Jesse Gotham

Jesse Gotham serves as a Professional Engineer within the Department of Public Works for the County of Ontario, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the technical evaluation and procurement of civil infrastructure projects. As the primary contracting lead, he ensures that all acquisitions align with engineering standards, safety regulations, and long-term asset sustainability goals. His responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of highway, street, and bridge construction procurements—from needs assessment and specification development to contract award and performance monitoring—ensuring compliance with federal and state transportation guidelines. Gotham’s work directly supports the agency’s mission of preserving critical transportation assets through proactive maintenance and targeted capital improvements. Gotham collaborates extensively with qualified civil construction contractors specializing in roadway rehabilitation, drainage system upgrades, and bridge retrofitting. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with proven experience in NYSDOT-compliant practices, heavy civil construction, and pavement preservation techniques. His procurement approach emphasizes technical competence, past performance, and adherence to safety and environmental standards, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors who demonstrate reliability and engineering rigor. Gotham’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of procurements designated as “No Set-Aside.” He does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, instead focusing on merit-based selection grounded in technical capability and compliance with engineering specifications. This approach ensures that project outcomes are driven by performance rather than certification status, though small businesses are not excluded and may compete on equal footing under full and open competition. His primary procurement focus is exclusively on NAICS 237310—Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction—encompassing asphalt paving, concrete structure installation, culvert replacement, stormwater management systems, and erosion control measures. Gotham brings deep technical expertise in pavement lifecycle management, geotechnical considerations, and transportation infrastructure resilience, ensuring that all acquisitions meet rigorous engineering and durability benchmarks.