NYSDOT Implementation Of New Process To Improve Availability Of Construction Contracts

ALBANY, NY (06/17/2013)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Joan McDonald today announced a new web-based process making contract documents for road and bridge projects available electronically to construction contractors. The new system allows the Department to be more responsive to the contracting community, and creates a more efficient process for communicating our project plans to the industry and responding to questions.

"Streamlining our process makes it more efficient for customers to do business with New York State and allows us to be more responsive to contractor needs," Commissioner McDonald said. "This move follows Governor Andrew Cuomo's direction of making it easier to do business in and with the State of New York."

This new process is part of Governor Cuomo's initiative to use technology to improve collaboration and efficiency in State agency operations.

All contracting documents will now be available on www.dot.ny.gov/business for free and immediate download. Questions and comments regarding project plans will now be received and responded to electronically. This allows inquiries to be addressed right up to the letting date, which is the day the contractors must submit their final bids for projects. The formal amendment process will continue to be used for any changes to the original bid documents.

Previously, plans were available only on paper, CD or a fee for service website, but not on the NYSDOT website.

The new system was implemented this week, beginning with contracts advertised for letting on July 11 of this year. CDs will remain available for all projects with a letting date on or before September 5, 2013. CDs will not be made available for contracts let after that date, with all documents available on-line only.

Documents now available on-line include contract proposals, plans, supplemental information, and amendments. Potential bidders can ask contract-related questions on-line and NYSDOT will post answers.

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