# DFW Airport Contracts: The R/OCIP, Airside Limits and Bonds URL: https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/projects/airport-and-port-construction/dfw-airport Updated: 2026-10-29 · Reviewed by the Principal, Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC Publisher: My Contractors Insurance Quote, a website of Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC DFW's published R/OCIP 2.0 manual, a September 7, 2020, edition, makes enrollment mandatory for eligible contractors, requires bids net of wrap insurance costs and provides general liability, excess, builder's risk and contractors' pollution coverage, while each contractor keeps its own workers' compensation and auto. The same manual asks Excluded Contractors driving inside the Air Operations Area for $10 million in auto liability and says the airport bought a $10 million excess layer for enrolled contractors working there. Because the manual is from 2020, confirm the current edition and the solicitation's terms before pricing a bid. ## Key Decision Points - The DFW Airport Board governs the airport for the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, and the owner cities approve its budget and bond sales. - R/OCIP participation is mandatory for eligible contractors but not automatic: each firm must enroll. - Bids are priced net of the insurance the wrap provides, and enrollment asks for the general liability premium removed from the bid. - The wrap does not include workers' compensation or auto, so every tier keeps those policies. - Excluded Contractors need $10 million auto inside the AOA and $5 million elsewhere on airport property under the 2020 manual. - Performance and payment bond thresholds come from Texas Government Code Chapter 2253, and the solicitation states the bonds DFW requires. ## Who Owns the Work and What Is Being Built DFW describes its Airport Board as a semi-autonomous body that governs the airport. Seven members represent the City of Dallas and four represent the City of Fort Worth, and the owner cities must approve the annual budget, bond sales and similar measures. For a contractor, that means DFW writes its own insurance manual and contract terms rather than using either city's standard construction documents. The current construction wave grew out of DFW's May 16, 2023, use and lease agreement with American Airlines. The airport's announcement lists $4.8 billion in pre-approved capital investments, including an estimated $1.63 billion for a new 15-gate Terminal F and an estimated $2.72 billion to expand the Central Terminal Area, including a major reworking of Terminal C. Those figures are estimates tied to the airline agreement, not contract awards, and DFW's construction page describes Terminal C as a multi-year, multi-phase reconstruction and expansion. For how DFW compares with other Texas, California, Arizona and Nevada owners, see [airport and port construction requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/projects/airport-and-port-construction). ## R/OCIP 2.0: Mandatory Enrollment and Bid-Net Pricing DFW runs a rolling owner-controlled insurance program. Its brochure says the rolling feature lets the program continue through all phases of the Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program and beyond, so the same wrap structure can carry across several capital projects rather than one job. The 2020 manual states that participation is mandatory, except for Excluded Contractors, but it is not automatic. Each eligible contractor and subcontractor has to complete enrollment, and the manual requires bids net of the insurance costs the R/OCIP provides. Enrollment asks for the dollar amount of general liability premium excluded from the bid, so the estimator and the broker typically need to agree on that figure before the number goes in. Firms with an experience modifier above 1.50 may be asked for more information before approval. The manual's Excluded Contractors include vendors and suppliers that do not install, contract haulers and truckers, asbestos abatement and other hazardous materials remediation, architects, engineers, surveyors and soil testing firms, EIFS-only, blasting and demolition-only trades, and guard, janitorial and food services. Those firms carry their own program for on-site work. Program structure across multiple projects is explained in [rolling wrap-up programs](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/wrap-up-insurance/rolling-wrap-ups). ### Illustrative scenario: An Electrical Subcontractor's First Terminal Package Trinity Crossing Electric, a commercial electrical contractor in Arlington, is pricing a $6.4 million lighting and power package on a terminal project. Its estimator removes the general liability cost the wrap provides and records that figure for enrollment, but keeps workers' compensation and auto in the bid because the DFW program does not provide them. Two of its trucks will run airside, so the firm confirms how the airport's excess layer for enrolled contractors sits above its own $1 million auto and umbrella and applies separately for Access DFW vehicle permits. It also checks that its off-site general liability has no explosion, collapse or underground exclusion and that its subcontract assigns the $10,000 wrap deductible. These details are hypothetical, and a real program depends on DFW, the surety and carriers and the firm's own risk. ## What the Wrap Provides and What It Leaves Out Under the 2020 manual, the R/OCIP provides commercial general liability, excess liability, builder's risk and contractors' pollution liability for enrolled work. Workers' compensation is not part of it: the claims section says contractors and subcontractors of every tier are responsible for their own workers' compensation and auto liability. That split differs from many wraps that include workers' compensation, so a contractor used to removing its workers' compensation cost from a wrap bid should not do so here unless the current manual says otherwise. Wrap deductibles can land on the contractor. The manual makes the contractor responsible for a $10,000 per occurrence general liability deductible and lists $25,000 deductibles on the pollution and builder's risk policies. The builder's risk policy excludes workers' tools, clothing and contractor equipment, so equipment floaters stay with each firm. These figures are typically handled in the subcontract, and the allocation can vary by contract. - General liability: $2 million each occurrence and $4 million general aggregate, shared by all insureds, with completed operations for 10 years or the statute of repose, whichever is less - Excess liability: $200 million - Contractors' pollution liability: $20 million each loss - Builder's risk: replacement cost Enrollment steps, bid deducts and off-site exposure are covered in [OCIP enrollment for subcontractors](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/insights/ocip-enrollment-for-subcontractors). ## Coverage Every Contractor Still Carries Section 6 of the manual lists coverage all contractors keep, enrolled or not. Workers' compensation is statutory with employer's liability of $500,000 each accident, disease policy limit and disease each employee, plus a waiver of subrogation. General liability for off-site work, and for Excluded Contractors on and off site, is $1 million each occurrence with $2 million general aggregate and $2 million products-completed operations, and the policy may not exclude explosion, collapse or underground hazards. Auto is $1 million combined single limit, with an MCS-90 endorsement if hazardous materials are hauled, and an umbrella of $1 million sits over those lines. The manual adds aircraft liability of $1 million for any contractor that operates aircraft, including drones, professional liability as the contract requires for design services and $1 million of pollution coverage for Excluded abatement and hazardous materials contractors. Additional insured status must be on ISO CG 20 10 11 85 or its equivalent, primary and noncontributory, and not limited to vicarious liability, with a clause that applies the requirement to the fullest extent applicable law allows. Carriers need an A.M. Best rating of A- or higher. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 151 limits additional insured requirements tied to prohibited indemnity, exempts consolidated program policies to the extent they list, add or delete named insureds and carves out certain municipal public works indemnity provisions. How those sections apply to a DFW contract is a broker review item and may need counsel. Program design for contractors who bid public owners is covered in [insurance and bonds for public works contractors](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/who-we-serve/general-contractors/public-works-contractors). ## Airside Work: AOA Auto Limits and Vehicle Permits The Air Operations Area changes the auto answer. Under the 2020 manual, Excluded Contractors driving inside the AOA need auto liability of $10 million each occurrence and aggregate, and $5 million when driving outside the AOA but on airport property. For enrolled contractors, the manual says the airport purchased an additional $10 million umbrella or excess policy for work within the AOA, so an enrolled firm's own $1 million auto and umbrella sit below that owner layer. Access DFW handles AOA vehicle permits, the decals that allow a vehicle or equipment onto the Air Operations Area. That permit has its own insurance terms, reported on DFW's page as $1 million general liability, $500,000 auto and $10 million excess for the AOA. It is a separate requirement from the R/OCIP contract terms, so a firm may need to satisfy both, and the current figures should be confirmed with Access DFW and in the contract before mobilizing equipment airside. ## Bonds, DBE and the Capital Assistance Program We did not find a DFW-specific bond clause in the documents we could read. Texas Government Code Chapter 2253 requires a performance bond on public works contracts over $100,000 and a payment bond over $50,000 when the owner is a municipality or a joint board created under Subchapter D, Chapter 22 of the Transportation Code, or over $25,000 for other governmental entities, each in the amount of the contract. Which threshold applies depends on DFW's legal status, so the solicitation's bond requirement controls. Retainage was not stated in the documents we read and is set by the contract. DFW's 2021 fact sheet lists federal ACDBE and DBE programs and a local M/WBE program as part of contractor onboarding. Its Business Development page says SBEs must have a place of business in the airport's market area and names the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency, DFWBC and WBCS as certifiers. Federal DBE program rules have changed, so check the current solicitation for any contract goal. An older DFW brochure describes a Capital Assistance and Bonding Program that helped small, minority and women-owned contractors complete bond application packages; ask DFW whether it is still offered. Chapter 2253 thresholds, claims and notices are explained in [Texas public works bond requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/construction-surety-bonds/public-works-bond-requirements/texas). ## Before You Ask for a Quote ### What to Gather - The solicitation's insurance exhibit and the current R/OCIP manual, compared with the 2020 edition - A breakdown of general liability premium removed from the bid for enrollment - Workers' compensation, auto and umbrella policies, with waiver and additional insured endorsements - Off-site general liability forms showing no explosion, collapse or underground exclusion - A list of vehicles and equipment that will operate inside the AOA - Certification records from NCTRCA, DFWBC or WBCS for small business partners ### What to Ask the Insurer or Surety - Is the 2020 R/OCIP 2.0 manual still current, and have its limits or deductibles changed? - Is our firm eligible to enroll, or are we an Excluded Contractor under the manual? - Who bears the $10,000 general liability and $25,000 pollution and builder's risk deductibles under our subcontract? - Does the owner's AOA excess layer still apply to enrolled contractors, and what auto limit must we carry? - Which performance and payment bond amounts does this solicitation require? - Does the solicitation set a DBE or SBE goal under current federal rules? ## Broker Notes **Quick Answer:** DFW's R/OCIP 2.0 manual (2020 edition) makes enrollment mandatory for eligible contractors, requires bid-net pricing and provides general liability, excess, builder's risk and pollution coverage, while contractors keep workers' compensation and auto. Confirm the current manual. **Common Mistake:** Removing workers' compensation cost from a DFW bid. The 2020 manual says every tier keeps its own workers' compensation and auto, unlike many wraps that include workers' compensation. **Broker Perspective:** Airside auto is typically the limit that surprises bidders. An Excluded Contractor inside the AOA needed $10 million under the 2020 manual, which can mean buying a project-specific excess layer. **Coverage Impact:** Wrap deductibles of $10,000 for general liability and $25,000 for builder's risk and pollution can pass to the contractor, and builder's risk excludes contractor tools and equipment. ## Questions Buyers Ask ### Is enrollment in DFW's R/OCIP required? The 2020 R/OCIP 2.0 manual says participation is mandatory except for Excluded Contractors, but it is not automatic, so each firm has to enroll. Confirm the current manual and the solicitation's terms. ### Does the DFW wrap include workers' compensation? Not under the 2020 manual. It provides general liability, excess, builder's risk and contractors' pollution coverage, and contractors of every tier keep their own workers' compensation and auto liability. ### What auto limit does DFW require for work inside the AOA? The 2020 manual asks Excluded Contractors for $10 million inside the AOA and $5 million elsewhere on airport property, and says the airport bought a $10 million excess layer for enrolled contractors in the AOA. ### Which firms are excluded from DFW's R/OCIP? The 2020 manual excludes non-installing vendors and suppliers, haulers and truckers, abatement and hazardous materials firms, design professionals and surveyors, some single-trade specialties such as blasting and demolition-only firms, and guard, janitorial and food services. ### What payment and performance bonds apply to DFW contracts? Texas Government Code Chapter 2253 sets the statutory thresholds, which depend on the type of governmental entity. We did not find a DFW-specific bond clause, so the solicitation states the bonds required. ## Official Sources 1. [Texas Government Code Chapter 2253, Public Work Performance and Payment Bonds](https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/GV/htm/GV.2253.htm), Texas Legislature. Performance bond over $100,000; payment bond thresholds of $50,000 for municipalities and joint boards and $25,000 for other entities; bonds in the amount of the contract (Sec. 2253.021) Verified 2026-10-26. 2. [Texas Insurance Code Chapter 151, Consolidated Insurance Programs](https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/htm/IN.151.htm), Texas Legislature. Consolidated insurance program definition (151.001); additional insured limits and named-insured exemption (151.104); municipal public works carve-out (151.105) Verified 2026-10-26. 3. [Rolling Owner Controlled Insurance Program 2.0 R/OCIP Manual (Edition September 07, 2020)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/HW5gdmpV0tujnyYezwy2i/dea18956e125a8c08b974e57381de2d5/DFW_ROCIP_2.0_Manual_09.07.20.pdf), DFW Airport Risk Management Department. Mandatory enrollment; bid-net pricing; wrap lines and limits; deductibles; excluded parties; contractor-carried limits; AOA auto and owner excess layer; aircraft liability; additional insured wording; carrier rating Verified 2026-10-26. 4. [R/OCIP at DFW Airport Risk Management brochure](https://assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/4yaBBmVlbNjXRmM5lVGn1s/bb36aa8827ba4ecfeca0494025e4b620/ROCIP_Brochure_Capital_Assistance_Bonding_HR-compressed.pdf), DFW Airport. Rolling feature across TRIP and beyond; Capital Assistance and Bonding Program for small, minority and women-owned contractors Verified 2026-10-26. 5. [Board and Administration](https://www.dfwairport.com/business/about/board/), DFW Airport. Board governance; seven Dallas and four Fort Worth members; owner-city approval of budget and bond sales Verified 2026-10-26. 6. [DFW Airport, American Airlines sign 10-year use and lease agreement (May 16, 2023)](https://www.dfwairport.com/dfwnewsroom/dfw-airport-american-airlines-sign-10-year-use-and-lease-agreement/), DFW Airport. $4.8 billion pre-approved capital; estimated $1.63 billion Terminal F; estimated $2.72 billion Central Terminal Area and Terminal C Verified 2026-10-26. 7. [AOA Permits, Access DFW](https://dfwairport.com/business/opportunities/accessdfw/aoapermits), DFW Airport. AOA vehicle permit decals and the permit's insurance terms Verified 2026-10-26. 8. [Business Development and Doing Business with DFW fact sheet (2021)](https://www.dfwairport.com/business/opportunities/bdd/), DFW Airport. SBE market-area rule; NCTRCA, DFWBC and WBCS certifiers; ACDBE, DBE and M/WBE programs in onboarding Verified 2026-10-26. ## Related Decisions - [airport and port construction requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/projects/airport-and-port-construction) - [Dallas-Fort Worth construction requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/dallas-fort-worth) - [City of Dallas construction contract requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/construction-surety-bonds/public-agency-contractor-requirements/city-of-dallas) - [Houston Airport System contractor requirements](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/projects/airport-and-port-construction/houston-airport-system) - [owner-controlled insurance programs](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/wrap-up-insurance/ocip) - [project excess liability](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/project-specific-liability-insurance/project-excess-liability) --- Start a quote request: https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/get-a-quote · Call 844-978-7283 Contract and insurance reviews are a courtesy service that may be available at times, depending on our workload and on the size, timing and complexity of the project. A review is not guaranteed and is limited to insurance considerations. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice from your own legal counsel, which you may need before signing a contract or obtaining coverage. Insurance and surety services are provided through Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC. Site information is educational and does not constitute legal advice, a binder, an offer of coverage, a guarantee of eligibility or confirmation of policy terms. Insurance conditions are governed by actual issued policies; surety rights and obligations are governed by bond and indemnity documents.