Manual Notice: 2026

From:
Duane S. Milligan, P. E., Director, Construction Division
Manual:
Construction Contract Administration Manual
Effective Date:
January 2026
Purpose
The
Construction Contract Administration Manual
 has been updated to comply with administrative changes as noted below.
Chapter 1, “Introduction”
  • Section 1, “Introduction”
    • Clarified verbiage for signature delegation.
Chapter 2, “Pre-Award Activities”
  • Section 1, “FHWA Oversight Background”
    • Clarified verbiage for the S&O Agreement.
    • Updated the S&O Agreement date.
  • Section 2, “Local Government Projects”
    • Updated minor verbiage in the first section.
  • Section 3, “Pre-Bid Overview”
    • Clarified district responsibilities.
    • Updated documents that can be shared.
    • Clarified the district maintains minutes for conferences
  • Section 4, “Addenda”
    • Updated process to access Bidders list.
    • Removed Option 1 process to access Bidders list.
  • Section 5, “Contractor Signature of Authority”
    • Updated the entire section.
Chapter 3, “Post-Award Activities”
  • Section 2, “Legislative Notification Requirements”
    • Clarified verbiage on the template letters.
  • Section 3, “Begin Work”
    • Clarified subsection for "Activations”.
  • Section 4, “Preconstruction Conference”
    • Clarified verbiage under subsection “Preconstruction Conference Responsibilities and Attendees."
    • Clarified verbiage under subsection “Suggested Preconstruction Meeting Topics”.
    • Updated hyperlinks.
    • Clarified MOH verbiage.
    • Realigned subsections to streamline process.
    • Clarified verbiage for DBE-Conscious.
    • Clarified verbiage for Wage Rates posting.
    • Removed Law Enforcement bullet and include as new paragraph
    • Clarified verbiage under Materials bullets.
  • Section 5 "Safety Preconstruction Meeting"
    • Changed title from "Preconstruction Safety Meeting" to "Safety Preconstruction Meeting".
    • Revised subsection title from “Purpose of the Preconstruction Safety Meeting” to “Purpose of the Safety Preconstruction Meeting”.
    • Clarified verbiage in subsection “Purpose”
    • Revised subsection title from “Preconstruction Safety Meeting Responsibilities” to “Safety Preconstruction Meeting Agenda”.
    • Clarified verbiage in subsection “Agenda”.
  • Section 6, “Partnering”
    • Removed first sentence of this section.
Chapter 4, “Project Records and Closeout”
  • Section 1, “Importance of Accurate Records”
    • Clarified verbiage in subsection “ProjectWise & Standard Folder Structure”
    • Added verbiage for where ProjectWise subfolders can be added.
  • Section 3, “Traffic Control Plan”
    • Added clarification for SWZ systems.
    • Clarified verbiage for work zone speed limits.
    • Added reference for WZ(RS).
    • Added references for BC and TCP standards.
  • Section 4, “Project Records”
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “Notice of Beginning Work”.
    • Added clarification for paying MOH before time starts.
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “Daily Project Records”.
    • Removed the bullets listing the DWR guidance.
    • Updated reference for DWR Guidance.
    • Clarified verbiage in subsection “Bulletin Board Checklist”.
    • Added clarification in subsection “Project Record Reviews/Audits” for once an audit is complete.
  • Section 5, “Project Closeout”
    • Added clarification for process in subsection “Project Acceptance and SiteManager Diary Charges”.
    • First sentence under "Final Requirements for State and Federal-Aid Projects" removed.
    • Clarified verbiage for “Material Certification” bullet.
    • Added a hyperlink for “Shop drawings”.
Chapter 5, “Control of the Work”
  • Section 1, “Project Authority”
    • Updated hyperlinks for TAC.
  • Section 3, “Inspections”
    • Updated the date for the S&O Agreement.
    • Removed Chapter 7 reference.
  • Section 4, “Evaluations”
    • Clarified verbiage for “Interim Evaluation”.
    • Clarified verbiage for “Final Evaluation”.
Chapter 6, “Control of Materials”
  • Section 3, “Buy America”
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “Iron and Steel”.
    • Removed duplicated verbiage throughout the Section.
    • Removed last two sentences from "Miscellaneous Steel" subsection added reference to Buy America section of TxDOT.gov.
    • Added new subsection “Gold Star Program”.
    • Clarified verbiage for “Materials” bullet.
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “Form 2806, Construction Materials Buy America Certification”.
Chapter 7, “Changes to the Contract”
  • Section 1, “Change Orders”
    • Realigned all the subsections throughout the Section.
    • Changed Federally Aided to Federally Funded.
    • Clarified verbiage throughout the Section.
    • Changed "Agreement" to "Plan" when referring to S&O.
    • Removed duplicated verbiage throughout the Section.
    • Updated the steps for “Adding a CSJ to the Contract” subsection.
  • Section 2, “CO Approvals”.
    • Renamed Section “Change Order Approval Authority” to “CO Approvals”.
    • Realigned all the subsection throughout the Section.
    • Clarified verbiage throughout the Section.
    • Removed duplicated verbiage throughout the Section.
  • Section 3, “Supplemental Agreements”
    • Removed Section 3 - Force Account and Interim Adjustments to the Contract" and added as a subsection within the chapter.
    • Realigned all the subsection throughout the Section.
    • Clarified verbiage throughout the Section.
    • Removed duplicated verbiage throughout the Section.
  • Section 4, “References”
    • Added "References"
  • Section 5, "References"
    • This Section was removed and information added to Section 4
Chapter 8, “Disputes and Claims”
  • Section 1, “Disputes”
    • Removed reference for Section 4 of the manual.
  • Section 2, “Claims”
    • Removed Contract Claim Committee from the submittal paragraph.
Chapter 9, “Legal Relations and Responsibilities'”
  • Section 1, "Introduction"
    • Updated the hyperlink for TAC
  • Section 2, "Employee Responsibilities"
    • Added verbiage for TxDOT Employee opinion
Chapter 10 "Prosecution and Progress"
  • Section 2 "Project Schedules"
    • Removed the Standard Specification date from the subsection “Failure to Complete Work on Time”.
    • Clarified verbiage for RUC.
  • Section 3, “Subcontracting”
    • Revised the Special Provision listed bullets.
    • Clarified verbiage for DBE-Neutral in TxDOT DMS information.
    • Clarified verbiage for redacted information in DBE subcontracts.
    • Added a bullet for documentation in DMS.
    • Reworded subsection title from “Sanctioned/Debarred Contractors” to “Debarred/Sanctioned Contractors”.
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “E-Verify”.
Chapter 11, “Management and Payment”
  • Section 1, “Issues Affecting Payment”
    • Updated subsection “Force Account” reference to Chapter 7
  • Section 2, “Material on Hand (MOH)”
    • Clarified verbiage for when MOH is required to be submitted.
  • Section 4 "Prompt Payment”
    • Clarified verbiage in the second paragraph.
    • Clarified verbiage for Form 2177.
Chapter 12, “Environment”
  • Section 3, “Water Resources”
    • Clarified verbiage for subsection “Complying with US Coast Guard requirements for Work in Navigable Waters of the U.S. Section 9 and Section 10”.
    • Updated verbiage for “District Environmental Quality Coordinator” to “District Environmental Staff”.
  • Section 4, “Cultural Resources”
    • Updated hyperlink for “Form 422.01.FRM”.
  • Section 6, “Protected Species Requirements”
    • Updated verbiage in the second paragraph.
    • Updated “District Environmental Quality Coordinator” to “District Environmental Staff”.
  • Section 7, “Hazardous Material or Waste”
    • Realigned the bullets in subsection “Hazardous Materials Contamination and Waste Issues Identified Prior to Letting a Project” to read in order.
  • Section 11, “Construction Stage Gate Checklist (CSGC)”
    • Updated “District Environmental Quality Coordinator” to “District Environmental Staff”.
  • Section 12, Regulatory Agency Investigations”
    • Updated “District Environmental Quality Coordinator” to “District Environmental Staff”.
Chapter 14, "Disadvantaged and Small Business Programs"
  • Section 1, “Program Overview"
    • Renamed chapter title from “Small Business Program” to “Disadvantaged and Small Business Programs”.
    • Updated and clarified verbiage throughout the section.
    • Removed the subsections “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise” and added verbiage throughout.
    • Added subsection “DBE Goal Assurances”.
    • Removed subsection “Small Business Enterprise” and added verbiage throughout section.
    • Removed hyperlinks to the Guides.
Chapter 15, “Contractor Workforce”
  • Section 1, “Labor Requirements”
    • Updated verbiage in bullet for “Subcontracting and Payroll Requirements”.
    • Updated verbiage for maintaining weekly payrolls.
    • Removed bullet under “Payroll Review” requiring addresses.
    • Updated bullet under LCPTracker for accepting payrolls.
Contact
For any questions or assistance please contact Construction Division’s Construction Director, Eduardo L. Acosta Jr. P.E., at 512-940-8173.
Archives
If the publication is not a first edition, indicate where past manual notices are available in a
PDF archive
link.