Government Contracts / DOT
Department of Transportation (DOT) — small business spending goals, top NAICS codes, and how to get on the vendor list as a post-acquisition buyer.
Small Biz Spend
$3.2B
Small Biz Goal
22%
SDVOSB Goal
3%
WOSB Goal
5%
Top categories
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
FHWA-funded construction — primarily flows through state DOTs with federal oversight and subcontracting requirements.
Engineering Services
Transportation planning, traffic engineering, and infrastructure design for FAA, FHWA, FTA, and NHTSA.
Computer Systems Design
FAA and FTA IT systems — air traffic control technology, transit management, and safety systems.
Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
FAA support services — ground operations, facility maintenance, and aviation safety support.
Remediation Services
Environmental cleanup at transportation infrastructure sites — highway construction and transit maintenance facilities.
How to get on the list
Register in SAM.gov with active UEI.
Identify the DOT operating administration most relevant to the acquired firm: FHWA, FAA, FTA, FMCSA, NHTSA, FRA, or PHMSA — each has independent contracting.
For highway and infrastructure work, understand that most FHWA funds flow through state DOTs as grants — bid on state contracts, not directly on FHWA solicitations.
For aviation work (FAA), check the FAA acquisition forecast at faa.gov/acquisitions — FAA issues its own solicitations separately from DOT-wide procurement.
Contact the DOT OSDBU (Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization) for subcontracting opportunities with DOT prime contractors.
Contract vehicles
FHWA State Formula Grants
Most highway construction funding flows through state DOTs — bid on state contracts for FHWA-funded projects, not federal contracts directly.
FAA IDIQ vehicles
FAA issues IDIQs for technical and IT support services — check the FAA acquisition forecast for upcoming vehicles.
GSA MAS Schedule
Professional and IT services at DOT agencies often purchased through GSA MAS.
DOT OST task orders
Office of the Secretary of Transportation issues management consulting and IT task orders under its own acquisition vehicles.
Acquisition strategy
DOT is an attractive agency for firms in transportation-adjacent industries — engineering, IT, and construction. The key distinction for acquisition buyers: FHWA funding flows through states, not directly to small business federal contractors. An acquired engineering or construction firm with existing relationships with state DOTs benefits from federal FHWA dollars without competing for federal contracts directly. For IT and professional services, FAA is the more direct opportunity — FAA issues its own solicitations and has a strong track record of small business utilization.
SAM.gov registration note
DOT solicitations appear on SAM.gov under agency code "DOT" and component codes (FAA, FHWA, FTA, etc.). FAA publishes its own acquisition forecast at faa.gov/acquisitions — a useful supplement to SAM.gov searches. FHWA-funded construction opportunities are primarily on state procurement portals, not SAM.gov.
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