About the State Designer Selection Board

The State Designer Selection Board (SDSB) selects the primary designer on building construction or remodeling projects for:

state agencies (except the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board);
the University of Minnesota; and
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

SDSB is involved on all building construction or remodeling projects with an estimated cost greater than $4,000,000 and on planning projects with estimated fees greater than $400,000. Selection for Primary Designer is based on qualifications.

SDSB also selects the design build team (both the contractor and primary designer) for all building construction or remodeling projects that are funded by the state. Selection for the design build team is based on either qualifications or price.

For more on SDSB's role in projects, see Minnesota Statute 16B.33, Minnesota Statute 16C.33, and Minnesota Rules Chapter 3200.

Board Members

Members	Sponsored By/Representing:	Term Ends
William Beyer - Chair	American Institute of Architects (AIA)	Jan 2027
Theodore Tucker - Vice Chair	Public Member	Jan 2027
Sara Rothholz Weiner	Minnesota State Arts Board	Jan 2029
Susan Estes	American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/MN)	Jan 2026
Scott Weicht	Associated General Contractors (AGC)	Jan 2026
Steve Modrow	Public Member	Jan 2027

Exofficio Members

Members	Sponsored By/Representing:	Contact Number
Eric Radel, Non-Voting Member	Commissioner of Administration	651-201-2380
Heather A. Nelson, Executive Secretary	Commissioner of Administration	651-201-2551
Samantha Hicks, Executive Secretary (Back-up)	Commissioner of Administration	651-201-2389

Virtual Meetings

*Please note: the following changes are general process changes, each RFP will have specific requirements that will need to be followed when submitting your response.

Highlight of changes made to the State Designer Selection Board process and procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Hard copy proposals will not be permitted. Only electronic proposals will be accepted as outlined in the RFP. Proposals are not to be sent directly to the Executive Secretary. Proposals should be sent only to SDSB.Proposals.ADM@state.mn.us. The State will establish an automatic response to indicate that the proposal has been received.
- Note that there are requirements for file size and naming conventions. Also note that the required forms must be in a separate attachment from the proposal. Specifics can be found in the RFP template document.
- We have changed the proposal submission to permit either portrait or landscape orientations.
- Shortlisting and interview meetings will be held via WebEx.
- A list of attendees (including email contact information?) from the shortlisted firms must be provided to the Executive Secretary for the interview meeting.
- Firms will be given “control” of the presentation during their designated interview time to allow them to share their presentation materials if they have any. The Executive Secretary will not be permitted to run the presentation images.
- Copies of the presentation materials or agenda/participant ‘place mat’ may be forwarded to the Board, at the discretion of the firms. As always, no new information can be provided that was not part of the Respondent's proposal.
- Since this is a new process and to facilitate the interviewing teams, we are providing an opportunity for each shortlisted firm to test their access to the software with a one-time WebEx Event meeting with the Executive Secretary. Firms are not allowed to discuss the project or ask questions about the project, but simply to test their access, team hand-offs and use of presentation materials. This must be coordinated with the Executive Secretary and it’s suggested firms schedule this as soon as they have been notified of their selection. Firms will only be permitted this opportunity once in the foreseeable future, not for each time they are shortlisted.
- Additional revisions may be found in the Request for Proposals
- The meetings of the State Designer Selection Board are open to the public. The RFP will provide details for how the public may access the shortlisting and interview meetings. As always, firms who are shortlisted may not listen/watch the other teams during their presentations.
- SDSB meetings are digitally recorded for the convenience of the public and will be posted to the SDSB website as they become available.