Office of Civil Rights News
Free classes in financials, bidding and estimating, contract law, marketing, sustaining growth, and more! Develop skills, improve your visibility, and compete more effectively on MnDOT work.
Managing your business through a crisis
Business owners must know how to manage any number of crises. Learn what to consider and what tools to use when your business is faced with problems relating to cash flow or credit needs, accidents and insurance, employee problems, and public and client relationship problems. Also learn about resources for cyber security and technology challenges.
DBE Business Academy: 307 Construction law and contracts
This advanced-level class provides different legal components of a MnDOT contract, specifications, performance bonds and MnDOT forms.
DBE Business Academy: 303 Sustainability
Prepare operational action plans. Discuss the need for implementing strategies to achieve action plan goals, how to navigate the ups and downs of owning a business, and the transitional phase from the DBE program. This is an advanced-level class.
Using AASHTOWare and Bid Express
Learn how to register, access, and use the software that is used on MNDOT projects. Bid Express is the software for bidding. AASHTOWare is for project reporting, payroll submission and other reports.
Certified payroll focus seminar
State-funded and federally funded projects often require certified payroll. Learn where to look in the Special Provisions, how to understand the requirements, and what this means to your bottom line. We show you how to prepare the necessary reports by using the MnDOT-provided report or one of your own.
DBE Business Academy: 308 Action plan
Create marketing goals and an action plan to achieve them, discuss the value of analyzing results, a marketing cycle and how to adjust your marketing strategy as your company grows. This is an advanced-level class.
Traffic control and electrical lighting: Job costing and bidding/estimating
This seminar is for companies in Traffic Control and Electrical Lighting. Understand basic accounting concepts and budgeting for insurance, bonds, labor, equipment, material, subcontractors, and overhead. Learn how to find bidding opportunities, review advertisements, thrive in the low bid environment, and submit quotes. Bring in plans and specs you are working on and consultants will walk you through the entire process.
Expanding your team with employees or subcontractors
If you plan to hire people to work for you, it’s crucial that you understand human resources issues and employment law. Learn about job descriptions and postings, employee handbooks, and personnel management requirements. Receive resources for employment law assistance and discuss workman’s comp, health insurance, and general benefits. And instead of hiring employees, partnering with the right people can be a great way to expand your business – so we’ll also look at how to find subcontractors and partners.
Working with MnDOT: what to expect after the bid for construction firms
You won the bid! Now what? This class covers all the requirements that contractors must know about when performing work for MnDOT including prevailing wage, certified payroll, labor compliance and other reports specific to each type of project. Learn about closeout documents and how projects are finalized.
Working with MnDOT: What to expect after the selection for Professional/Technical firms
No job gets started till the paperwork is signed! We’ll discuss the basic components of executing a standard design contract for professional/technical terms. Learn about the pre-award audit and how to complete it, how to complete progress reports, invoicing, and meeting contract requirements.
Bonding education program
Learn more about procurement opportunities on federal and municipal contracts. Network with surety and lending representatives. Also learn about other small business resources to advance your business. This is a two-day, 10-hour program. For this bonding education program, MnDOT is partnering with USDOT and the Surety and Fidelity Association of America. Registration required.
Overhead considerations for Professional/Technical firms
For professional/technical firms, the overhead computation is an important part of doing business with MnDOT. Learn about the main components of the contract deliverables, including allowed overhead computations, fixed fees, profit allowances, pre-award and audit materials, and time price vs. unit price.
Erosion prevention and sediment control installer training and certification
Gain the technical skills in erosion prevention and sediment control to successfully pursue construction contracts. At the end of this class, the University of Minnesota will administer the Erosion Control Certified Installer exam.
Trucking: Job costing and bidding/estimating
This seminar is for companies in Trucking. Understand accounting concepts and budgeting for insurance, bonds, labor, equipment, material, subcontractors, and overhead. Learn how to find bidding opportunities, review advertisements, thrive in the low bid environment, and submit quotes. Bring in plans and specs you are working on and consultants will walk you through the entire process.
Looking ahead to May
Developing and improving relationships with other contractors – focus seminar
Potential growth areas - prime contracts focus seminar
Finding capital for your business
More ways MnDOT helps certified small businesses:
One-on-one business assistance
Get free tailored support to meet the challenges of your certified small business. Meet with a consultant one-on-one. Attend small group seminars and work sessions led by business experts. To request one-on-one business assistance, contact Stacia Rice at IMO Consulting Group.
Micro Grants
Receive up to $3,500 of financial assistance to increase your business capacity and eligibility to work on MnDOT contracts. Funding is provided through reimbursement of preapproved expenses. Available through April 30, 2024 or until funding is exhausted. Learn more at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/civilrights/micro-grant.html
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