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Vendor & Subcontractor Partnerships

Build America's Fiber Network With Us

Draftech manages one of the most active OSP engineering pipelines in the country. We partner with qualified subcontractors who meet carrier-grade standards — and we treat them like partners, not line items.

44,000+
Miles Engineered
22
Active States
600+
Engineers Deployed
2.6M+
Addresses Engineered

We Don't Treat Vendors Like Vendors

Most firms hand you a SOW and disappear. We bring subcontractors into our workflow, our QC process, and our long-term project pipeline — because our delivery reputation depends on yours.

📋

Long-Term Program Work

We don't do one-off gigs. BEAD programs, carrier frameworks, and multi-state ISP rollouts run 18–36 months. Qualified vendors get consistent, repeating work — not sporadic purchase orders.

Stable Pipeline

Fast, Reliable Payment

We pay on agreed terms. No 90-day net games, no invoice disputes over minor formatting issues. If your work passes QC, payment follows. We've built relationships on that trust for over seven years.

Net-30 Standard
🗺️

Access to Federal Projects

As a Certified MBE, Draftech qualifies for BEAD-funded state broadband programs that require supplier diversity spend. Partnering with us opens access to federally funded work your firm may not reach directly.

MBE Certified
🛠️

Clear SOWs, No Scope Creep

We define scope precisely before work starts — deliverable formats, coordinate systems, naming conventions, QC checklists. No ambiguity mid-project. No "while you're at it" surprises on a fixed-price scope.

Defined Standards
📡

Carrier-Grade Onboarding

We provide full onboarding documentation: client-specific standards, coordinate system requirements, deliverable templates, and QC checklists for every discipline. You're set up to succeed from day one.

Full Support
🤝

Real Relationships

Your point of contact is an engineer, not a procurement system. We know what good work looks like and we recognize it. Vendors who perform get more volume, preferred scheduling, and direct referrals within our network.

Performance Rewarded

Disciplines We Partner In

We work across the full OSP engineering lifecycle. Whether you specialize in one phase or cover the full stack, there's likely a fit in our pipeline.

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OSP Engineering & FTTH Design

HLD/LLD production, splitter placement, PON architecture, fiber count planning, and AutoCAD construction packages. We need engineers who can produce carrier-grade design packages that go directly to build crews without rework.

HLD / LLD AutoCAD PON / GPON FTTH
See our FTTH design standards →

Our QC process checks every package against the 12 LLD errors we check for on every design package — vendor-produced packages included.

Pole Loading Analysis

NESC-compliant structural analysis, O-Calc Pro or SPIDA Calc output, make-ready engineering, and joint use attachment applications. Volume ranges from 200 to 10,000+ poles per engagement.

O-Calc Pro SPIDA Calc NESC Make-Ready
See our pole analysis standards →

To understand the data inputs and output format we require, see how we run O-Calc Pro loading analysis on every aerial attachment project.

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CAD / GIS Design

Route design, fiber network mapping, plan sheet production, splice diagrams, and GIS database management. Clients include Tier-1 carriers and rural BEAD ISPs — standards vary; we provide detailed client-specific templates.

AutoCAD ArcGIS MicroStation QGIS
See our CAD/GIS standards →
📍

Field Survey & Strand Mapping

GPS pole surveys, aerial and underground plant assessment, strand mapping, and mobile GIS data collection using Fulcrum, Katapult, or equivalent. Crew coverage across multiple states is a strong advantage.

Fulcrum Katapult GPS Survey Strand Mapping
See our field survey standards →

Before applying, review the GPS accuracy and QA standards we enforce on field survey data — the specific error types we track and why they matter downstream.

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Permitting & ROW

Municipal, NCDOT, railroad, and utility right-of-way permitting. Permit application preparation, agency follow-up, and encroachment agreement support. Experience with BEAD-funded build permit timelines is a major advantage.

ROW Permitting Railroad Crossings NCDOT BEAD
See our permitting standards →
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As-Built Documentation

Post-construction GIS updates, deviation log preparation, photo documentation sets, and BEAD closeout documentation packages. Accuracy to the installed condition — not the design — is the standard we enforce.

As-Built GIS BEAD Closeout Deviation Logs Photo Docs
See our as-built standards →

The Scope of What We're Working On

With $42.5 billion in federal broadband funding driving BEAD programs across all 50 states in active deployment, our project intake is at an all-time high. For context on why BEAD project demand is not slowing down, and why qualified vendors are in short supply, that piece lays out the workforce and timeline picture across the industry. We need qualified subcontractors who can scale with us — not firms that disappear when a project gets complex.

FTTH Design Capacity High Demand
HLD/LLD, PON architecture, construction packages
Pole Loading Analysis Critical Need
O-Calc Pro / SPIDA Calc certified engineers
Field Survey Crews Multi-State
GPS strand mapping, underground assessment
CAD / GIS Production Active
AutoCAD, ArcGIS, MicroStation
Permitting & ROW Growing
Municipal, railroad, NCDOT, BEAD

From Application to Active Work

We move fast once we have what we need. Most qualified vendors are onboarded within two weeks of initial contact. If you want to understand what ISPs and carriers evaluate when selecting an engineering partner, our breakdown of what firms look for in an OSP engineering partner explains the criteria from the buyer side — including QC documentation, deliverable samples, and BEAD-specific qualifications.

1

Submit Your Application

Fill out the form below with your firm's service area, disciplines, tool certifications, and a brief description of recent telecom project experience. Takes under 5 minutes.

↓ 1–2 business days response
2

Technical Qualification

We review your credentials, request sample deliverables for your discipline, and verify software proficiency. For field survey vendors, we check GPS equipment specs and prior data accuracy records.

↓ 3–5 business days
3

Trial Engagement

Qualified vendors are assigned a contained scope on an active project — typically 50–200 poles, a single design segment, or a defined survey corridor. This is a paid engagement. We evaluate output quality, turnaround, and communication.

↓ Paid trial scope
4

Onboarding & Pipeline Access

Vendors who pass the trial receive full onboarding: MSA execution, client-specific standards documentation, QC checklists, and access to our active project pipeline. From there, work volume scales with your demonstrated capacity.

✓ Active vendor status

Qualifications That Matter

We apply the same standards to our vendors that our clients apply to us. These aren't checkbox exercises — they're what separates firms that scale from firms that create rework.

Required for All Vendors

  • Demonstrated experience on telecom or utility infrastructure projects
  • Proficiency in the primary software tool for your discipline
  • Documented QC process — not just "we check our own work"
  • Insurance coverage appropriate to scope (GL, E&O)
  • References from at least two prior telecom clients
  • Ability to meet carrier-grade delivery timelines
  • W-9 and standard subcontractor onboarding documentation

Advantages That Move You Up

  • MBE, DBE, WOSB, or SDVOSB certification
  • Prior experience on BEAD-funded or federal broadband programs
  • Multi-state field coverage or design team capacity
  • Existing familiarity with AT&T, Frontier, Charter, or Lumen standards
  • Turnaround rates above 100 poles/day (pole loading) or 5+ miles/day (survey)
  • Preferred — but not required: staff PEs or licensed surveyors
  • Preferred — but not required: ISO or carrier-specific quality certification
✦ Certified MBE

BEAD Programs Require Supplier Diversity — We Can Help You Qualify

As a Certified Minority Business Enterprise, Draftech qualifies clients for MBE supplier diversity spend reporting on BEAD-funded state broadband programs. When you work with us, your subcontract spend counts toward those requirements too — opening doors that direct bidding often can't.

MBE-certified prime on state and federal fiber programs
Subcontract spend tracked and reported for supplier diversity compliance
MBE/DBE-certified vendors prioritized on qualifying BEAD scopes
Access to programs that reserve capacity for diverse subcontractors
$42.5B Federal Broadband Funding Active
50 States With Active BEAD Programs
2024 Draftech MBE Certification Year
"

The vendors who grow with us are the ones who show up with clean data, ask the right questions upfront, and communicate the moment something changes in the field. Technical skill gets you in the door. That professionalism is what builds a long-term relationship.

Julio Martinez — CEO & Co-Founder, Draftech International

Vendor FAQs

Draftech partners with OSP engineering firms, CAD/GIS design teams, field survey crews, permitting specialists, pole loading analysis firms, and as-built documentation providers across all 50 states. We look for qualified, proven subcontractors who can meet telecom carrier-grade QC standards.
Yes. We work with firms of all sizes — from 2-person CAD shops to multi-state field crews with 50+ technicians. Scale matters less than QC consistency, tool compatibility, and the ability to follow Draftech's delivery standards. Some of our most reliable vendors are small, specialized shops.
Tool requirements vary by discipline. CAD/GIS vendors should be proficient in AutoCAD, MicroStation, or ArcGIS. Pole loading vendors must be certified in O-Calc Pro or SPIDA Calc. Field survey vendors should work in Fulcrum, Katapult, or a comparable mobile GIS platform. We provide detailed onboarding documentation for each discipline upon qualification.
MBE or DBE certification is not required, but it is a strong advantage on BEAD-funded and state-administered fiber programs that require supplier diversity spend reporting. Certified firms are prioritized on qualifying projects and may be eligible for reserved capacity on certain state programs.
Most qualified vendors complete onboarding within 2 weeks of initial contact. The process includes a credential review (1–2 days), sample deliverable evaluation (2–3 days), and a paid trial engagement on a contained scope. Firms that submit complete applications and sample work upfront move through the fastest.

Apply to Partner With Draftech

Fill out the form below and our vendor relations team will follow up within 1–2 business days. The more detail you provide, the faster we can match you to active project needs.

This is the most important field. The more specific, the faster we can qualify you.

Your information is used only for vendor qualification purposes. We do not share applicant data with third parties. Questions? info@draftech.com