TxDOTCONNECT frequently asked questions
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TxDOTCONNECT frequently asked questions

TxDOTCONNECT is TxDOT's web-based, custom-built technology system for automating the delivery of transportation programs, projects, and right of way.

TxDOTCONNECT standardizes and streamlines TxDOT business processes while providing transparency in performance measurement and serving as a single, up-to-date source for project information. TxDOTCONNECT will help us work more efficiently and enable us to keep pace with expectations of taxpayers and the traveling public.

The Transportation Programs Division oversees the development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance of the TxDOTCONNECT system in collaboration with the Information Management Division. TxDOT’s Transportation Programs Operations and Reporting section, located within TPD, is responsible for developing TxDOTCONNECT.

The team collaborates with TxDOT leaders, internal subject matter experts, and a dedicated champion network of over 350 TxDOT employees who provide information key to TxDOTCONNECT’s development since the beginning of the initiative.

TxDOTCONNECT is being delivered in multiple releases over several years. A multi-release approach allows TxDOT to continue doing business with minimal disruption. The first release of TxDOTCONNECT was deployed early in 2019.

To access TxDOTCONNECT, external partners need a TxDOT network ID and password. Complete instructions for accessing TxDOTCONNECT are detailed under Access for consultants and external partners.

External partners may access a training video, reference guides, job aids, and interactive training modules at Training materials.

Engineer’s Estimate

There are four ways to add bid items to your Engineer’s Estimate. 

  • Click + bid item above the Engineer’s Estimate table to add a bid item one line at a time.

  • Copy bid items from within the same estimate. For example, copy the same bid item from one bridge to another bridge within the same project.

  • Copy an estimate from one project to another. For example, copy the estimate from one seal coat project to another seal coat project.

  • Upload a completed Engineer’s Estimate spreadsheet using the bulk upload feature. 

Yes. The category tab groups your bid items by category of Work. The bid code tab groups bid items by bid code. You can add and remove items from these tabs as well.

The category of work does not auto-populate. A single bid code or specification might fall within multiple categories of work.  

Yes. In the estimate table, TxDOTCONNECT provides the bid item’s three-month and 12-month average unit prices for the applicable district and for TxDOT statewide.

Yes. Users can print the E&Q sheet from within the Engineer’s Estimate page of a project. Click the export button at the top right corner of the estimate table and select E&Q report.

Consultants with -O user IDs and Engineer Estimate coordinator consultant or professional engineer consultant roles may upload estimates for projects they have been invited to on the resources page.

Yes. You can upload the spreadsheet multiple times for the same project. The newest uploaded estimate will overwrite the information in TxDOTCONNECT, not add to it.

No. You will need to upload a spreadsheet for each CSJ individually.

You can contact the Design Division at DES_PD_WEBHELP@txdot.gov if you have any questions about the Engineer’s Estimate bulk upload spreadsheet.

Building a proposal

Each bid code can have up to 30 reference items under the parent bid code. Users cannot add the same reference item to a single bid code more than once but can add the same reference item to multiple different bid codes.

No. Once a bid item is entered on the Engineer’s Estimate it is added to the specifications list along with its associated reference items. Reference items can be added or removed as needed.

Yes. Users can print their Specifications List from within the Engineer’s Estimate page of a project, by clicking the export button at the top right-hand corner of the estimate table and clicking Specifications List.

Yes, Standard Specifications based on federal project requirements and state project requirements auto-populate based on the project being assigned a federal project ID or state project ID on the project details page in the project identifiers section.

The information on this page will be available to all TxDOT staff – only professional engineers will be able to update this section. Consultants will be invited to the projects they are working on and will not see projects they have not been invited to work on.

Sealing an Engineer’s Estimate ensures that a professional engineer has reviewed and approved the estimate.

The Seal and Summary table shows the estimates of all projects associated with a controlling project.

Yes. TxDOTCONNECT will validate the following before an estimate can be sealed:

  • The professional engineer sealing the estimate must have a currently valid engineer’s license.

  • A responsible engineer (project manager) has been assigned on the project’s Resources page.

  • No placeholder bid codes (XXXX-XXXX) or placeholder NBI codes are present in the estimate.

  • Mobilization percentages for the entire controlling project must be either null for all projects (mobilization does not exist in the controlling project or any of the associated projects), or a total of zero percent or 100 percent to seal the controlling project. Note: Subordinate projects can be sealed without this being resolved.

Right of Way and Utilities

The Right of Way and Utilities functionality in TxDOTCONNECT includes the following capabilities: 

  • Capturing Right of Way project information and progress.

  • Managing each parcel through appraisal, negotiation, acquisition, eminent domain, relocation, and/or demolition.

  • Enable mapping of parcels by uploading geospatial files.

  • Capturing and managing utilities information and progress.

  • Tracking standard utility agreement and joint bid utility information.

  • Processing payments for right of way and utilities activities.

 

No. External users are not able to access payments functionality. External users are only able to view projects and associated parcels that they have been invited to.

Surveyors and ROW project managers may upload .gdb survey files using the Bulk Upload feature. Complete instructions are provided in the Creating Parcels job aid and Bulk Upload job aid available on Training materials.

A+B milestones table

The A+B section of the Engineer’s Estimate page is activated to add details only if A+B is selected as the Bid Type.

A+B bidding type should only be let with A+B milestones.

Additional TxDOTCONNECT information