[June 17, 2021] Important: Please read the following letter for information on the potential temporary suspension of State contract performance:

Potential Temporary Suspension of State Contract Performance

NOTICE: Potential Temporary Suspension of State Contract Performance Letter

Products and Services

Changes to Audit Related Processes

Effective March 15, 2021

Due to internal process changes within MnDOT's Office of Audit, Consultant Services will act as the liaison between customers and MnDOT Audit. A new email has been established to manage any correspondence related to Professional/Technical pre-award audits, annual overhead rate audits and general Professional/ Technical contract audit related questions: ProfessionalTechnicalAudits.dot@state.mn.us

Communication from MnDOT's Office of Audit

Effective March 15, 2021, to comply with federal audit requirements, the MnDOT Office of Audit will request any additional information needed from consultants for audits through the Office of Project Management and Technical Support – Consultant Service Section. Any questions from the consultant regarding audits performed should be made directly to the Office of Project Management and Technical Support – Consultant Service Section. The MnDOT Office of Audit will assist the Office of Project Management and Technical Support – Consultant Service Section in addressing any questions/issues that may arise.

Information pertaining to the Federal Audit Standards (Yellow Book) requirements for auditor independence are outlined below:

Independence Requirements:

The Federal Government Audit Standards (Yellow Book 3.19, 3.21) requires that auditors must be independent and should avoid situations that could lead reasonable and informed third parties to conclude that the auditors and audit organization are not independent and thus are not capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment on all issues associated with conducting the engagement and reporting on the work. Independence comprises the following:

Independence of mind – the state of mind that permits the conduct of an engagement without being affected by influences that compromise professional judgment, thereby allowing an individual to act with integrity and exercise objectivity and professional skepticism.
Independence in appearance – the absence of circumstances that would cause a reasonable and informed third party to reasonably conclude that the integrity, objectivity, or professional skepticism of an audit organization or member of the engagement team had been compromised.

Direct auditor interaction with consultants compromises our independence both in appearance and of mind. All direct consultant interaction must be discontinued to preserve independence and ensure compliance with federal audit standards. All questions/inquiries auditors receive from a consultant must be re-directed to the Office of Project Management and Technical Support – Consultant Services Section.

Consultant Services Help Line

You can now email questions to our Help Line at PTConsultantServicesHelpLine.DOT@state.mn.us.

Travel (Mileage) Reimbursement (January 2021)

Starting January 1, 2021, the standard IRS mileage rate for business use of a personal vehicle is DECREASING to .56 (cents) per mile. This new rate should be used for all contracts and consultant billing from January 1, 2021 forward.

Contracts

Pre-Qualification Program

Overview (.DOCX 31KB)
Application and Renewal Process/Checklist (.DOCX 32KB)
Work Types

Disclaimer: Any outside entity relying on MnDOT’s Pre-Qualification Program lists to determine whether a firm is ‘qualified’ to perform that entity’s work should perform its own due diligence to determine and confirm the qualifications of any listed firm.

Current List of Pre-Qualified Consultants:
- By Work Type (PDF)
- By Consultant (PDF)

Professional Technical Consultant Services