How to bid MnDOT construction contracts: advertisements, the 12-month schedule and Bid Express

The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Bid Letting site covers pre-letting (how to bid), advertisements, the e-plan room, post-letting results and resources.

1. Find the work

MnDOT's project advertisements list highway construction and maintenance projects currently advertised for bidding; MnDOT says ads are published at least three weeks before letting. Each ad shows the state project number, contract ID, district, county, goal type (DBE or targeted group/veteran), the goal percentages and a job description and location. MnDOT also publishes a 12-month tentative letting schedule (PDF and Excel) that excludes State Aid projects. Our bids page reads the advertisements daily.

2. Read the proposal

Bidder requirements, item lists and plans are in each project's proposal and the e-plan room. MnDOT's AASHTOWare item lists show the bid items for current and past projects.

3. Bid

MnDOT links the Bid Express site and Trns.port Expedite downloads from its bid letting pages for electronic bidding.

4. Bonds

Minnesota's Public Contractors' Performance and Payment Bond Act (Minn. Stat. §§ 574.26 to 574.32) requires performance and payment bonds on public work contracts at or above the amount in § 471.345, subd. 3.

Summary for general information, reviewed 2026-10-30. Not legal advice; check the source before relying on a deadline or threshold.