For subcontractors and contractors interested in working on North Carolina Department of Transportation construction projects, the 2026 NCDOT Pre-qualification Campaign is making its way to Sampson County in August.
The program has traveled across the state for the past three years, beginning in 2024. Kevin Bradshaw, state pre-qualification engineer for Contract Standards and Development with NCDOT, travels with each campaign and workshop. Bradshaw recently explained the campaign, how contractors can register and what inspired the initiative.
“I had talked to contractors in my conversations just doing my job, and one of the things I was told was how there seemed to be trouble finding subcontractors,” Bradshaw said. “So, we thought to ourselves, ‘How can we get more subcontractors and contractors interested in doing work for the Department of Transportation?’ We came up with this plan of having this campaign, showing them how to do it, and saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got this work available; please come.’ You must be pre-qualified to work on North Carolina Department of Transportation projects, and so we’re helping contractors with that process.”
Bradshaw said each workshop typically draws between 25 and 40 contractors. Three campaigns are held each year in the western, central and eastern regions of the state. He noted attendance has continued to grow over the past few years.
“The word’s getting out that we’re doing it, and we’re doing our best to spread the word and notify anyone who wants to participate,” he said.
To qualify for registration, contractors must have a good safety record, experience performing the work and the resources and equipment necessary to complete projects.
Bradshaw outlined the three-step pre-qualification process.
“First, you have to get a North Carolina ID,” he explained. “Anybody that does work with NCDOT has to have a North Carolina ID. That’s basically a username and password. Then, you have to register your Tax ID and North Carolina ID with us. Once you complete those two steps, you’ll have access to the online application, where you can log in and submit it.”
Bradshaw added that obtaining a North Carolina ID is a simple process.
“You can go to our website, and it’s the first link for North Carolina ID,” he said. “You fill out the form, and once you submit it, you’ll get a verification email. Once you verify your email, you’ve created your North Carolina ID. It takes about as long as I’ve sat here and talked about.”
For more information about completing the three-step pre-qualification process, interested contractors can visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s pre-qualification webpage.
The department pre-qualifies bidders, purchase order prime contractors and subcontractors. Bradshaw said the workshop is limited by available space, but there will be plenty of room for participants.
“We’ll talk a little bit about the business aspects of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and navigating the website, where you can find the contracts the department advertises,” Bradshaw said. “The main part of it will be going through the application process and showing participants how to complete it. We’ll actually complete a live application right up to the point of submission.”
In addition to the training, contractors will have the opportunity to network during breaks and meet members of NCDOT’s pre-qualification staff.
“North Carolina is building fast, and NCDOT needs pre-qualified contractors and subcontractors ready to get to work. Pre-qualification is your first step to steady opportunities and a direct role in shaping the state’s infrastructure. Come and learn how to get pre-qualified — there’s plenty of work ahead,” Bradshaw said.
The workshop will be held Aug. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Activity Center Lecture Hall at Sampson Community College, 1801 Sunset Ave., Clinton.