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Contractors’ Corner
The City of Omaha and the Public Works Department are dedicated to creating a professional working relationship with Contractors, Consultants and Small Businesses that do business with them. For more information regarding information on bids and RFPs, visit the City of Omaha’s Contractors/Consultants webpage.
During the past five years,* small and emerging small businesses (SEBs) received just under $8M in contracts and subcontracts, representing over 6.2% of the total construction work contracted through the City’s CSO Program.
In addition, approximately $13M in construction subcontracts were awarded to minority and/or women-owned businesses as a part of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, and all of the $247M General Contractor construction contracts were awarded to local Omaha businesses during that same time.
Listed below are upcoming CSO construction projects with identified categories of work through 2023. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Also below are additional contractor resources.
*2018–2022
Program & Project VideosThe CSO Program, along with the Chamber of Commerce, conducts outreach events (shown at left) which align projects with work opportunities in the community for small and emerging small businesses (SEB)in the area.
Upcoming CSO construction projects & identified work categories
(As of August 2023)
These construction bid opportunities are listed on the City of Omaha Public Works website. Refer to the City’s website often to stay-up-to-date on construction opportunities. Invitations for construction review workshops are published in the Omaha World Herald. (Download table as a PDF.)
| Project | CSO 202 Phase 2 – 70th Avenue & Spencer Street |
|---|---|
| Project Type | Sewer Separation |
| Bid Advertisement (estimate)* |
Q4 2023 |
| Begin Construction (estimated) |
Q1 2024 |
| Construction Estimate | $10-15 Million |
| Additional Information* |
Early Quantities Documentation |
| CATEGORY OF WORK | |
| Barricade/Striping |  |
| Bioswale/Green Infrastructure/ Rolled Erosion Control |
-N/A- |
| Electrical | -N/A- |
| Fencing |  |
| Hauling |  |
| Janitorial | -N/A- |
| Paving/Removals |  |
| Painting | -N/A- |
| Rebar | -N/A- |
| Seeding/Sodding/ Landscaping |
 |
| Sidewalks/Ramps |  |
| Signage | -N/A- |
| Site Security |  |
| Survey/Monitoring | -N/A- |
| SWPPP Items |  |
| Water & Sewer Pipelines |
 |
*The items and quantities provided are for information only to assist SEBs in the understanding of the approximate scope of upcoming bidding opportunities. Actual bid items and quantities will vary as the design progresses.
Contractor Resources
Upcoming City Projects
Upcoming projects for the City of Omaha are listed on the City’s Inviting Bid List webpage. For projects specific to the Omaha CSO Program, visit the City of Omaha Public Works website.
Small and Emerging Small Business (SEB) Program
The Small and Emerging Small Business Program is designed to give preference to contractors that have a headquarters based in the most impoverished areas of the city to encourage native job growth that will help the smaller businesses to compete for City Bid Contracts. Once a business becomes certified they retain certification for 3 years before recertification is required. For more information, visit the City of Omaha’s website.
Quest CDN
Quest CDN is an online platform for distributing bid documents. This allows contractors the freedom to select what and how many print copies of plans they need. For more information, visit the City of Omaha’s website.
Bidding with the City
As the Public Works Department no longer distributes plans and specifications for City projects in paper format, Douglas County Purchasing and City of Omaha Public Works Department are distributing electronic documents through Quest CDN. Read more information specific to bidding with the City.
Past Meetings
Special Contractor's Information Meeting held on May 12 at the Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC) on the University of Nebraska Omaha campus. Presentation: English | En español
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Each construction bid opportunity has a Small Business Contract Utilization goal. NAICS Code Information provides guidance about the categores for which SEBs are certified, compared to some "typical" construction work scopes.
Electronic Advertisement
Beginning August 14, 2013, the Public Works Department will no longer distribute plans and specifications for City projects in paper format. Douglas County Purchasing and City of Omaha Public Works Departments will be distributing electronic documents through Quest CDN.
Electronic documents will help streamline and simplify the process and will save on costs for all parties. The Public Works Department is excited to offer this new system to our bidders and contractors.
Contractors will need to sign up for a free account at questcdn.com. At this web site, you will be able to browse all available projects or go directly to the project you want to download by using the project identification number given in the advertisement. This account can be created in advance, or the first time a bid packet is downloaded.
The cost to download bid packet documents will be $20.00 for most projects, payable through the Quest CDN web site. Upon request, you may obtain a bid packet on CD-ROM from the Public Works Department. The CD-ROM will be available at a cost of $50.00 (including shipping). These deposit amounts will have no refund associated with them.
As part of the sign-up process, contractors will be required to give a valid email address. This address will only be used to notify bidders of addenda or other information applicable to the project.
If you have questions or need help with the sign-up process, please contact Quest CDN at (952) 233-1632 or email info@questcdn.com.
The CSO Program is a City of Omaha
Public Works Initiative.
