Qualification-based selection requirement for certain projects at the Department of Transportation establishment; appropriating money

SF 2905 requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation (DOT) to use qualification-based selection - evaluating firms based on expertise rather than lowest cost - for road construction projects exceeding $800,000 annually in engineering fees. From October 2025 through March 2028, the DOT must apply this method to at least five projects each year, avoiding repeated projects across consecutive years. The bill mandates two reports: a preliminary review by October 2026 and a final report by October 2028, assessing impacts on project timelines, quality, change orders, and sustainability. It appropriates a one-time $ amount from the general fund for the pilot program and reporting, available until June 2029.