I need a prequalified contractor list for _each_ state in the U.S.A.
pertaining to heavy construction (state approved heavy highway
construction, highway repair and bridge contractors) that contain fax
numbers.  

These lists may not be called "Prequalified Contractors" in
all states so adaptive searching will be needed as you find keywords
pertaining to this.  

Other heavy contractor lists discovered along the way that make
use of heavy construction equipment (usage of large excavators, bull
dozers, etc. for heavy highway construction, bridge
construction, mining, steel mills etc.) should be collected as
well, but please designate this under a different list so as to
distinguish the difference.

These lists should be as recent and as up-to-date as possible.  These
lists need to be state approved and _not_ consist of general
contractors such home builders, sky scraper builders, electricians and
so forth.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 13 Jun 2005 17:37 PDT

ylon-ga,

I think we can probably help you find some of the information you are looking for.

But I don't think your question is likely to receive an answer in its
current form.  There are a few problems with it:

--finding lists in all 50 states may not be possible.  Suppose a
researcher only finds 45 states...they won't be able to answer your
question, and will have expended an awful lot of effort for nothing.

--Similarly, we may find lists, but they may not include fax numbers
-- or may mix up heavy and light contractors --  in which case they
won't be viable as part of an answer.

--Even at the maximum GA price of $200, your question works out to a
fee of $4 per state, which -- pardon my saying so -- isn't a
particularly attractive rate of compensation.


If I may offer a suggestion, consider re-phrasing your question to ask
for a smaller number of lists -- perhaps ten -- and price adjust the
price as you see fit.  You can always ask a follow-up question
requesting additional lists, if the first ten suit your needs.

The lists do seem to be out there, as this one demonstrates:


http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/pqlist/PqListA.Htm


but as I noted above, it seems to mix heavy construction contractors
with others, such as tree removal!
 

I hope my suggestions are helpful.  Let us know what you think.


pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by ylon-ga on 13 Jun 2005 18:46 PDT

I understand, I have several lists myself already.  Lets do a couple
of things as per your request for clarification.  Please let me know
if they are acceptable.

First, I understand that some lists may not be available at all via
electronic format, yet some lists will only take a few minutes to
obtain.  I'm going to accept an answer as long as A) the best skilled
effort is given and B) I can see that, by a quick summary explaining,
why a particular state could not be found.  I would find it acceptable
if at least 70%-75% of the following states are found (this can be the
list used to search rather than the original "all states in the
U.S.A."):
Pennsylvania
Florida
Alabama
Alaska
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho 
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana 
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma 
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

I also understand that an entire list may also have some things like
"tree removal" in them.  I used such strong wording to indicate that I
cannot have a list that is comprised of mainly light contractors. 
Most state pre-qualified contractors lists will be comprised of heavy
construction, just please verify that fact as there are lists that are
simply suppliers of equipment and such and do not include the heavy
construction contractors.  I want to avoid these non heavy
construction groups _as_much_as_possible_.

As I said, some (perhaps many) of these hits should just be a matter
of a quick search or a few refinements, some may take longer and some
involved digging.  Some keys that I've found involve looking for:
excel files, pdfs, .gov, and .us sites; including fax as a keyword can
also be helpful sometimes.  In my estimation it should even out for
someone doing the work.

Please let me know if this helps and is acceptable.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 13 Jun 2005 19:10 PDT

This sounds much more workable, and my thanks for such a quick reply
(and I hope my original comments weren't too heavy-handed).

I'll take a look and let you know if I think I can answer this for
you.  In the mean time, if you can offer any feedback on the Texas
list, it would be much appreciated:


http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/pqlist/PqListA.Htm



Is this list on target?  If not, it would help to know what's missing.

Thanks again,

paf

---

Clarification of Question by ylon-ga on 13 Jun 2005 19:24 PDT

paf, yes, that looks like you are on the right track.  As a matter of
fact, as you notice, Texas is not on my revised list because I had
used that very list prior to ever posting this question!  So yes,
you're going down the right path.  The Texas list is on target as it
is the state's prequalified/bonded construction contractor list.

The more faxes, the merrier... :)

One other note, if the lists can be all on one page or easily
navigated or in a spreadsheet or pdf that is better as well, but hey,
beggars can't be choosers! :)  I'm just simply trying to get it into a
format with which I can work.

You are going down the right path though!  I'm already developing some
other questions to ask if this goes well!

ylon-ga,


Lists?  We got lists.


[Alabama -- no faxes, I'm afraid, and a mixed list, to boot, but
enough here to possibly be of value]
http://www.dot.state.al.us/NR/rdonlyres/FA27996C-40EB-427C-A90B-CE095D7344FA/0/aldot_contractors_list.pdf
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PREQUALIFIED PRIME CONTRACTORS
05/26/2005


[Arizona -- Mixed list of heavy and light, but plenty of faxes -- the
link below is for the "A" companies.  Click on other letters of the
alphabet to see the rest]
http://www.dot.state.az.us/Highways/cns/contractor_list.asp?alpha=A
Arizona Department of Transportation 
Prequalified Contractors 


[Connecticut -- barebones list, no faxes]
http://www.ct.gov/dot/LIB/dot/Documents/dcontracts/LIST_PREQ_CONT_1.pdf
Connecticut Department of Transportation
List of Prequalified Highway and Bridge Construction Firms
June 6, 2005


[another small list for some CT contractors]
www.cpca.uconn.edu/MiniLIST.DOC
LIST OF MINI-MAC PRE-QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS



[Florida -- no faxes, alas]
http://www3.dot.state.fl.us/consultantcontractorqualification/PreQualStatus/MultiListing.asp
CONTRACTOR PREQUALIFICATION LISTING
Florida Department of Transportation 



[Iowa -- mixed list, no faxes]
https://secure.spindustry.com/idot/asp/secure/prequal/consult.asp
Prequalification for Iowa DOT Work



[Kansas -- big mixed list with faxes]
www.ksdot.org/divoperat/rptInternetList.pdf
Kansas DOT 
May 11, 2005




[Kentucky -- decent list, mixed companies, faxes]
http://transportation.ky.gov/Contract/Pqbook.pdf
COMMOMWEALTH OF KENTUCKY * TRANSPORTATION CABINET * FRANKFORT KENTUCKY
Prequalified Contractors List
June 14, 2005


[another from KY, pretty good, but local, with faxes, and nicely
organized by category]
www.lwcky.com/infrastructure/ admin/RBF%20Pre-qualified%20Contractors.pdf
Louisville Water Company 
RBF Pre-qualified Contractors



[Maine -- no faxes, I'm afraid]
http://www.state.me.us/mdot/contractor-consultant-information/prequalified_contractors_03-22-05.htm
CONTRACTOR PREQUALIFICATION STATUS
03/22/05 



[Minnesota -- Lousy list -- names only, no fax or address]
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/consult/files/prequal/prequalification%20by%20worktype%20060305.pdf
Minnesota DOT
PRE-QUALIFIED VENDORS BY WORKTYPE



[Montana -- large list, mixed, some with faxes]
http://www3.mdt.state.mt.us:7782/mttplc/MTTPLC.TPLK0006.EXT_CONTRACTOR_LIST?CCORP=&CNAME=&CCITY=&CSTATE=
MT DOT
SELECTED CONTRACTORS



[Nebraska -- tons o' faxes....note the codes at page bottom describing
contractor activities]
http://www.dor.state.ne.us/letting/prequalified.htm
Nebraska Dept of Roads
Pre-Qualified Contractors 
Last Updated: 06/07/2005



[New Hampshire -- mixed bag of heavy and light, but I included it just
the same...lots of faxes, at least]
http://webster.state.nh.us/dot/contracts/pdf/PreQualifiedContractorsList.pdf
NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
June 9, 2005 
PREQUALIFIED CONTRACTORS



[Nevada -- Good list, mixed, but lots of heavy contractors and faxes]
http://www.nevadadot.com/business/contractor/bulletins/contractorids.asp
Nevada Department of Transportation



[New Jersey -- not a good list...just names and addreses]
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/prequalified.shtm
NJ DOT
Construction Services
Contractors Prequalified As of February, 2005 



[New York -- not quite a prequal list, and only has names and addresses]
http://www.dot.state.ny.us/cmb/files/successfulbidders.pdf
NY DOT
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS BY FIRM NAME
3/29/2005




[North Dakota -- list appears to contain some construction as well as
engineering firms, but no faxes]
http://www.state.nd.us/dot/docs/Prequalified.pdf
ND DOT
PREQUALIFIED CONSULTING ENGINEERS & CATEGORIES
Revised December 7, 2004



-----
[Ohio -- good list, faxes]
ftp://www.dot.state.oh.us/Pub/Contracts/PREQUAL/WTpre-qual.htm
Ohio DOT
Office of Contracts - Prequalified Contractors by Worktype 
Updated June 3, 2005


NOTE:  You can select the companies to be listed by using the column
on the left that says:
"Click on a worktype below:"

For instance, you might want to try clicking on number 4:

Worktype 4 - Roadway Excavation & Embankment Construction 
-----



[Oregon -- faxes galore!]
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/CS/OPO/construction/ docs/PQ/051105contractorlist.pdf 
Oregon DOT
ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF PREQUALIFIED CONTRACTORS
UPDATED AS OF June 08, 2005



[Pennsylvania -- pretty good list, lots of faxes]
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/CMS/EBS/data/Preqlist/preqdbe.txt
PENNSYLVANIA                                  
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION     



-----
[Rhode Island -- no sign of a prequal list]
http://www.dot.state.ri.us/webproj/engineering/mainpages/index.asp
RI DOT
Engineering

though they do have the somewhat related DBE directory with lots o' faxes:


http://www.dot.state.ri.us/WebProj/contracts/MBE_Directory.pdf
Rhode Island Directory of MBE/WBE/DBE Firms
January 1, 2005
-----



[South Carolin -- faxes!]
http://www.scdot.org/doing/ConstructionDocs/pdfs/PCL/PCL.pdf
SOUTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
LIST OF PREQUALIFIED PRIME CONTRACTORS
AS OF: JUNE 9, 2005






[South Dakota -- looks like a winner]
http://www.sddot.com/HZ19PrequalContractor/prequal_a.asp
SD DOT
Prequalified Contractors




[Utah -- no faxes!, and a mixed list, to boot]
http://www.sr.ex.state.ut.us/download.php/tid=449/061005.preq.pdf
Utah Department of Transportation
Construction Division
Jun 10, 2005
Prequalified Contractors





[Virginia -- large list, mixed contractors, faxes]
http://www.virginiadot.org/business/const/resources/prequalified-list.pdf
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PREQUALIFIED VENDORS
AS OF 06/10/05




[Vermont -- perfect list]
http://www.aot.state.vt.us/conadmin/Documents/PrequalList.pdf
Prequalified Contractors
May 24, 2005
VTrans





[Washington -- mixed list, no faxes]
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/wsdotpro/plnhld/expir.txt
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
CONTRACT PREQUALIFICATION  



-----
[Wisconsin -- profoundly annoying site that forced me to register
before I could review their site information -- it's a lousy list
anyway, with no faxes, and not even clear if these are all
prequalified]

https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/extntgtwy/hcci/bid-letting/reports/allcontr.pdf
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ALL CONTRACTORS
13JUN05

If the link doesn't work, you'll have to go to the registration page:

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/engrserv/bid-letting-information.htm

and click where it says: "register for a user ID and password"
-----



[Wyoming -- good descriptions, but no faxes, and a mixed list]

http://www.dot.state.wy.us/Construction/PrequalifiedContractors/PrequalifiedContractors.jsp
Wyoming Department of Transportation
Prequalified Contractors






=========================

These states did not appear to offer a Prequalification List, as far
as I could tell:


[nothing turned up in AK]
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/


[or DE]
http://www.deldot.gov/static/business/bids/const_vendor_lists.html


[CA doesn't, apparently]
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/construc/072414.html
Can you please provide me with a list of Prequalified Contractors? 
We do not have a list containing that information since we do not
prequalify contractors
California Department of Transportation


[no sign of a list in HI]
http://www.state.hi.us/dot/


[nothing turned up for MD]
http://www.mdot.state.md.us/


[ditto for Massachusetts]
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/prequal02&sid=about


[nothing in MS about prequalification]
http://www.gomdot.com/bidsystem/
MS DOT


[nor in NM]
http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us/
NM DOT 


[no sign of a prequal list for OK]
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/qualinfo.htm
OK DOT


======================


Whew!

I trust this information fully answers your question.  However, please
don't rate this answer until you have everything you need.  If you
would like any additional information, just post a Request for
Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further, and I'm at
your service.

By the way, I can't imagine a way to consolidate all these addresses
into a single spreadsheet or file, other than by brute force
copy-and-paste, which would take about a month, except that I'd die of
boredom first.  Hope you understand...

All the best,

pafalafa-ga


search strategy -- I tried numerous search combinations, but the most
practical turned out to be finding the DOT site for each state and
just prowling around or site-searching for the prequalified
contractors list.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ylon-ga on 15 Jun 2005 05:57 PDT

This is looking really good paf.  I think that this will be
sufficient.  There are several lists on there that I already have, but
you did a heroic job and it is much appreciated.  I'm going to look
over it a little more closely in a short while to verify a couple of
things, but you did very well nonetheless as I understand the chore
that this was.

I will, shortly after this, be coming up with another list to request
as well which will involve some more digging, but there will not be
_nearly_ the number of results (probably a total of around 150 main
hits) of this one so it should not be as difficult a dig so please
keep your eyes peeled!

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ylon-ga on 15 Jun 2005 10:29 PDT

OK paf, I finally got a chance to review it.  I would, however, like a
clarification on some.  I searched through the list on which I said to
work (you did include a few of those states that I'd already found and
that were not on the list, but thats no problem) and I found the
following not noted (ie, it was not noted that you found that their
lists were findable or not):
Alaska
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
New Mexico
Oklahoma

Could you please let me know about these as they were on that list or
let me know the status of them?  I do appreciate your work and the
manner in which you documented everything so far!!!

Thanks much!

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 15 Jun 2005 11:21 PDT

ylon-ga,

Here you go:

-----
Idaho

The DOT page refers users to the Div. of Buiding Safety for a list of contractors:

https://www.dbs.idaho.gov/edbspublic/lprbrowser.aspx

There is no direct link to a list, but you can generate one from the
form on this page.  I chose:

Bureau -- Public Works Contractors Licensing
Status -- A-Active

Click "Start Search" to generate an 11-page list (not sure if these
are 'prequalified' or not), but no fax numbers, I'm afraid.

-----

I could have sworn I had Louisiana on my original list, but apparently
not, so here it is:


http://www.dotd.state.la.us/lettings/bidsactv.shtml
Active Contractors  
June 09, 2005  
Includes licensed contractors who submitted bids in the past year  


...and guess what...faxes included!


===============


All the rest you mentioned were included in my original answer, as
states that did not appear to have a prequalified contractors list.  I
referred to the states by abbreviation rather than name, which is
probably why they were so easily overlooked.  Here they are, again:



Alaska
[nothing turned up in AK]
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/



Delaware
[nothing in DE]
http://www.deldot.gov/static/business/bids/const_vendor_lists.html



Hawaii
[no sign of a list in HI]
http://www.state.hi.us/dot/


Maryland
[nothing turned up for MD]
http://www.mdot.state.md.us/


Mississippi
nothing in MS about prequalification]
http://www.gomdot.com/bidsystem/
MS DOT


New Mexico
[nor in NM]
http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us/
NM DOT 

Oklahoma
[no sign of a prequal list for OK]
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/qualinfo.htm
OK DOT



Again, let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.


paf

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ylon-ga on 15 Jun 2005 16:14 PDT

OK, thanks so much!  I think that will do it.

In trying to ask another question, I've kind of hit a brick wall.  I
found a couple of paths to take, but I'm not exactly sure which way to
go.  For example, I was going to ask for lists of mines in the
country, however I did find some resources that would require some
additional work but perhaps may pay off for me rather than having
someone like yourself dig for it... On the other hand, I could turn
you loose but I'm finding there are a lot more results and they are
perhaps more involved than what you just found as I'm not finding
consolidated lists as much... So I'm in ponderance mode and will get
back once I absorb some of this information with which you've helped! 
Man, it is hard "asking" (or perhaps dividing up) the right
questions!!!  Especially with what I'm doing right now.  Any thoughts
on tasks like this in the future and how I should post them?

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 15 Jun 2005 17:33 PDT

ylon-ga,

I might be able to offer some advice on lists, etc. but it would help
to know exactly what sort of firms you're after.

It's obvious you're looking for big contractor firms.  Plus, you're
fond of fax numbers.

But are those your only criteria, or are there other things that you
need to focus on as you (or someone else) compiles lists?

Let me know, either here, or in a future question that you post.

All the best,

paf

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ylon-ga on 15 Jun 2005 19:40 PDT

Thanks paf.  Yes, large heavy equipment using companies.  For example,
my next list could have to do with mines, however I found a list from
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mapdata/ that could perhaps
give me a list to manually chunk through since it appears to have
large mine operations and a decent number.  It seems that there are,
for example, some mining organizations that maintain lists of members
with fax numbers.  I've already found some of those, but I'm sure
there are a bunch more.  There are other organizations for which I'm
searching as well such as waste disposal/landfills who use large earth
moving machines, steel mills, limestone quarries (which fall into
mines I suppose) and so forth.  At the moment they are for the U.S.
but I'd even like to look into other countries eventually.

I do all of the work after I get the lists in terms of compiling so
I'm just looking for the big lists and bunches of raw information
essentially.  I may need to find other types of information as well,
but I think the above could give you an idea as to what I'm trying to
find and perhaps give you some hints as to how I can effectively
divide it up, etc.  I know, this is kind of nebulous... but I really
appreciate your help.  You're definitely as good as your ratings and
other things I've read about you, just don't get cocky again as you
said in that one interview... ;)

Thanks so much.

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 16 Jun 2005 05:40 PDT

Thanks...that helps (and no, it wasn't too nebulous).

Are you familiar with NAICS codes?  This is the government's
classification system for businesses (formerly, they used SIC codes,
but this was replaced by NAICS a few years ago).

I know of at least one -- possibly more -- databases that allow
company retrieval by NAICS.  For instance, a search of NAICS 237310 --
Highway and Street Construction Contractors -- turns up a list that
looks like this:


=====
1  BRUCH AND BRUCH CONSTRUCTION INC 
LYNN BRUCH
PRESIDENT 1706 W HIGHWAY 101
PORT ANGELES, WA 98363-3945 
FAX 360-452-5433 
CRUSHED ROCK, RIP RAP SUPPLY, ROAD BUILDING, CLEARING AND GRADING OF
LAND, CULVERT INSTALLATION, SEWER, STORM AND WATERLINES,
RETAINING/HILFIKKER, LOCK BLOCK WALLS, EQUIPMENT RENTAL, BUILDING
DEMOLITION, GEOMEMBRANE LINING INSTALLATION AND REPAIR, BLASTIN

2  WIND RIVER CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C.
MATT RATLIFF
Manager 2407 N.W. 82ND STREET
LAWTON, OK 73505-1157 
FAX 580-536-9559 
General construction contractor, specialing in DOD construction. 

3  HARTFORD PAVING CORP 
ANTHONY CORSINETTI, II
Project Manager 
114 OLD POCASSET RD
JOHNSTON, RI 02919-9311
FAX 401-946-4144 
Asphalt paving driveways and parking lots, curb and sidewalk
replacement, installatin asphalt berms, playground and park
renovations

4  COLOM CONSTRUCTION CO INC 
ROD COLOM
President 
21321 HIGHWAY 15
FALKNER, MS 38629-9975
FAX 662-837-3494 
ROAD CONSTRUCTION (EXCEPT, ELEVATED HIGHWAY), EARTHWORK, PIPE WORK,
CONCRETE WORK, ROCK WORK, EROSION CONTROL, ENGINEER
LAYOUT/COMPUTATION, RAILROAD WORK, DITCH & BANK STABILIZATION, GAS,
WATER/SEWER WORK.

5  HILL AND HILL CONSTRUCTION CO INC 
L. C. HILL
Owner 
2267 HWY 242 S STE A
HELENA, AR 72342-8800
FAX 870-572-3473 
Ability to haul gravel, sand, clay, clear construction sites for
preparation, pave roads and grade roads
=====

Not every company on the list has a written description, but most seem
to.  And not every company is going to have huge, earth-moving type
equipment, but again, many of them would seem to, as far as I can tell
(although personally, my experience with big vehicles is limited to
mini-vans).

Anyway, if this looks promising give it some thought, and when you're
ready, post a question to let us know how we can be of help.

paf

Excellent work and determination.  I am highly impressed with
pafalafa-ga and his dedication to not only find answers, but to insure
the customer's satisfaction.  This was a very hard and long search and
he did a very good job.