# California Department of Transportation Scraper (`fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper`) Actor

Scrape California DOT contract bid tabulations. Extract awarded contract amounts, bidder data, project descriptions, and cost breakdowns from Caltrans construction projects. Analyze transportation infrastructure pricing.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/fortuitous\_pirate/caltrans-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Fortuitous Pirate](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 6 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## Caltrans Contract Cost Database Scraper

### Overview

Scrapes California DOT (Caltrans) contract cost database with 3. 3+ million historical records from 1993-2025. Access item-level pricing, bidder rankings, and contract details for California highway construction projects.

### Features

- Search by keywords to find specific results
- Export data in JSON, CSV, or Excel formats
- Captures pricing information
- Built-in proxy support for reliable data collection

### Use Cases

- **Track** - Track state and local government data and permits
- **Monitor** - Monitor regulatory filings and public records
- **Build** - Build databases for civic tech and transparency projects
- **Aggregate** - Aggregate local government data for community research

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description | Default |
|-----------|------|-------------|---------|
| `dataSource` | string | Which Caltrans data to fetch | `contractCost` |
| `district` | string | Caltrans district number (1-12) | \`\` |
| `itemCode` | string | Caltrans item code to search for (e.g., 128600 for concrete) |  |
| `contractId` | string | Specific contract number to lookup |  |
| `yearStart` | integer | Start year for date range (1993-2025) | `2020` |
| `yearEnd` | integer | End year for date range | `2025` |
| `bidderRank` | string | Filter by bidder ranking | `all` |
| `county` | string | California county name |  |
| `limit` | integer | Maximum number of records to return | `1000` |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Proxy settings |  |

### Output Example

Each result contains structured data like this:

```json
{
  "contractId": "ABC-12345",
  "district": "Sample district",
  "county": 127,
  "itemCode": "Sample itemCode",
  "itemDescription": "Sample itemDescription",
  "quantity": "Sample quantity",
  "unit": "Sample unit",
  "unitPrice": 29.99,
  "totalPrice": 29.99,
  "bidderRank": "ABC-12345",
  "contractorName": "Caltrans Contract Cost Database Sample Item",
  "awardDate": "2025-01-15"
}
```

### Pricing

This actor uses pay-per-result pricing:

- **$0.001** per result
- **$1.00** per 1,000 results

No monthly fees. You only pay for what you scrape. [Apify Free plan](https://apify.com/pricing) includes $5/month in platform credits.

### How to Run

#### Apify Console

1. Go to the [Caltrans Contract Cost Database Scraper](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper) actor page
2. Configure your input parameters
3. Click **Start** and wait for the results
4. Download data in JSON, CSV, or Excel format

#### API

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fortuitous_pirate~caltrans-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"maxItems": 10}'
```

#### Python SDK

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper").call(
    run_input={"maxItems": 10}
)

for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)
```

### Integration

Connect Caltrans Contract Cost Database Scraper with your existing tools and workflows:

- **API access** - Programmatic access via [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2)
- **Webhooks** - Get notified when scraping completes
- **Scheduling** - Set up recurring runs on any schedule
- **Zapier / Make** - Connect with 5,000+ apps via [Apify integrations](https://apify.com/integrations)
- **Python / Node.js SDKs** - Native client libraries for easy integration

# Actor input Schema

## `dataSource` (type: `string`):

Which Caltrans data to fetch

## `district` (type: `string`):

Caltrans district number (1-12)

## `itemCode` (type: `string`):

Caltrans item code to search for (e.g., 128600 for concrete)

## `contractId` (type: `string`):

Specific contract number to lookup

## `yearStart` (type: `integer`):

Start year for date range (1993-2025)

## `yearEnd` (type: `integer`):

End year for date range

## `bidderRank` (type: `string`):

Filter by bidder ranking

## `county` (type: `string`):

California county name

## `limit` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of records to return

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "dataSource": "contractCost",
  "district": "",
  "yearStart": 2020,
  "yearEnd": 2025,
  "bidderRank": "all",
  "limit": 10,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True } }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fortuitous_pirate/caltrans-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/oNEHtAZYHQW6kfRAv/builds/R97KIgKpcj5VyuTrN/openapi.json