The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began contracting maintenance in the mid-1970s with a few roadside mowing contracts. Contracting continued to increase through the 1980s with many activities contracted, such as picnic and rest area maintenance, guardrails, raised pavement marking, striping, and other mostly non-pavement-related activities. A dedicated program for preventive maintenance was created in 1986 with $145 million for contracted seal coats and light overlays. The Texas legislature emphasized the contracting of TxDOT's maintenance by attaching a rider to the department's appropriation bill in 1989, which required TxDOT to contract a minimum of 25% of routine maintenance if cost-effective. In 1991, the Texas legislature passed a bill that required TxDOT to increase maintenance contracting to 50% by 1996. This also was contingent on cost-effectiveness. It included routine and preventive maintenance. In July 1999, TxDOT let two total maintenance contracts. The philosophy of a total maintenance contract is totally different from that of a regular maintenance contract. It is more of a management contract whereby the contractor is required to maintain a prescribed level of service for a lump sum bid. The contractor has total control to determine what work to perform, what materials to use, methods, schedule, and so forth. The history and evolution of maintenance contracting in Texas and the letting and results to date of the total maintenance contract are discussed. The specification and the condition assessment process that is being performed in conjunction with the projects are also discussed.