Competitive Grants and Contracts

Medical Consultants

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Minnesota Disability Determination Services (DDS) requests applications to work as a medical contractor reviewing the disability claims of Minnesotans who have applied for Social Security Disability benefits. All work must occur on the secured Social Security Administration Network. The State anticipates issuing multiple contracts for this work. This is an ongoing solicitation.

Request for Proposals

• Medical Consultants Request for Proposals (final amended 3/30/22)
• Sample Contract
• Questions and Answers Received during RFP Process

Deadline

All requirements and information, as well as proposal delivery instructions are contained in the RFP. Inquiries regarding the RFP may be directed by email to Milla Kokotovich, Disability Determination Services at Milla.Kokotovich@ssa.gov. Deadline for initial inquiries is Monday, March 28, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Other department personnel are NOT allowed to discuss the Request for Proposal with anyone, including responders, before the proposal submission deadline.

Proposals must be emailed to: Milla Kokotovich, Disability Determination Services, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development at Milla.Kokotovich@ssa.gov or sent via mail to Milla Kokotovich, Project Coordinator, MN Disability Determination Services, 121 7th Place East; Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55101. Proposals for initial evaluation must be received by 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 11, 2022. Following the initial selection process, applications will remain open on the DEED and Department of Administration, Office of State Procurement (OSP) website and selected on an as needed basis. Applications are still welcome beyond April 11, 2022.

All costs incurred in responding to the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be borne by the responder. The Department of Employment and Economic Development reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularities or informalities, and to cancel the solicitation if it is considered to be its own best interest. This Request for Proposals does not obligate DEED to award a contract.

For an alternative version of this document, please reach out to Milla.Kokotovich@ssa.gov.

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law on November 15, 2021. It provides approximately $65 billion for broadband nationally. The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) was selected as Minnesota’s Eligible Entity to administer the state’s funding for broadband, including the funding for broadband called the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. At the federal level, the BEAD program is being administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NTIA has, and continues to, issue comprehensive guidance that the state must follow in administering the grant funding.

Call for Applications

• Call for Applications
• Call for Applications Addendum 1 (2/26/25)
• Call for Applications Addendum 2 (5/5/25)
• Call for Applications Addendum 3 (5/28/25)
• Draft BEAD Grant Contract Agreement

Deadline

For entities that meet the prequalification requirements, OBD will accept BEAD grant applications in three subrounds as outlined in the NTIA approved Initial Proposal Volume 2. The three application subrounds are anticipated to have the timelines as outlined below, but all timelines are dependent on NTIA approval of the Final List of BEAD Eligible Locations, NTIA guidelines, funding availability.

Applications for BEAD funding will be considered over three subgrantee selection subrounds. For the first subround, subgrantees may propose their own project area and the focus will be on priority (fiber) broadband projects. For the second and third subgrantee selection subrounds, OBD will identify project areas which must be used in the application submission and all technologies will be considered. All applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Central Time, on the date noted in the Review Process and Timeline in the Call for BEAD Applications for each subround. Applications must be submitted through the Grant Application Portal. Late applications will not be considered but can be resubmitted for consideration in a subsequent subround, should there be any rounds remaining. OBD is issuing one RFP for three planned subgrantee selection subrounds as provided for in the Initial Proposal Volume 2. Submission of and consideration per three subrounds is appropriate since one total dollar amount has been awarded to the state by NTIA, the state must ensure that all unserved locations are served before funding underserved locations, fiber projects are to be prioritized but all technologies considered, and NTIA will only review all selected subgrantees upon inclusion in one Final Proposal from the state. The applicant will incur all costs incurred in applying to this RFP with the exception that some costs may be eligible expenditures should an applicant be selected for an award and which results in a fully executed contract.

Questions

Questions may be submitted using an online form.

All answers to FAQs will be updated weekly to accommodate NTIA review of answers to all questions. Please submit all questions related to the Pre-Qualification by Thursday, March 6, 2025 to ensure a timely response.

Growing Careers: Agriculture Workforce Competitive Grant

DEED, through its Adult Career Pathways Programs, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to provide services through the Growing Careers: Agriculture Workforce Competitive Grants. The Growing Careers competitive grants must provide outreach, case management, work readiness, skills training specific or relevant to the agriculture sector, support services, and job placement and retention services to Dislocated Workers.

• Request for Proposals
• Application

Deadline

All applications must be time stamp received by DEED via email no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Late applications will not be considered. The submission must include the signed and completed Application and all required nonprofit documents.

Applications must be submitted via email as a PDF to:

DEED Employment and Training Division
Office of Adult Career Pathways
ACPgrants.deed@state.mn.us

The state is not responsible for any errors or delays caused by technology-related issues. Applicants should anticipate delays in the application getting through DEED’s system, and therefore should submit their application before the deadline time.

Technical Assistance

All questions must be submitted in writing via email to Vanessa Roman, Vanessa.Roman@state.mn.us. All answers will be posted weekly.

Please submit questions no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, on 07-11-2025. Questions will not be accepted after this date.

An informational webinar was held for interested responders.

• Webinar
• Frequently Asked Questions during RFP Process

Minnesota State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program

The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO), an office within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is soliciting applications for funding for eligible Minnesota-based small businesses to participate in export development activities that will assist the company to begin exporting or increase their exports from Minnesota. Proposals are accepted until all funds are committed.

Request for Proposals

• Download the RFP (Fillable PDF)

Applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis as they are received. Proposals must be submitted electronically to Jackie Geiger.

For complete information on the STEP Program, see the Export Financing Programs webpage.

For an alternative version of this document, please reach out to Jackie Geiger.

Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs

The Brownfields and Redevelopment Unit, is accepting grant applications through the Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs.

• Call for Applications

Deadline

All applications and required attachments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on August 1, 2025. Three complete sets of applications (application form and required attachments) are required for each site. One paper copy and two electronic copies on a flash drive are required. All three copies must be complete and submitted by the deadline to be considered for funding.

Applications sent by mail or courier must be delivered to the following address on or before the application deadline.

Brownfields and Redevelopment Unit
Great Northern Building
180 East Fifth Street, Suite 1200
St. Paul, MN 55101

On August 1, 2025, applications may be submitted in person at the above address. Please take the 5th Street elevators (by the guard’s desk) to the 12th floor and leave applications on the cart located in the DEED elevator lobby. Applications will be retrieved promptly.

Applications submitted by email will NOT be accepted. Applications should be in a binder, spiral-bound, or, at a minimum, binder clipped with all attachments marked and tabbed.

Technical Assistance

For questions regarding the application process or to seek clarification on application instructions/questions, please contact the Brownfields and Redevelopment Unit at 651-259-7451.

Application Information Sessions

Join our Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs Workshops. For Lunch and Learn sessions, feel free to bring your own lunch as lunch will not be provided.

Mankato

Thursday, June 5
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Intergovernmental Center
10 Civic Center Plaza, First Floor
Mankato, MN 56001

Fridley

Lunch and Learn (lunch not provided)
Monday, June 9
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Mississippi Library
410 Mississippi St NE
Fridley, MN 55432

Chisholm

Lunch and Learn (lunch not provided)
Tuesday, June 10
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mineland Reclamation
1003 Discovery Dr
Chisholm, MN 55719

Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) Program

The Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) program is created to foster interagency coordination between the Departments of Transportation and Employment and Economic Development to finance infrastructure to create economic development opportunities, jobs, and improve all types of transportation systems statewide.

Funds appropriated for the program must be used to fund predesign, design, acquisition of land, construction, reconstruction, and infrastructure improvements that will promote economic development, increase employment, and improve transportation systems to accommodate private investment and job creation.

Money in the program shall not be used on trunk highway improvements but can be used for needed infrastructure improvements and nontrunk highway improvements in coordination with trunk highway improvement projects undertaken by the Department of Transportation.

• Request for Proposals

Deadline

Applications must be received by DEED by 4:00 p.m. on September 29, 2025. You will receive an email confirmation that your application was received. If you do not receive a confirmation, you should assume the application was not received.

Eligible applicants must email their application to jeremy.lacroix@state.mn.us. Application format should meet the following requirements:

• One PDF file for application and attachments
• All pages in application should be 8.5” x 11”
• Maximum file size of under 5MB

Technical Assistance

An informational session will be held via Microsoft Teams. If you cannot make this session, the presentation will be posted on this website.

July 10
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Join the Meeting

Minnesota Youthbuild Competitive Grants Program

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through the Office of Youth Development, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to the Minnesota Youthbuild Program. This program awards grants to organizations that provide targeted individuals with on-site construction skills training, safety training, and work experience on affordable housing or other eligible building or renovation projects. Other services provided under this proposal include employment preparation, case management, support services, career exploration, leadership development, and support to attain a diploma or GED and employment. Follow up services include placement in the building trades, registered apprenticeship or other career pathways employment, post-secondary education, or occupational training. Note: Construction Plus activities may also be provided by applicants with prior Youthbuild Program experience.

Request for Proposals

• Request for Proposals
• Application Packet

Deadline

The application packet must be received via email by no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Friday, August 15, 2025. The application packet must be submitted to youth.team.deed@state.mn.us in a single PDF. Late proposals will not be considered. DEED is not responsible for any issues related to technology. Please do not submit any other materials (binders, photos, letters of support, etc.) Unrequested materials will not be reviewed.

Technical Assistance

Questions on the RFP may be submitted via email to Nancy Waisanen, nancy.waisanen@state.mn.us.

• Information Session Recording
• Information Session Presentation Slides
• Questions and Answers during the RFP Process

Please submit questions no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time, on August 8, 2025.