Agency Water & Soil Resources Board

Contractor Regents of the University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 176095

Project Name Tillage and Erosion Survey

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: Minn. Stat. §15.061 and the Laws of Minnesota 2019, 1st Special Session, Chapter 2, Article 2, Sec. 7(m) states that $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the second year are for grants or contracts for a program to systematically collect data and produce county, watershed, and statewide estimates of soil erosion caused by water and wind along with tracking adoption of conservation measures, including cover crops, to address erosion. Up to $700,000 is available for grants to or contracts with the University of Minnesota to complete this work. Minnesota Session Laws-2021, 1st Special Session, Chapter 1, Article 2, Sec.6 (m) states that $362,000 the first year and $362,000 the second year are for grants or contracts for a program to systematically collect data and produce county, watershed, and statewide estimates of soil erosion caused by water and wind, along with tracking adoption of conservation measures, including cover crops, to address erosion. This appropriation may be used for grants to or contracts with the University of Minnesota to complete this work. Minnesota Session Laws - 2023, Regular Session, Chapter 40, HF 1999, Article 2, Sec. 6 (l) states that $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the second year are for grants or contracts for a program to systematically collect data and produce county, watershed, and statewide estimates of soil erosion caused by water and wind, along with tracking adoption of conservation measures, including cover crops, to address erosion. This appropriation may be used for grants to or contracts with the University of Minnesota to complete this work.
The result of this work will be updated methods for satellite imagery collection and analysis throughout MN. Wind erosion estimates will also be added to the Daily Erosion Project (DEP), with the underlying DEP databases maintained, and DEP expanded to forested areas in Northern Minnesota and other areas across the state.

Project Duration

Start Date Fri, 05/01/2020 - 00:00

Original end date Tue, 05/31/2022 - 00:00

Actual end date Wed, 04/30/2025 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $690000.00

Amendments $951405.00

Contract total $1641405.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? STATE

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) It was mandated by the Legislatures to contract with this vendor. Also, the University of Minnesota is uniquely positioned to do this work as they have a wide range of expertise needed to meet the goals of this project regarding wind erosion soil modeling, water erosion modeling, via the collaboration with Iowa State University, geospatial expertise regarding hydro-enforced digital elevation models, direct experience with the Daily Erosion Project web application and supporting data products, and education and outreach capacity. The University of Minnesota also has the technical expertise to further develop these technical methodologies, publish those methodologies and scientific papers related to this project

Evaluator Name Marcey Westrick

Evaluator Email Address marcey.westrick@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Overall, the technical work of this contract was done on-time.

Evaluate the contractor's quality The quality of the technical work was high. The University of Minnesota and Iowa State University have the technical expertise for this type of work.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The cost for this project was reasonable.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Overall, the technical work of this contract was of high quality and was completed in a timely fashion. Billing and invoicing however were often late and at times, lacking in appropriate detail.

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.): {Empty}

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 4 - satisfied