Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Project development

Functional groups

Engineering Cost Data and Estimating Unit

Goal

The Engineering Cost and Data Estimating Unit prepares the engineer’s estimates for projects prior to letting and uses that estimate to judge the quality of contractor bid estimates.

Products the unit provides

  • Engineer’s Estimate for all procurement methods other than design-build contracts and negotiated maintenance contracts (NMCs)
  • Contractor bid analysis
  • Bid price and other cost analysis reports for budget purposes
  • Minnesota Quarterly Construction Cost Index
  • Minnesota Average Bid Prices on a yearly basis

What to expect from the unit

  • Provide engineering expertise to the rest of MnDOT, other government agencies, consultants, and contractors
  • Manage and maintain the AASHTOWare computer system
  • Enter project information, engineering estimate, and funding participation into AASHTOWARE for bid proposals, bid opening, and award of contracts
  • Analyze contractor bids and recommend the award or rejection of those bids

What you need to provide to the unit

  • Complete contract documents
  • Estimated quantities

What the unit expects from you

  • Answer questions about projects
  • Review the engineer’s estimate
  • Maintain contact from the time of project turn in through letting