TxDOT Form 2802, the Subcontractor Request for Approval, is the document a prime contractor completes, signs, and submits to the Texas Department of Transportation’s district office to get a subcontractor cleared to work on a TxDOT construction project. The subcontractor cannot set foot on the job site until that approval comes back. Everything else about the form flows from those two facts.
Where To Download Form 2802
Form 2802 lives on TxDOT’s Construction Division forms and publications page as a downloadable PDF.1Texas Department of Transportation. Road, Bridge, and Maintenance Construction Forms and Publications Pull a fresh copy for each submission. TxDOT updates its forms periodically, and district offices may reject outdated versions.
Who Files It and When
The prime contractor, meaning the company that holds the direct contract with TxDOT, is responsible for completing and signing Form 2802 for every subcontractor it plans to use. File one form per subcontractor. If a subcontractor’s scope changes significantly during the project, or if you add a new subcontractor mid-project, submit a separate form for each change before that work begins.
Timing is not flexible. Submitting the form after a subcontractor has already started work puts the prime contractor out of compliance and can trigger a stop-work order. Build in enough lead time that approval clears before your schedule requires the sub on site.
How To Complete the Form
Fill in every field at the top of the form before signing. TxDOT reviewers check that the details match existing contract records, and blanks or mismatches delay approval.2Texas Department of Transportation. Approving Subcontractor Request At a minimum, you will need:
- The contract or CSJ (Control-Section-Job) number that ties the form to the correct TxDOT project.
- The legal name of the prime contracting firm, exactly as it appears on the TxDOT contract.
- The subcontractor’s legal name, address, and the specific work items or bid items the subcontractor will perform.
- The signature of an authorized representative of the prime contractor, certifying that the information is accurate and that the subcontractor is qualified for the assigned work.
Check the subcontractor’s name against its registration with the Texas Secretary of State and any prequalification records TxDOT maintains. A name mismatch, including an abbreviation or an outdated DBA, is one of the most common reasons a request comes back rejected.
Where To Submit It
Send the completed form to the TxDOT district office responsible for your project. If you are not sure which of the state’s districts covers the site, the TxDOT districts page has a map and contact information for every office.3Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT Districts
Your project inspector or area engineer is typically the first point of contact. They receive the form, confirm the top section is complete and the prime contractor has signed it, and then route it through the district’s approval process.2Texas Department of Transportation. Approving Subcontractor Request
Common Mistakes That Delay Approval
Most rejections are paperwork errors, not substantive problems with the subcontractor. The ones that trip up prime contractors most often:
- Missing prime contractor signature. An unsigned form gets sent back immediately.
- Incomplete top section. A blank or wrong CSJ number means the district office cannot match the request to a project.
- Name discrepancies between the form and TxDOT or Secretary of State records.
- Submitting after the subcontractor has already begun work, which is a compliance violation rather than a paperwork issue.
After Approval
Once the district office approves the form, the subcontractor is authorized to perform the specific work items listed, and the approval becomes part of the project file. If the subcontractor’s scope later expands, file a new Form 2802 covering the additional work before it starts. TxDOT monitors compliance throughout the project, and if a subcontractor is found working without an approved Form 2802 on file, the prime contractor bears the responsibility.
Don’t Confuse Form 2802 With Form 1560
Form 2802 is not an insurance document. TxDOT’s Certificate of Insurance is a separate form, Form 1560, which proves that a contractor carries the coverage TxDOT requires for work on state highway right-of-way. Both forms come up during a TxDOT project, which is why they get mixed up, but filing one does not substitute for the other. Depending on project specifications, your subcontractor may need to show proof of insurance on Form 1560 before the district office signs off on your Form 2802 request.