Agency Agriculture Dept

Contractor Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center

SWIFT Contract Number 930801

Project Name Coordination of Nitrogen and Nutrient Management Conferences

Project Number (if applicable) 170501

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The purpose of the contract was for the contractor to coordinate, plan and implement educational conferences to promote and provide education on agricultural nitrogen best management and water quality protection.
The contract was necessary to partially meet requirements in Minnesota Statute 103H.151 which requires the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture to develop, promote and provide education on nitrogen best management practices to protect groundwater areas from adverse effects of agricultural chemical use. Further, 2015 Minnesota Session Laws Chapter 2, Section 3(b) awarded the Minnesota Department of Agriculture funding for “promoting … regional and crop-specific nutrient best management practices; assessing best management practice adoption; and other actions to protect groundwater from degradation from nitrate.”

Project Duration

Start Date Wed, 01/15/2020 - 00:00

Original end date Tue, 06/30/2020 - 00:00

Actual end date Sun, 06/30/2024 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $20200.00

Amendments $38000.00

Contract total $58000.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? Clean Water Funds

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) MDA reviewed and evaluated three organizations regarding their experience, knowledge, recognition and organizational capacity to successfully organize and implement the two conferences. The three organizations were MDA, University of Minnesota (UM) Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center (MAWRC). They were selected for the review and evaluation because MDA considers them the primary organizations with the experience, knowledge, recognition and organizational capacity to organize the nitrogen and nutrient conferences. The review and evaluation include information collected from
- past conference co-organizers,
- past conference speakers,
- past conference collaborators,
- past conference attendees,
- meeting held on July 7, 2019 between Jeppe Kjaersgaard from MDA; Fabian Fernandez and Brad Carlson from UM Extension; and Warren Formo from MAWRC.
UM Extension expressed no interest in being the lead organizer for the conferences. Based on the review and evaluation, MDA determined that only MAWRC had the experience, knowledge, recognition and organizational capacity to successfully organize and implement all aspects of the conferences.

Evaluator Name Jeppe Kjaersgaard

Evaluator Email Address jeppe.kjaersgaard@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness All project planning and coordination was completed in a timely manner. All conference schedules and registration materials were prepared well in advance to solicit conference registration. The MAWRC was timely in their responses to questions and reporting. Deliverables were met and reports submitted on time.

Evaluate the contractor's quality The quality of the contractor’s work and the conferences was excellent. Based on participant surveys, participants indicated that they were satisfied to very satisfied with the conferences and the work of the contractor. Participants agreed that they would recommend the program to others and that they would likely attend in the future. Participants also indicated overall satisfaction with the speaker presentations.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The costs were evaluated by the MDA and compared to similar events. The costs were similar to those of similar events, considering a part-time conference coordinator was needed to ensure successful planning and execution of the conferences.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance The contractor completed all tasks and deliverables in a very satisfactory and timely manner. Conference participants indicated in surveys that they were satisfied to very satisfied with the conferences and the work of the contractor. Contractor’s staff were responsive, professional, showed enthusiasm for the tasks, and communicated well with the MDA staff. The conferences impressively attracted over 2400 attendees who self-reported they collectively influence over one-half of all cropland in Minnesota. This impressive impact of the conferences is in large part due to the quality of the work of the contractor.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): None

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied