As discussed in detail in , the State Letter of Authority (SLOA) is a form that must be issued on all projects whether the work is performed by the LG or contracted out to a third party. For non-construction projects, the SLOA is frequently issued in the form of a Notice to Proceed issued by TxDOT to the LG.

For projects not involving federal funds, the request from the LG and issuance of a SLOA from TxDOT is required prior to initiation of work on the project. A Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA) is required in addition to the SLOA for all federally funded projects. The primary function of this form is to obligate federal funds for the project. By completion of the FPAA form, federal funds are authorized through an agreement between FHWA and TxDOT for reimbursement of the approved costs. For projects involving federal funds, TxDOT initiates the SLOA and submits the required project information to FHWA for approval. Once the project is approved as eligible for federal reimbursement by FHWA, TxDOT generates the FPAA and may issue the SLOA to the LG. Additional approval documentation, such as a memo from the district, may be required in order to obtain the FPAA. Coordinate with your district to ensure all appropriate documentation is provided.

Chapter 2 – Project Initiation and the describe in more detail the procedures, information and responsibilities associated with requesting and obtaining an SLOA, as well as an FPAA, as applicable.