Getting Connected with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
INTRODUCTION
• CDOT is responsible for 9,146 miles of highway including 3,447 bridges
• State government agency with funding from FHWA, FTA, FAA and the state of Colorado
• Primarily “horizontal” highway construction and maintenance
• Billion dollar multi-modal business with 3,300 employees
• Approximately $400M spent annually on highway construction projects and $115M on design and engineering
Who is CDOT?
Mission“To provide the
best multi-modal transportation
system for Colorado that
most effectively and safely
moves people, goods, and
information.”
More than roads and bridges…• Aeronautics support for local airports• Grants for rural transit and rail systems• Transportation safety programs• Funding for municipal roadway projects• Co-projects with other transportation agencies
(e.g., RTD)• Rail interconnectivity future
Who is CDOT?
Organization Structure
Transportation Regions
DOING BUSINESS WITH CDOT
What CDOT Buys
CDOT also purchases other low-cost and special services • General purchases of less than $25,000• Safety grant programs• Emergency maintenance services
There are 3 primary categories in which CDOT makes purchases • Purchasing professional services, supplies and commodities• Contracting for highway construction projects• Contracting of design and engineering consultant services
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPPLIES AND COMMODITIES
Goods and services for operations such as:– Janitorial supplies and services– Office supplies– Heavy tow service– Trailer mounted variable message signs– Professional services
• Procurement managed by Colorado State Purchasing Office
• Must be registered on Colorado Bid Information Distribution System (BIDS)
• $40 annual registration fee
Selling Professional Services, Commodities and Supplies to CDOT
State Purchasing of Goods and Services
Colorado BIDS Solicitation Listing
Colorado BIDS Solicitation Listing
Construction and Design Notices:– State government facility and building construction – Professional services > $100,000– Construction services > $25,000
• Office of the State Architect• Notification system separate from BIDS• No registration fee
Selling Professional Services, Commodities and Supplies to CDOT
State Office of the Architect Purchasing
Construction and Design Notices
• Documented Quote• Invitation for Bid (IFB)• Request for Qualifications (RFQ)• Request for Proposal (RFP) • State Commodity & Service Pricing Agreements
Types of Solicitations for Goods and Services
Each solicitation is different. The specifications, rules and instructions for responding are outlined in the solicitation document.
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
• Projects range in size from small preventative maintenance work to multi-year, multi-million dollar highway construction
• CDOT terms these vendors “contractors” or “bidders”
• CDOT hires only prime contractors and the prime contractor hires all other firms, including subcontractors, material suppliers, truckers, fabricators and manufacturers
• Prime contractors must be prequalified by CDOT
• Small business path to entry is typically through subcontracting
Selling Highway Construction Services to CDOT
Contracts to construct, improve, repair, and maintain roads, bridges and other transportation facilities
• Advertised in bid notices and on the CDOT website • Sealed competitive bid opening• Electronic bid preparation using
Electronic Bid Software (EBS) called Expedite • Online bid submission using
Bid Express (BIDX) System • Award based upon lowest responsive and
responsible bid• Bid tabulations posted on CDOT’s website
Traditional Solicitations for Highway Construction
Invitation for Bid (IFB)
CDOT Construction Bid Listing
CDOT Construction Bid Tabulation
• Prequalification (CDOT Form 66)• Standard specifications• Standard special provisions• Project special provisions • Bid rules• Special contract requirements
– Insurance– Licenses – Bonding– Prevailing wage– Certified payroll
Basic Requirements
You must be prepared to work as a contractor for CDOT
• Advertisements (“Ad Notice”) of open solicitations• “Go Sheet” of upcoming projects • Prequalified prime contractor directory• Plan holders listing• Bid tabulations and cost data • BIDX lettings and small business network• Regional CDOT Project Engineers• Regional Civil Rights Managers• Pre-bid conferences and industry events• Teaming and subcontracting
Finding Construction Contracting Opportunities
DESIGN & ENGINEERING CONTRACTS
• Types of contracted services are diverse and include:– Design– Engineering– Inspection– Surveying– Environmental– Construction Management– Intelligent Transportation Systems– Traffic Studies
• CDOT terms these vendors “consultants” for design & engineering projects
• Does NOT include professional services from attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, brokers, information technology, etc. These are contracted through the state procurement process.
Selling Consultant Services to CDOT
Professional consulting services that help construct, improve, repair, and maintain roads, bridges and other transportation facilities
• Advertised in design notices on the CDOT website• Project specific (PS) or Non-project specific (NPS)• Submit of a Statement of Interest (SOI) and Work
Plan • Scoring form and a tally of points used to
compare vendors • Award based upon most qualified
Traditional Solicitations for Consultants
Request for Statement of Interest or Invitation for Consultant Services
CDOT Consultant Notices
Statement of Interest (SOI)
• Prequalification (CDOT Form 1058)• Statement of Interest• Contract or subcontract requirements and
conditions• Design bulletins and manuals• Special contract requirements
– Professional insurance– Auto insurance– P.E. licenses– Audited overhead rates
Basic Requirements
You must be prepared to work as a consultant for CDOT
• Teaming and subcontracting• Prequalified prime consultant directory • Regional CDOT Project Engineers• Industry and association events• Advertised projects and
upcoming consultant service needs• Innovative contracting project websites
Finding Consulting Contracting Opportunities
Note: When you see a request for consultant services listed publically, it is probably too late to be in a position to compete for the work. Make sure to
establish your teaming role with the prime and/or Project Engineer before the project is released.
ALTERNATIVE PROCUREMENT TYPES
• Purchase card– Credit card purchases for less than $25,000– Requires a merchant account to accept payment
• Emergency maintenance services• Safety grant programs• Innovative contracting
Alternative Procurement Types
• Most common method is Design-Build• Combination of design (consultant) and build
(construction) projects• Advertised in bid notices and on the CDOT website • Request for Letters of Interest• Request for Qualifications• Request for Proposals• Award based upon qualifications or low bid or
combination
Innovative Contracting
CDOT Innovative Bid Listing
CDOT Innovative Bid Listing
CDOT CONTRACTING SUMMARY
CDOT Contract Opportunities
Colorado State Procurement
CDOT Contracts and Market Analysis
• Janitorial supplies• Office supplies• Heavy tow service• Variable message signs• Parts and maintenance• Equipment and
machinery• Aggregates• Professional services• Information technology
• Traffic control• Trucking• Painting and striping• Asphalt paving• Electrical installation• Masonry• Geotechnical services• Environmental mitigation• Construction management • ITS
• Highway maintenance• Project materials• Site prep and cleanup• Professional services• Public involvement• Traffic studies• Planning
Certain types of opportunities may be listed by the State or CDOT so you need to check both procurement systems
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Qualifications • Small for-profit business concern• 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically
disadvantaged individual(s)• Most minority and all women owners presumed to be disadvantaged• SBA business size standard • Maximum 3-year average revenue of $22.41M and • Personal net worth cap of $1.3M
Federally-Mandated Program • U.S. DOT program administered by CDOT Center for EO• Federal statute 49 CFR Part 26• Helps disadvantaged businesses compete for transportation contracts
• Application with supporting documentation and site visit
• Certification by either CDOT or City and County of Denver
• DBE certification recognized and used by other local agencies (e.g., RTD, municipalities, regional airports)
• Other agencies may consider different types of businesses for DBE certification beyond highway transportation projects
• Listing on Colorado UCP Directory
Unified Certification Program (UCP)
• Overall annual FHWA and FTA DBE goals• Project specific goals set as percentage of total
project value• DBE percentage is reserved for DBE participation
only • Prime contractors must meet goal or show a good
faith effort• Monitoring, reporting and compliance
How CDOT Implements the DBE Program
• Listed publicly in the Colorado UCP DBE Directory• Prime contractors actively seek out DBE firms to
meet goals• Provides a competitive advantage for
subcontractors to promote small business growth• Support services such as training and technical
assistance • Special mailings and notices of contracting and
other opportunities
Benefits of the DBE Program
Emerging Small Business (ESB)
Qualifications • Small for-profit business concern• 50% of SBA business size standard for type of work• Maximum 3-year average revenue of $11.205M• Must provide services in a CDOT eligible area of work• May also be a DBE certified firm
State-Funded Program • Race and gender-neutral emerging small business program • Authorized by Colorado State Legislature • Specific to CDOT only• Does NOT apply to other local agencies
• ESB application and orientation session• Optional incentive-based ESB goal on CDOT projects• ESB target percentage is reserved for ESB
participation only • Prime contractors receive incentives to use ESB
subcontractors• ESB restricted projects for ESB bidding only• Strong encouragement for prime contractors to
utilize ESBs
How CDOT Implements its ESB Program
• Prime contractors actively seek out ESB firms to meet optional target participation amount
• Listed publicly in the CDOT ESB Directory• Limited competition for ESB restricted projects • Special mailings and notices of contracting and
other opportunities • Support services such as training and technical
assistance
Benefits of the ESB Program
Connect2DOT• Provided by the Colorado Small Business Development
Centers• Available to DBE and ESB contractors and consultants
statewide• Free business support and technical services • One-on-one consulting• Workshops and training• Access to project plans and bid documents• Reverse trade fairs
CDOT Center for Equal Opportunity• One-on-one consulting with CDOT small business specialists• Up to $300 per year in tuition reimbursements • Internal training and small business forums• Free BIDX accounts
Small Business Support Services
READY, SET, GO!
• Do your homework• Get prequalified• Get certified• Attend CDOT and industry events, forums and
meetings Network and team • Identify key contacts• Leverage CDOT and SBDC resources• Bid with knowledge and insight• Be persistent
Keys to Success
Ready to Connect2DOT?Schedule a free one-on-one
consultation today!
Denver Small Business Development Center(303) 620-8076
[email protected]/programs/connect2dot