-control activities anticipated for the project and
are not intended to represent a complete list of required services. The Consultant shall provide all
testing, sampling, inspection, documentation, and related services required by the project plans and
specifications, applicable MnDOT requirements, the 2026 State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT)
Schedule of Materials Control, and the project-specific requirements identified by AMI in Appendix C:
Earthwork, backfill, subgrade, and aggregate materials, including Proctor, gradation, and field
density/compaction testing as required;
Bituminous pavement, including applicable quality-assurance sampling and laboratory testing;
Concrete, including applicable field and laboratory testing;
Coastal infrastructure and grout, including testing associated with bedrock anchors and
shoreline improvements; and
Other materials testing specifically required by the project plans, specifications, or applicable
materials-control requirements.
The Consultant shall review and comply with all applicable testing and materials-control requirements
identified in the project plans and specifications, the 2026 SALT Schedule of Materials Control,
Appendix C, and other applicable project documents. The Consultant shall perform testing at the
minimum frequencies required by these documents and shall provide any additional testing,
sampling, or documentation required to satisfy those requirements or as directed by the
City/Engineer.

The Consultant shall coordinate testing activities with the City Project Manager, Engineer/design
team, and Contractor; provide qualified personnel and laboratory services; document testing
performed and results obtained; and promptly notify the City/Engineer of test results or observations
indicating potential noncompliance.
The Consultant shall provide test reports and results in accordance with the project requirements.
Coastal infrastructure testing shall comply with the reporting requirements identified in Appendix C.
This project requires that material samples and testing information be logged into the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (MnDOT) AASHTOWare Project (AWP) Materials system, as required
by MnDOT. The Consultant shall obtain and maintain the necessary access and coordinate with
MnDOT to obtain individual user access and complete any required training prior to submitting project
samples. The City will provide any required authorization for the selected consultant to access the
system on behalf of the City. The testing agency shall comply with current MnDOT procedures for
entering, labeling, submitting, and tracking project material samples in AWP.
For purposes of preparing proposals, proposers shall review the complete project plans,
specifications, and referenced testing requirements and shall include all services necessary to fulfill
the scope described above. Construction Plans and Specifications may be viewed on the City of
Duluth website https://duluthmn.gov/purchasing/bids-request-for-proposals/ > Archived Bids &
Projects > 2026 RFPs and Bids (Archived) > 26-99547 Lakewalk Coastal Improvement Project.

APPENDIX A - SUBMISSION COVER SHEET
CITY OF DULUTH
RFP REBID #26-99576 Material Testing Services for Lakewalk & Coastal Improvement Project
Bidder Information:
Submitter Name
Mailing Address
Contact Person
Contact Person's Phone Number
Contact Person's E-Mail Address
Federal ID Number
Authorized Signature
Name & Title of Authorized
Signer
Email of Authorized Signer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ADDENDA
ADDENDUM # INITIAL/DATE
ADDENDUM # INITIAL/DATE
ADDENDUM # INITIAL/DATE
ADDENDUM # INITIAL/DATE

2026
City of Duluth, Minnesota
Construction Standards
APPENDIX B
Schedule for Materials Testing
Public Works & Utilities
Engineering Division
Duluth, MN

SCHEDULE FOR MATERIALS TESTING
CITY OF DULUTH STREET AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
The Engineer will perform materials testing for acceptance and quality assurance at these minimum rates on local projects. Material testing on projects
with State or Federal funding will be performed as required in the current MnDOT Schedule of Materials Control. When deemed appropriate, the
Engineer will perform additional testing to determine acceptance. Additional testing and retesting shall be at the Contractor's expense.
Table 1: Base Construction
Specification Specified Sampling & Testing Sampling Notes Compaction Testing Compaction Notes
Method
City of Duluth Specified One sieve and ASTM Materials to be tested: * Take moisture of native * The maximum loose
thickness of each
2451 Density D698 standard * Course filter material on first day of utility
backfill layer shall be 8
Excavation, proctor for each aggregate work.
inches. Additional tests
Backfill, and backfill borrow
* Granular * Take densities at rate of; where inspector notes
Compaction material at source One per each 200' of mainline
backfill rutting or pumping;
for Utilities and one for each pipe, One per each 4 service
additional moistures after
* Native material
different laterals, and One per each 4
wet weather
classification of from site manholes at every 3 feet in * Most common problem is
depth.
onsite native Note: too much moisture in
material. If material looks like it * Required compaction is 100% native backfill; may
around manholes full depth; require granular borrow
changed, test again
100% in the top 3 feet of backfill to be used.
utility trench below top of * Retest at Contractor's
subgrade; 95% in utility trench cost.
below the top 3 feet.
Schedule for Materials Testing 1

Specification Specified Sampling & Testing Sampling Notes Compaction Testing Compaction Notes
Method
City of Duluth Specified One sieve and ASTM Take additional * Take densities at rate of four * Take additional densities
2106 Select Density D698 standard samples if material or per block prior to Class 5. where rutting is noted.
Granular proctor for each source changes, at
* Compact in 8" layers or less. * The most common
Embankment backfill borrow Contractor's cost.
* Required density is 100%. problem with select
material at source.
granular is not enough
moisture or more than 7%
passing the No. 200 sieve.
* Retest at contractor's
cost.
City of Duluth Specified One sieve and ASTM Take additional * Take densities at rate of two * Excavate and re-compact
2211 Density D698 standard samples if material or per block prior to curb and areas where visible
Aggregate Base proctor at source. source changes, at gutter and/or paving. rutting.
MnDOT 2221
Contractor's cost.
* Test in areas with greatest * Most common problem is
Shoulder Base rutting or deflection and at segregation of aggregates;
Aggregate least 1 foot from an replacement/blending as
unconfined edge. directed by the Engineer.
* Required density is 100%. * Retest at contractor's
cost.
Schedule for Materials Testing 2