FREE GUIDE: How to Find Your Next FDOT Project Opportunity Before Your Competition Does
As someone who oversaw FDOT’s $12 billion work program, I’m constantly asked how companies can identify lucrative opportunities before everyone else. Today, I’m sharing my insider playbook for navigating FDOT’s Work Program to discover projects months or even years before they hit the street.
Why the Work Program Matters
Let me start with something crucial: the Work Program isn’t just another boring government database – it’s your window into billions of dollars in future transportation projects. During my time as FDOT General Counsel, I watched how the most successful firms consistently used this resource to position themselves months, sometimes years ahead of their competition. This isn’t just about finding work – it’s about strategic positioning that puts you first in line.
Understanding What You’re Looking At
The Work Program covers a five-year span, but here’s what most people miss: it’s not just about future projects. It shows current work, planned projects, and even completed jobs. This historical data is gold for understanding FDOT’s patterns and preferences in your target market. By studying what has been funded before, you can better predict what will be funded next.
Finding Your Opportunities
When you access the Work Program you’ll have several search options. First, you need to access the FDOT Five Year Work Program Application.
You can search through either the prior five year work program or the next five year work program. The website offers you the ability to search by County, or Category.
FDOT also offers a downloadable version of the Work Program in .zip format.
If you want to search all payments made by a state entity to any specific vendor, you can do so by viewing DFS’s Transparency Florida website. This website is a valuable tool for understanding your competitors’ current government contracting situation and spotting gaps in the market you could fill.
Selecting By County
If you select by County, you’re presented with a map of the districts and the ability to select a District and County.
After selecting “District 3 -> Leon County” you’re presented with the following list of categories and phases that you can explore.
If we click “Fixed Capital Outlay” — “Construction” you’ll see a list of upcoming FCO projects.
If we click the “Building Automation Upgrade” line item, you’re presented with a page showing that FDOT intends to spend $460,000 for a building automation upgrade in year 2028. Think about what this means – if you’re in the building automation business, you’ve just discovered a significant opportunity nearly four years before the procurement will begin.
Location is everything in this search. Moving to Miami-Dade county, for example, reveals major projects that will receive substantial continued funding, such as the $50m+ per year that will be spent on the Port of Miami Tunnel to SR 836/I-395. Projects of this magnitude create cascading opportunities for countless subcontractors and service providers.
Utilizing these location-based searches strategically can give your company a significant competitive advantage in the Florida transportation market.
Selecting By Category
If your company specializes in particular types of work rather than geographic regions, searching by category will yield better results. Choosing by category reveals the full spectrum of procurement opportunities available. Each category has its own sub type which applies. The complete listing is:
Highways
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Contract Incentives
Environmental
Operations
Capital
Administration
Design Build
Repayment
Miscellaneous
Turnpike
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Contract Incentives
Environmental
Operations
Capital
Administration
Design Build
Repayment
Miscellaneous
Fixed Capital Outlay
Preliminary Engineering
Construction
Environmental
Miscellaneous
Research & Testing
Research
Transportation Planning
Planning
Florida Rail Enterprise
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Contract Incentives
Environmental
Operations
Capital
Design Build
Modal Development: Transit
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Construction
Operations
Capital
Design Build
Modal Development: Aviation
Planning
Operations
Capital
Administration
Modal Development: Rail
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Environmental
Operations
Capital
Administration
Modal Development: Seaport
Planning
Operations
Capital
Administration
Modal Development: Intermodal
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Operations
Capital
Administration
Modal Development: Multimodal
Planning
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Administration
Transportation Disadvantaged
Planning
Operations
Miscellaneous
PD & E
Preliminary Engineering
Right of Way
Railroad & Utilities
Construction
Environmental
Operations
Capital
Administration
Design Build
Miscellaneous
Maintenance
Railroad & Utilities
Bridge/Roadway/Contract Maintenance
As you can see, there are numerous pathways for a company to find work with FDOT, regardless of your specialty. The key is identifying which categories align precisely with your capabilities and focusing your search there.
Optional Search Item Field
For even more precise targeting, use the optional search fields when exploring projects:
The “Type of Work” box is particularly powerful for drilling down to identify specific opportunities. The list is extensive and includes activities like adding lanes, bridge work, adding gables, environmental impact studies, maintenance, and more. By selecting the proper types of work, a company [can help identify opportunities to compete]{.mark} while filtering out irrelevant projects.
The other features of the Optional Search Box may also be useful depending on your specific circumstances and can save you considerable time in finding exactly what you’re looking for.
Cross Referencing
For the truly sophisticated searcher, the Work Program database can be used in conjunction with the Professional Services Consultant Acquisition Plan to get a comprehensive understanding of where FDOT dollars will go, and when. This dual-system approach gives you the most complete picture of upcoming opportunities.
The Strategy
Now that you understand the tools, let me share the strategy I’ve seen work best:
Geographic Search Strategy: Start with your target district or county. During my tenure, I noticed firms often cast too wide a net initially, wasting valuable time on irrelevant opportunities. Focus on your operational area first – you can always expand your search later once you’ve mastered your home territory.
Work Type Focus: The “Work Mix” search might seem overwhelming at first – FDOT has numerous work categories. Focus on your specialties and core competencies. If you’re a bridge contractor, start with bridge work types. If you’re a design firm, look for preliminary engineering and design projects. Your goal is quality leads, not quantity.
Phase Search: Here’s something crucial to understand: projects have different phases, and timing your business development efforts to these phases can make all the difference:
- Planning
- Project Development (PD&E)
- Design
- Right of Way
- Construction
Your interest in a project should depend on its phase. Design firms want to catch projects early in the Planning or PD&E phases. Contractors might focus on projects approaching the Right of Way or Construction phases. Understanding this project lifecycle gives you a strategic advantage over competitors who only look at the current phase.
Understanding Funding Codes: This is where many firms get confused but where real competitive advantage exists. The Work Program uses various funding codes that tell you:
- Funding source (federal, state, local)
- Type of work eligible
- Fiscal year planned
- Status of funding
Learning these codes helps you understand project timing and requirements. Funding codes will be the topic of a future article, as they require deeper explanation, but they’re worth investing time to understand.
Strategic Tips for Success
Let me share some insights from watching successful firms navigate this system over the years:
- Regular Monitoring: Don’t just search once and forget it. Set a regular schedule for checking updates. Smart firms often check monthly at minimum and assign specific team members to track certain districts or work types.
- Track Changes: Compare current versus tentative work programs. Changes in project timing or funding can signal important shifts in FDOT’s priorities or budget realities. These shifts often create unexpected opportunities for prepared firms.
- District Differences: Each district manages its work program slightly differently and has unique priorities. Understanding these nuances helps you target opportunities more effectively and tailor your approach accordingly. What works in District 1 may not work in District 6.
- Connect the Dots: Look for patterns in project sequencing. A PD&E study today might mean design work next year and construction after that. This forward-thinking approach can help you build a robust pipeline of opportunities stretching years into the future.
Looking Forward
In the next update of this guide, I’ll provide specific links and screenshots showing exactly how to access and use these resources. For now, start thinking about:
- Your geographic focus (which districts and counties align with your operational capabilities)
- Target work types (which categories match your company’s strengths)
- Project phases that match your services (when should you be entering the project lifecycle)
- Funding types that affect your business (which codes signal opportunities relevant to you)
Need guidance developing your Work Program strategy? Contact Gellis Law, PLLC for sophisticated counsel informed by direct experience with Florida’s transportation procurement system. We help companies turn Work Program data into actionable business development strategies.
