Program description

When a project or program need arises, a hennepin county project manager considers prequalified consultants for the work. To become prequalified, firms must sign the county’s master agreement and submit information on qualifications related to their professional discipline. Once a firm is prequalified, it will be included on a list that county project managers can use to solicit proposals. Prequalification is not a guarantee of work. 

Areas of expertise included in the program:

• Architectural and facility engineering
• Asbestos and solid waste
• Community development
• Community engagement
• Energy
• Environmental and cultural resource studies
• Landscape architecture
• Materials testing
• Right of way assistance
• Survey and mapping
• Transportation 

Each area of expertise includes more specific disciplines that the consultants must meet qualification criteria for, to become prequalified.

Participating agencies

• Planning
• Transportation (roads and bridges)
• Community works
• Environment and energy
• Facility services
• Resident and real estate services

Submittal requirements

Each firm must complete and submit a master agreement, a substitute W-9 and qualification documents specific to a professional discipline. Firms that do business in more than one discipline must submit separate qualification documents for each.  

Timelines

The program is open continuously. Firms can submit a master agreement and qualifications on a continuous basis. Firms maintain their prequalification status for three years and there are multiple extension options.   

Evaluation process and length

County staff evaluates prequalification documents. Typically, review should take about 15 business days. 

Master agreement

The master agreement establishes the terms and conditions as well as the technical provisions related to professional disciplines. The dollar amount for a specific project is defined within the work authorization for a specific project and not within the master agreement.

Alternate consultant selection methods

In addition to this prequalification program, Hennepin County will continue to use alternate solicitation methods to acquire professional consulting services. Examples include the designer selection committee and road and bridge construction projects. View current contract opportunities.     

Firms prequalified by the Minnesota Department of Transportation

These firms will be deemed qualified in the same or similar disciplines of the county prequalification program. Submittal of an executed master agreement and prequalification documents is required.

Small business preference

The county gives first consideration to small businesses that are CERT certified. CERT is a small business certification program recognized by the county and several other local governments in the metro region, and certifies small minority-owned and small women-owned businesses. To be CERT certified, firms must apply. Visit the CERT website.

Sub-consultants

There is no requirement for primary consultants to use sub-consultants who have been prequalified. 

Questions and comments

Send questions and comments to county staff, who continuously evaluate and seek ways to improve the program. Email pwbiz@hennepin.us. 

Program updates

Stay current with the latest program details by subscribing to program updates. 

Sign up for updates.

Public works organizational chart (PDF)

The master agreement is valid for three years from execution with extension options for two more years. The master agreement establishes the terms, conditions and applicable technical provisions related to the program. Two signed and notarized originals of the entire master agreement are required to be submitted. Electronic versions will not be accepted.

1. Download the master agreement and the substitute w9 form.
2. Print documents on plain white letter-size paper (8.5 x 11). One- or two-sided is acceptable. 
3. Complete the following information on these three pages:

• Page 4 — insert the date, firm name, and organizational structure under applicable state and principle place of business (Address).
• Page 26 — sign and notarize both agreements. Have your notary enter their county in the appropriate blank on the signature page.
• Page 27 — sign both attestation concerning non-alteration of contract documents.

4. Complete the substitute W-9 form. Certified small business enterprises must include documentation to verify their certification. 
5. Mail completed documents and the completed substitute W-9 and the required small business enterprise certification verification (if applicable) to:

Program manager, Hennepin County
Consultant prequalification program
701 Fourth Ave. S., Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1842 

A fully executed agreement will be returned to you by U.S. mail. It is not necessary to wait to receive the fully executed agreement in order to submit your prequalification documents.

Master agreement and W-9 forms

• Master agreement and exhibits (PDF) 

• Substitute W-9 (PDF)

Identify your discipline, read each related PDF carefully and follow the instructions exactly. For help completing the application, contact the program manager.  

Architecture, facility engineering and specialties

• Architecture (PDF)      (multiple disciplines within)
• Facility engineering (PDF)     (multiple disciplines within)
• Acoustics (PDF)
• AV/telecommunications (PDF)
• Building forensics (PDF)
• Computer aided facilities management (CAFM) (PDF)
• Construction management (PDF) 
• Cost estimating (PDF)
• Elevator/escalator (PDF)
• Facility audits - accessibility audits (PDF)
• Food service design (PDF)
• Human factor engineering - ergonomics (PDF)
• Indoor air quality and industrial hygiene (PDF)
• Interior design (PDF)
• Move coordination (PDF)
• Roofing - commercial/residential (PDF)
• Security systems (PDF)
• Signage (PDF)
• Safety training and consulting (PDF)

Asbestos and solid waste

• Asbestos, lead paint and regulated building materials assessment and removal oversight (PDF)
• Solid waste and recycling consulting services (DOCX)

Community development

• Land use planning and urban design (PDF)
• Market analysis/studies (PDF)
• Public finance (PDF)

Community engagement

• Community engagement and public involvement (PDF)
• Graphic design, rendering, mapping, imaging (PDF)

Energy

• Energy contracting and marketing (PDF)
• Power plant/district energy engineering (PDF)

Environment 

• Air quality modeling and permitting (PDF)
• Environmental documentation (PDF)
• Environmental property assessment and cleanup (PDF)
• Historic architect - engineer services (PDF)
• Natural resources services (PDF)
• Noise analysis and abatement design (PDF)
• Wetland services (PDF)

Cultural resources

• Archaeological studies (PDF)
• Architectural/history studies (PDF)
• Geomorphology studies (PDF)

Landscape architecture

• Landscape architecture (PDF)

Materials testing

• Geotechnical studies, soil analysis and recommendations (PDF)
• Ground penetration radar survey (PDF)
• Materials testing and drilling (PDF)
• Pile loading testing - must be approved by MnDOT (PDF)
• Vibration analysis and monitoring (PDF)

Program Support

• Training services (PDF)

Right-of-way assistance

• Direct purchase (PDF)
• Field title investigation (PDF)
• Relocation assistance (PDF)
• Right-of-way appraisals (PDF)
• Title services (PDF)

Survey and mapping

• Construction surveying (PDF)
• Design and location surveys (PDF)
• Photogrammetric mapping and aerial imagery (PDF)
• Right-of-way and land surveys (PDF)
• Subsurface utility engineering - must be approved by MnDOT (PDF)

Transportation

Bridge and structure

• Bridge and structure design and structural metals inspection: must be approved by MnDOT (PDF)

Construction inspection/contract administration

• Construction contract administration and management (PDF)
• Construction inspection bridge construction (PDF)
• Construction inspection - grading and base, bituminous and concrete (PDF)

Hydraulic and hydrology

• Water resources services (PDF)

Landscape Architecture

• Transportation landscape architecture (PDF)

Pedestrian and bicycle

• Pedestrian and bicycle planning, engineering and promotion (PDF)

Roadway

• Major roadway (PDF)
• Roadway (PDF)
• Roundabouts (PDF)

Traffic

• Freeway modeling - must be approved by MnDOT (PDF)
• Roadway lighting design (PDF)
• Signing plan design and special provisions (PDF)
• Temporary traffic control plan design and special provisions (PDF)
• Traffic engineering special studies (PDF)  
• Traffic signal design and operations (PDF)

Transit

• Transit planning, engineering and construction management (PDF)

Value engineering

• Value engineering - must be approved by MnDOT (PDF)

• Report-Q1-2015 (PDF)
• Table-Q1-2015 (PDF)

• Report-Q2-2015 (PDF)
• Table-Q2-2015 (PDF)

• Report-Q3-2015 (PDF)
• Table-Q3-2015 (PDF)

• Report-Q4-2015 (PDF)
• Table-Q4-2015 (PDF)   

• Report-Q1-2016 (PDF)
• Table-Q1-2016 (PDF)  

Participants by firm (PDF)

Participants by professional discipline (PDF)

The list below reflects anticipated projects, based on Hennepin County approved budgets. Consultants can use this list to plan ahead and reach out to the project manager to learn if the project is a good fit for them.

Anticipated projects and timing are subject to change depending upon resources and the needs of Hennepin County. In no way should the list be considered exhaustive, final, or taken as a guarantee of work.

View planned consulting opportunities list.