5.3.5 Participating/Non-participating Items

Bid Items are classified as either Participating or Non-participating on federally funded projects. Participating (Part) refers to Bid Items that the FHWA will participate in the cost of the work and Non-Participating (Non-Part) refers to Bid Items for which the FHWA will not participate in the cost of the work.
On Federal-Aid projects, it is often necessary to distinguish the items that are not eligible for federal funding. Historically, examples of items for which the FHWA will not provide reimbursement are:
  • Replacement concrete;
  • Traffic barrier hardware; and
  • Maintenance activities such as:
    • Mowing;
    • Litter removal;
    • Sweeping; and
    • Cleaning existing culverts.
Refer to the
TxC Reference Guide – Engineer’s Estimate
for additional information on how to identify non-participating items in the Engineer’s Estimate.