C.S. McCrossan takes bid protest to Dayton’s staff
C.S. McCrossan Construction officials plan to meet with Gov. Mark Dayton's staff Friday to discuss the company's protest of MnDOT's decision on a roadwork contract for the St. Croix Bridge project, according to the governor's press secretary.
MnDOT staff chose low bidder McCrossan for the work in February. The company's bid of $52.3 million also received the highest technical score for the Highway 36 construction, which is the first phase of major work on the St. Croix project. MnDOT later rejected the bid, saying the company didn't make good faith efforts to meet the agency's goal for hiring of minority and disadvantaged businesses.
McCrossan sent a letter requesting a meeting to discuss their concerns.
MnDOT selected Ames Construction of Burnsville and Lunda Construction of Black River Falls, Wis., for the project. Ames/Lunda's bid of $58.1 million included plans to meet the project's goal of 16.7 percent for disadvantaged business participation, higher than McCrossan's 10.6 percent.
McCrossan filed a protest April 1st with the Department of Administration.
A spokesperson for MnDOT says the commissioner has the final say on the contract, regardless of any recommendations by the Department of Administration. He says MnDOT plans to remain on schedule.
Approach work on Highway 36 is expected to begin sometime this month and be completed by fall 2014.
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