DNR RFB Deer River and Hibbing Area Road Grading

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is soliciting competitive bids through Request for Bid 2026-597 for as-needed road grading services on State Forest Roads and public water access roads in the Hibbing and Deer River areas spanning Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. The procurement encompasses approximately 59.2 miles of State Forest Roads in the Hibbing area, approximately 75.9 miles of State Forest Roads in the Deer River area, and approximately 0.65 mile of Deer Lake Public Water Access Road. All unit prices must include labor, materials, tools, transportation, equipment, sales tax, use tax, and all other costs necessary for project completion. Contractors must comply with all specifications and terms outlined in the attached documents, including equipment and operator requirements. The bid submission deadline is March 3, 2026, with responses required through the Swift Portal only; email and faxed submissions will not be accepted. Site visits are available upon request by contacting the respective project supervisors: Andy Carlson at 218-274-7043 for the Hibbing Area, Garrett Mann at 218-542-2951 for the Deer River Area, and Andrew Brown at 218-328-8985 for the Deer Lake Public Water Access Road. The award will be made to the lowest responsible vendor meeting all specifications and terms and conditions, with the State retaining the right to award items separately, by grouping, or by total as deemed most advantageous.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors. However, all responsive bids will be evaluated based on compliance with the detailed specifications and equipment and operator requirements outlined in the attached technical documents. Contractors requiring assistance with Swift Portal registration or bid submission can contact the Contractor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, Option 1. The contract is designated as as-needed work, which may result in variable award values depending on the scope of work selected and contractor qualifications. Direct Pay Permit 1114 does not apply to this project. Interested bidders should thoroughly review all three attached government files—the Specifications and Terms document, the Equipment and Operator Requirements document, and the DNR RFB overview—prior to submission to ensure full compliance and avoid bid rejection.