Do Business With CDOT

If you want to bid on a CDOT project as a prime contractor, prime consultant, or subconsultant, you must first be prequalified by the CDOT Contracts and Market Analysis Prequalification Unit. Prequalification is the process of reviewing a company's size, financials, bonding, equipment, personnel, and experience in order to verify that the business has the capability to manage a CDOT project. 

Prequalification is valid for one year. You must submit a renewal application each year to maintain your prequalification status. Any new application or renewal application must be submitted within 17 calendar days before the bid opening for projects on which the contractor desires to submit a bid.

You should get prequalified if you are a:

• Construction contractor seeking to be a Prime on CDOT construction contracts (subcontractors do NOT need to be prequalified)

• Design/engineering consultant seeking to be a Prime consultant on CDOT professional services contracts

• Design/engineering subconsultant seeking to work on CDOT professional services contracts

How to get prequalified:

The CDOT prequalification process and application is different for contractors and consultants. However, both applications are access through the CDOT B2G system under Prequalify. If you provide services in both categories, you will need to submit two separate applications.

• Prime contractors:  You will need to complete the online form and upload your experience, references, list of equipment, and a W-9 form

• Design/engineering consultants:  You must first complete the technical prequalification in the CDOT B2G system, including a P.E. license and W-9 form, and then complete the Financial prequalification resulting in a Master Pricing Agreement (MPA) with CDOT.  You can find out more about what is required for the MPA in the Financial Qualification Brochure.

For contracting purposes, CDOT separates outsourced purchases into three primary categories, all of which have different procurement processes. Small business opportunities vary depending on the method of procurement, so it’s important to understand the elements of each purchasing path.

Highway Construction

CDOT’s Construction Contracts unit puts out invitations for bid for highway construction projects that include a wide range of bid items such as traffic control, trucking, paving, and electrical installation. These projects are developed and administered by region engineers, and are awarded to the lowest bidding prime contractor. CDOT calls firms in this purchasing path "Contractors." Bids are advertised on CDOT's website and prime contractors must submit their bids through Bid Express. 

Construction contracts using federal funds will be evaluated for a DBE goal; ESB programs are available to support firms interested in being a prime or subcontractor.

Highway Design & Professional Services

CDOT’s Engineering Contracts unit puts out Requests for Proposals to hire consultants for design and engineering services including geotechnical, environmental, and construction management. These projects are largely developed and administered by region engineers, and are awarded to the most qualified proposing team. CDOT calls firms in this purchasing path "Consultants." RFP's are advertised on CDOT's website and proposals must be submitted through Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing (BidNet).

Consultant contracts using federal funds will be evaluated for a DBE goal; ESB programs are available to support firms interested in being a prime or subconsultant.

General Goods & Services

CDOT’s Center for Procurement and Contract Services unit buys general goods, commodities, and services used for the day-to-day operations of the agency, including building construction and facility maintenance. Solicitations are posted on Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing (BidNet), and may take many forms.

Procurement contracts are not eligible for DBE or ESB goals; however Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) will receive a scoring incentive during evaluation.

Construction Contractors

If you provide a service that can be used on a highway construction project such as traffic control, erosion control, trucking, lane painting, etc., you are in a great position to be a subcontractor on a CDOT project. Of course, you need to have the basics mastered before you tackle a large-scale construction project. 

• You do NOT need to be prequalified to work as a subcontractor on a CDOT project

• You DO need to be registered in CDOT's Business Management (B2G) system

• You DO need to submit bids to Prime contractors who are bidding on CDOT projects

• You DO need to have General Liability insurance

• You MAY need to be bonded

For more specifics about subcontracting, check out the FHWA Construction Program Guide.

Design/Engineering Consultants

If you provide a service that can be used on a highway design project such as engineering, architecture, environmental, surveying, geotechnical, bridge inspection, etc., you are also in a great position to be a subconsultant on a CDOT project. Of course, you need to have the basics mastered before you tackle a large-scale highway design project.

• You DO need to be prequalified to work as a subconsultant on a CDOT project and have a Master Pricing Agreement (MPA)

• You DO need to team with larger Prime consultants who are pursuing CDOT projects

• You DO need to have Professional Liability Insurance

WikiEngineer is a good resource for more detailed information about construction engineering and subconsulting.

One of the best ways for small businesses to find contracting opportunities with CDOT is to subcontract to larger companies. Marketing your services to prime contractors that frequently work with CDOT will significantly increase your chances of landing a job. Most large primes cover all aspects of highway construction from design to build but they often need specialty services to fill in gaps or meet DBE and ESB goals on projects. 

The starting point is identifying primes that are going after CDOT projects in the areas that you work. For example, if you provide services such as environmental or civil engineering, you will want to find prime consultants that work on highway design projects. If you provide construction services such as erosion control, trucking or paving, you will want to find prime contractors that work on highway construction projects.

Below is a list of resources for locating CDOT prime contractors and consultants.

• Prime consultant directory

• Prime contractor directory

• Plan holder lists

• Bid tabulations

• CDOT Business Management System (B2G)

  • Create an account and login

  • Go to View > My Bid Solicitations on the left side menu of your dashboard

  • Click on View next to a project bid you are interested in pursuing

  • Click on View Planholders List at the top of the page

  • Search for contacts listed as a Prime in the right column

CDOT is a government agency and as such they have more stringent requirements than typical commercial contracts. Before you start working on a project, you will need to have appropriate professional and auto insurance with CDOT named as an additional insured, and it may be at a higher level than you currently have. Be sure to review the requirements in the contract and discuss policies with your current insurance provider. 

You will also need to have adequate bonding for the level of project you plan to bid on. On smaller projects, the prime contractor may waive or assist with subcontractor bonds. However, in most cases, bonding is a requirement for highway construction contractors. This could be performance, payment and/or bid bonds. 

You may also be required to provide proof of current licenses, such as a Colorado Professional Engineer License, for key personnel listed in your proposal. Make sure that all licenses are up-to-date and certificate copies are readily available to submit to CDOT upon contract award.