August 7, 2026

By Lane Kimble

Contractors and consultants now have guidance on what qualifies as a conflict of interest in future Design-Build projects.

WisDOT recently published a document detailing what would make a firm ineligible to participate. You can review it HERE.

Some disqualifiers include being the General Engineering Consultant on the project, preparing the Request for Proposal language, previously working with key stakeholders on the project, and other factors.

WisDOT expects firms to self-report potential conflicts of interest and will generally not provide contractors with a list of known conflicts ahead of them submitting statements of qualification.

However, the department is doing all it can to limit conflicts, Deputy Administrator Michael Hoelker told the WTBA Board of Directors on Tuesday.

The department plans to use Design-Build to replace the aging Mirror Lake Bridges along I-39/90 near Wisconsin Dells.  Hoelker says a request for qualifications (RFQ) will likely go out sometime this fall.

The state can use up to $300 million every two years on Design-Build projects thanks to a new law which WTBA helped pass in 2025.