Geographic Coverage and Focus

The list includes transportation departments from nearly all U.S. states, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the District of Columbia. These departments handle the majority of public infrastructure projects, including highway construction, bridge repairs, traffic management systems, and public transit developments.

Alabama Department of Transportation

Arizona Department of Transportation

  • Website: http://www.azdot.gov
  • Parent: State of Arizona
  • Details: Suppliers can register at the ProcureAZ platform to receive RFQs, bids (IFBs), and proposals (RFPs) related to their products and services.

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department

California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)

Colorado Department of Transportation

Connecticut Department of Transportation

Delaware Department of Transportation

District Department of Transportation (Washington, D.C.)

Florida Department of Transportation

Georgia Department of Transportation

  • Website: Not listed
  • Parent: State of Georgia

Hawaii Department of Transportation

Illinois Department of Transportation

Indiana Department of Transportation

Kansas Department of Transportation

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

  • Parent: State of Louisiana

Maine Department of Transportation

Maryland Department of Transportation

  • Parent: State of Maryland

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

  • Parent: State of Massachusetts
  • Details: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) also provides access to bids via their project page.

Michigan Department of Transportation

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Mississippi Department of Transportation

Missouri Department of Transportation

Nebraska Department of Roads

  • Parent: State of Nebraska

Nevada Department of Transportation

New Hampshire Department of Transportation

New Jersey Department of Transportation

New Mexico Department of Transportation

New York Department of Transportation

North Carolina Department of Transportation

North Dakota Department of Transportation

Ohio Department of Transportation

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Oregon Department of Transportation

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  • Parent: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island Department of Transportation

  • Parent: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

South Carolina Department of Transportation

  • Parent: State of South Carolina

Tennessee Department of Transportation

  • Parent: State of Tennessee

Texas Department of Transportation

  • Website: http://www.txdot.gov
  • Parent: State of Texas
  • Details: Includes DBE certification agencies like the City of Houston, Austin, and various Texas-based regional authorities for disadvantaged businesses.

U.S. Department of Transportation

Utah Department of Transportation

Virginia Department of Transportation

Washington State Department of Transportation

West Virginia Department of Transportation

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Key Observations by Region:

  1. Southern States (Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida): These states have a high focus on road and highway infrastructure, largely due to population growth and their roles as logistics and trade hubs.
    • Texas, in particular, has a robust infrastructure system managed through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and certifying agencies like TUCP DBE Certifying Agencies that provide certification for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). Contractors looking to work in Texas need to be aware of these certification processes.
  2. Western States (California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon): States in the West are characterized by large-scale projects, driven by urban expansion, major highways, and rail transit systems.
    • California: With one of the largest economies in the world, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) manages a vast array of public works and transportation projects. Opportunities in this state are numerous but come with high competition.
  3. Midwestern States (Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri): The Midwest continues to invest in maintaining and modernizing its aging infrastructure.
    • Illinois and Ohio are both examples of states where maintaining interstate highway systems and public transit systems is a priority. In particular, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is a central point for large infrastructure bids, which include public-private partnerships in many cases.
  4. Eastern States (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania): The East Coast, especially New York and New Jersey, features some of the oldest infrastructure in the U.S., including bridges, tunnels, and highways.
    • The New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) offers a range of projects focusing on maintenance and upgrades to these critical pieces of infrastructure. They also emphasize vendor participation in sustainability-focused projects.

Bid Platforms and Portals

Each state uses its own bidding platform to streamline the submission process for contractors. Many states have transitioned to digital portals that allow contractors to register, manage their certifications, and submit bids. Below are some highlights:

  1. BidX: Used by states like Kansas and Missouri, BidX (also known as Bidx.com) is a specialized platform for highway construction and transportation-related bids. It allows contractors to submit bids for projects involving bridges, roads, and other infrastructure improvements.
  2. ProcureAZ: The Arizona Department of Transportation uses ProcureAZ, a state-wide procurement platform that provides RFQs, IFBs, and RFPs directly to registered suppliers. This platform allows for efficient dissemination of bids, and suppliers are encouraged to keep their offerings updated to increase their chances of winning contracts.
  3. State-Specific Platforms: Some states, such as Ohio and New York, host their own bespoke bidding platforms.
    • Ohio’s Department of Transportation provides guidance and purchasing resources through its own contractor portal, which is comprehensive and includes tools for bid preparation and submission.
    • New York’s DOT uses the New York State Contract Reporter, which includes not only DOT projects but also other public works opportunities across the state.
  4. Vendor Certification Portals: Many states, such as Washington State DOT (WSDOT) and Virginia DOT, emphasize certification processes for minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). These certifications can give contractors competitive advantages when bidding on government projects, as many projects have DBE participation requirements.

City, State, and National-Level Bidding Opportunities

1. State-Level Bids:

  • Illinois, California, and New York tend to offer the largest volume of infrastructure bids, given their population sizes and aging infrastructure. Contractors in these states must contend with high competition but also greater project volumes and diversity in contract sizes.
  • New Jersey DOT and Minnesota DOT offer a mix of smaller and medium-sized projects, which can be attractive to smaller contractors looking to build capacity and experience.

2. City-Level Bids:

  • Some transportation departments are more localized, like New York City’s DOT, which works alongside the state department but focuses specifically on city infrastructure. The city-level focus often involves more localized public works, such as street repairs, bus transit lanes, and bike infrastructure, offering unique opportunities for smaller contractors.

3. National-Level Bids:

  • U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) bids involve massive federal projects, typically covering interstate highways, national railways, and multi-state initiatives. These projects often require large-scale coordination and project management but come with greater financial opportunities.
  • Federal projects also encourage the participation of disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses through various certification programs, which can be a huge advantage for qualifying contractors.

Key Takeaways & Strategy for Contractors

  1. Leverage State-Specific Certifications: Many states, like Texas, Virginia, Washington, and New York, emphasize the importance of DBE certification. Contractors should seek certification if they meet the criteria, as this can open the door to special consideration on state and federal contracts, especially where DBE participation is mandated.
  2. Focus on High-Growth Areas: States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona are experiencing rapid population growth, which translates to increased demand for infrastructure. Contractors in these regions will benefit from tracking new bid opportunities, especially for highway construction, urban development, and utility upgrades.
  3. Monitor Federal Opportunities: Contractors looking for large-scale projects should focus on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), where interstate and multi-state projects are advertised. These bids often involve larger scopes, requiring significant resources, but come with higher potential returns.
  4. Bid on a Diverse Range of Projects: While some departments focus on highway and bridge construction (e.g., Kansas DOT, Missouri DOT), others, like California and New York, offer bids for public transit, traffic management systems, and sustainability-focused projects like electric vehicle charging infrastructure and bike lanes. Contractors with diverse service offerings can find opportunities in these varied project types.
  5. Adopt Digital Bidding Tools: As most of the transportation departments have moved to online bid management systems, contractors need to be familiar with the registration, submission, and follow-up processes on these platforms. Frequent updates of offerings, certifications, and qualifications can enhance a contractor’s chances of being invited to bid.