Montana Department of Transportation

HIGHWAY CONTRACTORS
Latest Updates | Bid History
Contractor/Bidding Information
Trnsport Electronic Bidding Info
Letting Info/Q & A Forum
Prequalified Specialty Contractors
Projects - Awarded | Upcoming

DESIGN CONSULTANTS
Consultant Services Procedures
Prequalification Roster
Recently Selected Consultants
Upcoming Projects

SUPPLIES/SERVICES PURCHASING
Invitation for Bid - Purchasing
   -Bidding Procedure

GENERAL INFORMATION
FAQs | Design Build
Bridge Mgmt System
Debarred Bidders - Fed | MT
Forms | Manuals | Software
Qualified - Products | Technicians

CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAMS
ADA | DBE | EEO/LABOR | Title VI

ENVIRONMENTAL
Air/Noise | Hazardous Materials
Cultural Resources |Wetlands
Storm Sewer System Permits

PLANS/DESIGN
CADD Info | Project Templates
Road Design Project Guidelines

SPECIFICATIONS
Contractor Submittals
Detailed Drawings
Standard Specifications
Special Provisions | Supplements

REPORTS/MEMOS/MINUTES
Archived Reports
Avg Fuel & Asphalt Prices
Construction Memos | Reports
MCA-MDT Tech Committee Minutes

Contracting and Consulting with MDT Frequently Asked Questions DBE | EEO | Title VI

GENERAL Q. How do I get a question answered about a specific project for the current bid letting? You may ask a question regarding a specific project for the current bid letting by using our Project Question & Answer Forum. Q. Do you have to be pre-qualified to bid on a job in Montana? Prequalification is required only for some Specialty Types of work at this time. No other prequalification is required. Montana law requires all contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industry. Register before executing a contract on Federal Aid projects. Register before submitting a bid on State-funded projects. Contact the Department of Labor & Industry at 406.444.7734 for more information. Q. How does my company get added to your "Contractor's List"? Your company will automatically be added by ordering plans, specifications or detailed drawings from our department. If you view these items online, you may call our office and request to be added. This list is updated on a monthly basis. Q. What is my Contractor ID number? Your four digit Contractor ID number (Vendor Number) is assigned to your company by Contract Plans. It is the number you need to use to submit a bid. This number identifies you in our database. Your company will be assigned a number when you order plans. If you do not know what your number is, you may get it by contacting our office. Q. How do I find out what projects are being advertised for the current month? The current month's advertisement will be listed in the Invitation For Bids. This is found on contracting/consulting menu at our website at the following address: http://www.mdt.mdt.mt.gov/business/contracting.shtml. On the Contracting/Consulting web site, under Bidding/Letting select "Invitation For Bid - Projects". Q. Why do I get the old month's advertisement sometimes when I try to view the Invitation For Bids? From time to time, an old month's advertisement will appear when you try to view the Invitation. To pull in the new information - with the old invitation on your screen, refresh your view. The new information should appear. This should bring in the new advertisement for you. Q. How do I find out if a project has an addenda? The first addenda on a project will be posted on Wednesday, a week before the bid letting date, by noon. Any project addenda information will be listed on the Contracting and Consulting web page at the following address: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/contract/external/reports/addenda.pdf. We will also be posting complete addenda information incuding plan sheets, special provisions and quantities that have changed on our FTP site at the following address: ftp://ftp.mdt.mt.gov/contract/bid-packages/. Choose the folder that corresponds to the project name (or an abbreviation of the name). Then choose the addenda folder. If a project has a second addenda, it will be posted on Monday the week of the bid letting, by noon. Q. How do I find out if there are preliminary plans on a project? You are welcome to call our office to ask about preliminary plans on a project. There is also a report available on the Contracting and Consulting web page. You will see a list of projects that have preliminary quantities available. If you continue to scroll down, you will find quantities for each project. If you decide you would like a set of preliminary plans, you may call our office or fax an order form with the name of the project written in and "prelim" written next to it. All prelims are $10.00. Q. Can I submit a hard copy bid bond instead of using the electronic bond verification process when I am supplying an electronic bid through Bid Express? When submitting bids to the Montana Department of Transportation using online bidding through Bid Express, it is acceptable to use a hard copy Bid Bond. However, the Department accepts no responsibility for non-receipt or late receipt of the bond due to its delivery. The Department is also not responsible for erroneous misdirection of the hard copy Bid Bond upon receipt. The Department will do what it can to avoid misplaced Bid Bonds, but the use of a hard copy Bid Bond for an online bid is at the contractor’s sole risk. Q. I have a non-project related questions that is not answered here, how can I get it answered? For non-project specific quesition you may contact us via email at or phone at 406-444-6216. DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) Q. What are the prime contractors responsibilities, regarding the DBE Program and the payments they make to their subcontractors? All payments made to any subcontractor on an MDT Federally funded project must be reported to the MDT DBE Program Manager. The information included should be, project number and designation, Prime's name, subs name, date of payment, amount of payment, and the line items being paid. These must be submitted monthly. Q. If a DBE has been used on the Schedule of Participation, what are the steps that must be taken in order for the prime to make changes to their contract? A request must be submitted in writing to the EPM, who will then submit it to the DBE Program Manager. All reasons for the change and the firm the prime plans to use in their place must be included in the request. For more detailed information, please see the DBE Program page or refer to the MDT DBE Program Guidelines. Q. Who can receive DBE Supportive Services assistance? Companies classified as highway-related that are certified in the Montana Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE ) program. All businesses and/or individuals can attend any workshops sponsored by DBE Supportive Services. For more information, view the DBE Support Services page. Q. What business services does DBE Supportive Services provide? DBE Supportive Services provides direct assistance to DBE companies with guidance on industry-specific issues, development of business skills, funding for business development expenses, and information and resources to assist businesses. Sponsors industry-specific and business training workshops. Publishes a monthly DBE newsletter to inform businesses of opportunities, business-related articles, and MDT rules and procedures. Q. What is the MCA DBE Liaison Committee? This is a Montana Contractors' Association Committee that partners with MDT to improve relations between prime contractors and subcontractors; provide valuable input to the MDT DBE Program; build a successful DBE program; and discuss issues in a conducive environment to find solutions. EEO & LABOR COMPLIANCE Q. Who should I contact regarding questions about ADA accessibility on federal-aid highway construction projects? Please view our program description. If you are unable to find the information you need feel free to contact 406.444.9229. Q. Who should I contact regarding questions about EEO compliance or Labor issues? Please view our program description. If you are unable to find the information you need feel free to contact 406.444.6331. Q. What is the best way to file an EEO or Labor Complaint? Notify the project superintendent verbally and in writing about your concerns. There are complaint procedures, contact information and forms on the project bulletin board. If your complaint is about the behaviors of your superintendent notify your firm's EEO Officer. If you cannot access the information on the bulletin board notify and state inspector on the project or call 406.444.6331. Q. How can I get EEO and/or Labor training? There is an annual EEO Officer Assembly and individualized training opportunities provided. Interest parties need only contact the Civil Rights Bureau. There are also yearly Labor training and individualized training opportunities. If you are interested in either contact the Civil Rights Bureau at 406.444.6331. Q. What if I don't like what someone is saying of how he/she is behaving? Tell them politely but firmly you don't care for their talk and/or actions. Document the situation and your actions with date, time and witnesses. If the behaviors reoccur report the problem to your supervisor and/or EEO Officer. Q. What if I don't agree with the hours I'm getting on the job? Keep your own record by date of the number of hours you work in each classification. Do not sign your time card if you disagree with the hours or sign it with the word "objection" under your name. If the situation is not corrected, contact your firms' payroll person and/or contact the Civil Rights Bureau at 406.444.6331. TITLE VI Q. Who should I contact regarding questions about Title VI? Please view our program description. If you are unable to find the information you need feel free to contact 406.444.6331. What do I do if I think someone is treating me differently? If you have believe you have been treated differently based on a protected status, document what has occurred (Who, what, where, when, why, how). Remember to document specifics of any situation. You may submit a written complaint with specific allegations to the concerned agency, local or state, or to the Civil Rights Bureau in Helena 406.444.6331. A complaint must be filed not later than 180 days after the date of knowledge of the alleged discrimination. Title VI Complaint Procedures/Form How do I get Title VI training? Title VI training is available by contacting 406.444.6331. If a non-English speaking person must be spoken with regarding a federal aid project site, am I required to do anything special to communicate with them? This is covered by the Limited English Proficiency component of Title VI. Executive Order 13166 requires meaningful access to all federal financially assisted programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). State "English-only" laws do not relieve an entity that receives federal funding from its responsibilities under federal anti-discrimination laws. Various options are available for providers, including a list of interpreters. Limited English Proficiency: Interpreters List Is there specific Title VI language that is required in contracts for federal aid projects? Yes. Language required in contracts can be found in the Title VI Party. Customer federal aid CTEP and Maintenance Questions and Answers As a local government administrator of a federal aid CTEP project, are there civil rights requirements I must follow? Yes. These requirements are found in the CTEP Civil Rights Agenda As a contractor on a federal aid maintenance project, are there civil rights requirements I must follow? The requirements you need to follow can be found in the Civil Rights Manual.