Prequalification, DBE Certification, EEO, Equal Opportunity, and Bidding Process

In order for bids on VDOT contracts to be considered, companies must meet certain requirements and follow the established bidding procedures. Learn about the process and get the forms you need here.

Prequalification Program

VDOT's Contractor Prequalification Program ensures that all contracts for the construction, improvement and maintenance of Virginia's transportation system are awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Virtually all construction and maintenance contracts advertised and let by the department require prospective bidders to be prequalified. In addition to prime contract work, contractor prequalification is also necessary for subcontractors unless otherwise noted in the contract specifications. Suppliers, haulers and consultants are not required to be prequalified.

DBE Program

Since VDOT receives federal funds, it is required to utilize disadvantaged businesses (minority-owned or women-owned) on projects let by the Department. In order to determine that the firms have the resources (equipment, personnel and financial capability) to perform, the firms are required to be prequalified as well. If you have questions about the DBE Program, please contact:

Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise,
1111 E. Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23219
1-800-223-0671 (Virginia Only)
(804) 786-6585 or visit their website at www.dmbe.virginia.gov.

A firm must meet the following basic requirements in order to be certified:

• Be at least 51% owned by minorities or women
• Day to day operations must be controlled by minorities or women
• Firm must be a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration
• The owner's personal net worth must not exceed $750,000.

The certification process takes approximately 60 days.

There are four basic steps to getting prequalified, DBE certified and bidding on VDOT projects.

Apply for and acquire contractor prequalification

Return the Prequalification Application ; Safety Rating Index Form - C38(Solicitud de precalificación ) to the address below:

Virginia Department of Transportation
Construction Division, Prequalification Section
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Attn:  Roy Thacker

Return the Certification Application (Solicitud de Certificación ) to the Address below:

Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise
1111 E. Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-1718
Attn:  DBE Section

The prequalification and certification applications are available only in PDF format, and you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. If you don't have this free software, download it here.

Please go to the Department of Labor's website to look up the work category for the C38 Form.

If you have questions about the prequalification forms or you are having trouble downloading the prequalification / DBE certification application and need a hard copy, please contact the Prequalification Officer, Roy Thacker, Construction Division, 1401 E. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23219 or by phone: (804) 786-2941.

Identify upcoming contract opportunities

Review VDOT's Construction Advertisement Bulletin Board (CABB) for descriptions of contracts recently advertised for bidding by VDOT and the date which bids are due.

Advertisement Subscription - All prequalified contractors are automatically mailed one free copy of all highway contract advertisements. Non-qualified businesses may buy an annual subscription to the ad listings for $86. For more information call (804) 371-0356 or Get subscription form.

Advertised contracts are identified as one of two types: Regular Advertisement and Awarded Process (RAAP), or Special Advertisement and Award Process (SAAP). For bidding purposes there are no real differences except for advertisement dates. Unless otherwise noted in the advertisement, the department will accept proposals only from contractors who have been prequalified by VDOT. Click here for more detail about projects.

Purchase plans and proposals

After identifying a project or projects of interest, you may purchase plans and proposals from the VDOT Construction Division Plan Room. To purchase plans by phone with a major credit card, call (804) 786-1898. Or pick up your plans in person at 1401 E. Broad Street, 12th Floor, Richmond, VA, 23219, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Plans and proposals for advertised contracts are identified by the Order Number listed in the corresponding advertisement. Please have the Order Number available when ordering your documents.

The plan room also has available for purchase the following publications:

• VDOT Road and Bridge Specification Book (Standard and Metric)
• Bid Tabulations
• VDOT Road and Bridge Standards (Standard) Regarding Electronic Bidding

Questions? E-mail us at vdotinfo@virginiadot.org.