Agency Water & Soil Resources Board

Contractor Regents of University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 128055

Project Name Awareness of Soil Health

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: To support increasing awareness and benefits of soil health and soil conservation through research and outreach that expands the tools and skills of Minnesota’s conservation delivery community. The mission of the initiative is to protect and improve soil resources and water quality by developing the knowledge, skill and ability of local conservationist to more effectively partner with stakeholders and promote sustainable soil and land management. In particular, the program would emphasize the importance of soil health and identifying the water quality and impacts of applied land and water management practices.

Project Duration

Start Date Fri, 09/01/2017 - 00:00

Original end date Sat, 08/31/2019 - 00:00

Actual end date Wed, 08/31/2022 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $350000.00

Amendments $350000.00

Contract total $700000.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? 2302 / R9PC045, R9PC085, R9PC205, R9PC207

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) The vendor must have applicable deep, multidisciplinary expertise. The includes academic, research, public policy and scientific expertise in soil health principals and soil science, prediction methods/models for environmental outcomes, landscape analysis and statistical analysis. The contractor has an understanding of the spatial variability in MN major soil types, geomorphology, cropping systems, and climatological conditions and specific knowledge of understanding gaps and barriers to wide spread adoption of MN soil health principals by agricultural producers. Potential contractor would have the ability to develop products and data that are open source and non-proprietary, thus allowing for data availability to all potential users, including future research and innovative conservation technologies related to soil health and solid water conservation. The vendor must be able to collaborate with academic and research institutions in the Midwest in order to maximize the State’s public investment in this project. Able to create a working group with representatives from across MN and to build a capacity in Minnesota’s conservation delivery system to deliver solid health training, research and technical resources.

Evaluator Name Tom Gile

Evaluator Email Address tom.gile@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Positive

Evaluate the contractor's quality As Expected

Evaluate the contractor's cost Within Budget and as Expected

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Positive

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