Contents

PART II (ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS)

Chapter 8 (Office of Policy and Governmental Affair)

Section 1. Associate Administrator

1. What is the mission of the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs? To provide leadership in the development of policy and representing FHWA in Congress and in the international highway community.

2. What are the functions of the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs?

   1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA advocate for national program policies, policy information needs, and legislative initiatives in support of DOT and FHWA strategic goals. Develops, facilitates, and coordinates national and international initiatives and maintains feedback systems designed to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives.

   2. Strategic Planning and Quality. In coordination with FHWA program offices and OST, supports the FHWA and DOT Strategic Plans by providing guidance and advice on strategic planning and policy issues related to highway transportation. Develops and implements action/business plan quality self-assessments and program evaluation initiatives in the advancement of FHWA goals and implements strategies designed to produce continuous quality improvement within the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs.

   3. Research and Technology Delivery. Conducts research in support of highway policy, information management, and international programs. Leads or supports in the development and implementation of research in these areas and technology plans and road maps to achieve strategic goals in those areas, and in cooperation with relevant FHWA program offices, provides policy and information analysis tools to the field for State and local used.

   4. Legislation/Program. Leads the development of legislative proposals in cooperation with FHWA offices and OST. Develops the Legislative Implementation Plan for major authorizing legislation, coordinating and monitoring implementation of new requirements in cooperation with the appropriate offices. Develops selected policy and program direction as delegated primary responsibility, including the development of regulations where appropriate.

   5. Long Range Strategic Planning. Provides agencywide leadership for strategic policy development, including environmental scanning, outreach, and identification of emerging issues. Performs trend forecasting and analysis and identifies potential new Federal roles. Supports the Administrator in coordination with the Leadership Team in the development of the FHWA Strategic Plan, provides for coordination within FHWA and with OST, and works with OST to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Congress on the strategic planning process.

   6. Congressional Affairs. Serves as the FHWA’s principal congressional liaison, assisting the Agency in responding to congressional issues. Communicates the policies of the Agency and the viewpoints of the Administrator regarding congressional issues, and about programs and matters of interest to the Agency as requested by Members of Congress. Work with OST Congressional Affairs in responding to congressional issues.

   7. Development of National Highway/Transportation Policy. Provides assistance to the Secretary in formulating, implementing, and analyzing national highway transportation policy, programs, and financing initiatives in cooperation with OST and the other modes. Communicates these initiatives within FHWA. Works with OST to communicate these initiatives to OMB, the Congress, and State and local governments. Represents FHWA on the DOT-wide Policy Council.

   8. National Transportation Policy Studies. Develops, monitors, evaluates, and implements national highway transportation policy studies and pilot programs in areas including future investment requirements, user fees and cost recovery, highway linkages to economic productivity, truck size and weight policy, and programs to eliminate evasion of motor fuel taxes.

   9. National Highway/Transportation Information Management. Develops and implements a program of national highway information collection, management, and analyses to serve Agency policy and decisionmaking needs in areas including highway system extent, usage and performance, financing, travel, and fuel consumption. Plans and conducts national surveys of household travel demand and customer satisfaction in cooperation with other modes. Supports nationwide users and providers of highway data through publications, Web access, and specialized assistance. Coordinates with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) on data issues with DOT-wide implications.

   10. International Activities. Provides overall leadership and strategic direction and facilitation for FHWA’s international activities, including: technological exchange and assistance programs; bilateral cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and other countries; and FHWA’s participation in international organizations, e.g., the World Road Association/Permanent International Association of Road Congress (PIARC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Provides support to the U.S. highway community in its international activities, including the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), OST, other Federal agencies, and industry efforts to promote U.S. technology and expertise abroad. Provides expert technical assistance to the Kuwaiti and Iraqi government on highway and road projects and other construction.

3. The Associate Administrator for Policy and Governmental Affairs provides executive direction over the activities of the following organizational elements:

   Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs
   Office of Transportation Policy Studies
   Office of Highway Policy Information
   Office of International Programs

Section 2. Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs

1. What is the mission of the Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs?

   • To provide support and assistance to FHWA, DOT, and the Congress on policy development and execution, including coordination of the Agency legislative program and stewardship of the Highway Trust Fund.

2. What are the functions of the Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs?

   1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA lead and advocate for national highway legislative initiatives development, coordination, and communication in furtherance of DOT and FHWA strategic goals.

   2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Brings a corporate and Administration policy viewpoint to the development and implementation of quality assessments and evaluations in areas including strategic planning, visioning, and legislative initiatives. Leads in the outreach, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms for review and revision of the FHWA Strategic Plan in coordination with the Department's Strategic Plan, and applies findings to ensure the linkage between system performance/authorizing perspective and program management/ appropriations perspective in the budget process. Provides support on quality initiatives for the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs.

   3. Performance Planning.In coordination with OST, the FHWA Leadership Team, Headquarters and field offices, and partners and customers, champions the effective deployment of strategic planning, performance planning and program evaluation. Supports the Leadership Team in the development of the Annual Performance Plan and supports the Administrator in the preparation of the Annual Performance Agreement. Agency's lead contact and coordinator for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). Coordinates with OST Budget and OMB on performance related documents such as DOT Performance Plans and Reports. Provides guidance to Headquarters and the field offices on techniques and practices for tracking Strategic Planning initiatives and measuring progress. Assists in the development and utilization of business metrics. Responsible for preparation and dissemination of the Annual FHWA Milestone Report.

   4. Legislation/National Highway Transportation Policy. In support of FHWA's Office of the Administrator and the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs, provides assistance to the Secretary in the formulation, analysis, and oversight of national highway transportation policy and legislation implementation in cooperation with other FHWA offices, OST, and other modes. Supports communication of this information to customers and partners. Provides analysis of issues and alternatives for future legislation as well as assessments of legislation proposed by others.

   5. National Transportation Policy Studies. Designs, implements, and evaluates national studies, including the "Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions and Performance Report to Congress" (C & P report). Coordinates extensively within DOT and with customers and partners on alternative investment scenarios for the future and on options for achieving updated, user-friendly C & P reports.

   6. Customer Service and Dissemination. Manages activities to relate highway programmatic and financing information to all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and to other customers and partners through provision of financing Federal-aid highways courses, Highway Trust Fund primers, and related efforts.

   7. Policy Research. Conducts research and development of economic-based performance analysis tools for investment scenario analysis at the Federal, State, and local levels.

   8. Briefings. Prepares official executive briefings for the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administrator, to prepare them for informational updates, meetings, and other significant events involving a wide variety of audiences, including international interests. Manages a system of quick-response input from Headquarters and field offices.

   9. Intergovernmental Affairs. Professionally manages the Agency's intergovernmental relations function to balance FHWA's dealings with State and local governments, public and special interest groups, transportation associations, and non-profit organizations. Identifies and implements coordinated strategies for the full range of stakeholders, and brings understanding of these interests into tactics involved in legislative and program delivery.

Section 3. Office of Transportation Policy Studies

1. What is the mission of the Office of Transportation Policy Studies? To provide support and assistance to FHWA, DOT, and the Congress on policy development and execution, including analysis of major policy issues impacting highway transportation for the future.

2. What are the functions of the Office of Transportation Policy Studies?

   1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA lead and advocate for national program policies and legislative initiatives in furtherance of DOT and FHWA strategic goals.

   2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Develops and implements quality assessments and evaluations in areas including economic/productivity agendas and pilot programs. Conducts studies of emerging issues that could affect future Federal-aid highway programs.

   3. Legislation/National Highway Transportation Policy. Provides agencywide leadership in formulating, analyzing, and implementing national highway transportation policy issues such as energy and transportation finance initiatives and public-private partnerships in cooperation with OST and other modes. Communicates this information to customers and partners. Provides in-depth analysis, including economic impacts of issues and alternatives for future policy development.

   4. National Transportation Policy Studies. Designs, implements, and evaluates national studies and pilot programs including user fee/cost allocation studies, highway linkages to domestic productivity and international competitiveness, and truck size and weight analyses of impacts of alternative scenarios. To eliminate evasion of motor fuel taxes, manages a program involving 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

   5. Policy Research. Conducts research and develops analysis tools in support of policy studies and reports to Congress, and provides these tools to States for their policy uses.

   6. Customer Service and Information Dissemination. Disseminates information on forecasts of future highway travel, travel characteristics of different vehicle classes, user fees paid by different vehicle classes, findings from various policy studies, and analytical tools developed in connection with policy studies.

Section 4. Office of Highway Policy Information

1. What is the mission of the Office of Highway Policy Information?

   • To provide support and assistance to FHWA, DOT, the Congress, and other customers in developing and analyzing policy related data and information for highway and intermodal transportation decisionmaking.

2. What are the functions of the Office of Highway Policy Information?

   1. Advocacy. Serves as FHWA lead and advocate to assess national highway policy data and information needs for administration and congressional reporting on highway extent, condition, performance, financing, highway trust fund attribution, and future investment requirements; apportionment data needs; national highway statistics reporting; and strategic plan data needs.

   2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Develops and implements action/business plan initiatives in the advancement of FHWA goals and implements strategies designed to produce continuous quality improvement within the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs. Provides data in support of the FHWA and DOT Strategic Plan. Works with relevant FHWA offices to develops initiatives to improve data quality.

   3. Research and Technology. Conducts research and analysis in support of national policy information and decisionmaking needs as well as information collection, editing, and analysis tools and technologies for States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in support of the intergovernmental data partnership. Supports the FHWA Resource Center in dissemination of these tools to States and MPOs.

   4. National Highway Policy Information Program. Develops and implements a program of national highway information collection, management, and analyses to serve Agency policy and decisionmaking needs in areas including highway system extent, usage and performance, financing, travel, and fuel consumption. Plans and conducts national surveys of household travel demand and customer satisfaction in cooperation with other modes and BTS.

   5. Intermodal Data Coordination. Serves as lead point of contact for FHWA with the BTS in assembling highway data into the Department's intermodal database, assessing appropriate data standards and developing appropriate indicator data sources for the Department's Strategic Plan.

   6. Monitoring and Evaluation. Develops, facilitates, and coordinates feedback systems to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives and guide future program direction. Conducts appropriate data process reengineering initiatives in cooperation with the field offices and our partners and stakeholders.

   7. Customer Service and Outreach. Supports nationwide users and providers of highway data through publications, Web access, and specialized assistance. Seeks customer feedback on the effectiveness of initiatives.

Section 5. Office of International Programs

1. What is the mission of the Office of International Programs? To implement the international programs and activities that will meet the highest priority of the FHWA, support USDOT goals of global connectivity and the USDOT Strategic Plan, the U.S. transportation community, and our international partners.

2. What are the functions of the Office of International Programs?

   1. Advocacy. Serves as FHWA lead and advocate for the U.S. highway community internationally through participation in international organizations; bilateral cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and other countries; and support for international activities undertaken by U.S. highway-related organizations such as AASHTO and TRB, as well as other Federal agencies in the area of transportation. Provides support to the U.S. private sector for highway-related activities abroad.

   2. Strategic Planning and Quality. In coordination with FHWA program offices, develops and implements international initiatives to advance the DOT’s and FHWA’s international goals and objectives, and implements strategies designed to produce continuous quality improvement. Supports the FHWA and DOT Strategic Plan by providing guidance and advice on international issues related to highway transportation and technology.

   3. Research and Technology. Supports the FHWA’s research and implementation efforts through the coordination and management of the FHWA’s scanning program that provides the U.S. highway community with specific information on high-priority technology available internationally. Also, provides support through participation in the development and implementation of the Corporate Master Plan for Research and Development. Coordinates selected research and technology exchanges with other developed countries, as well as technology transfer and assistance to selected countries to improve transportation trade corridors and security. Participates in international research efforts through such organizations as the PIARC and the TRB.

   4. Coordination of International Activities. Serves as lead point of contact and coordinator for FHWA with the other international offices within the Department and OST for all international activities and initiatives. Works with other offices within the Department, other U.S. agencies, and international organizations to develop and implement technology transfer and assistance programs in selected foreign countries in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives.

   5. Customer Service and Outreach. Provides support to all FHWA offices for all international initiatives, including foreign travel, technical exchanges, and programs. Conducts outreach to the U.S. highway community regarding the FHWA’s international activities as well as the informational resources available to the Federal, State, and local level customers from abroad. Coordinates and provides support for international visitors to FHWA and other DOT entities.

   6. Technical Assistance to Kuwait on Highway and Road Projects and Other Construction. Through the Kuwait Technical Assistance Team, provides the Kuwaiti government with advice and technical assistance in the areas of program management, project development, contract procurement and administration, construction and quality control, and training, with respect to highway and road projects and other construction as well as assist in the creation of a Technology Transfer Center. Works with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works (MPW), in adherence with cooperative agreements between FHWA and the Kuwaiti government and other cooperating agencies.

Section 5a. Kuwait Technical Assistance Team

1. What is the mission of the Kuwait Technical Assistance Team? To provide advice and technical assistance to Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works (MPW) to improve and construct Kuwait’s highways and roads. To provide these services under the aegis of the 1968 Consulting Services Agreement and other applicable agreements and more specifically under a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) entered into between the Kuwaiti MPW, the State of Kuwait, and the Federal Highway Administration. Operates under authority redelegated by FHWA’s Director, Office of International Programs.

2. What are the functions of the Kuwait Technical Assistance Team?

   1. Program Management. Provides advice in the evaluation of existing organizational structure to determine the Kuwaiti government’s ability to deliver a stable multi-year program for primary and local roads. Assists in evaluating existing policies and procedures to determine existing stewardship responsibilities and quality control mechanisms. With regard to staffing and training, assists in evaluating whether adequate resources are available to carry out program stewardship. Assists in identifying roles and responsibilities of each organizational unit and recommends possible areas of improvement. Assesses the technical and training needs of the Kuwait MPW, participating in needs assessment studies and other studies and evaluations.

   2. Project Development. Assesses, in detail, project support management needs in the areas of project delivery (design, construction, materials, and maintenance) for motorways and expressways projects. Provides advice in the design of safe, cost-effective, and environmentally sound highway and road projects. Assists in evaluating the existing design specifications, standards guidance, policies, and reference materials. Assists in evaluating processes for contracting for engineering services and reviews the acceptance of completed Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) packages. This work includes procedures for the efficient and timely processing and tracking of contract modifications (variation orders). Provides for the training and development of staff, assists in evaluating staff development, and reviews the level of expertise needed to deliver services. Assists in the development of maintenance management systems to help ensure that all correspondence is distributed throughout the MPW.

   3. Contract Procurement and Administration. Provides advice regarding the preparation of tendered documents, including plans, specifications, and estimates packages, and bid documentation for contract solicitations. Assists in defining the scope of the contract and setting forth bidding requirements. Assists in using engineer’s estimate as a guide to evaluate bidder’s proposals and to determine responsiveness of the bidder. In terms of contract administration, assists in developing systems and procedures to ensure compliance with the contract terms and conditions during contract performance.

   4. Construction. Provides advice in ensuring construction procedures for plans and specifications are followed during the construction phase of the project. Provides construction guidance and assists in the evaluation of the existing construction specifications, standards, guidance, policies, and reference materials. This includes procedures for the efficient and timely processing and tracking of construction contract modifications (variation orders). Assists in quality control and acceptance. Assists in the evaluation of contractors’ procedures to ensure that the results of a project meet all specified standards. Assists in the evaluation of MPW’s procedures to ensure that the testing and inspection of the contractor’s work meets all specified standards. Provide technical support and oversight of construction supervision contracts.

   5. Training. Works with the MPW to develop a training program in various technical and managerial areas to assist MPW staff in independently managing future MPW programs. Coordinates MPW’s training needs (in- country and abroad) with DOT and FHWA Headquarters and the different Departments within MPW (ex. construction, design, and maintenance). In the long-term, assists MPW staff in developing a center of knowledge that can be used to provide technical assistance to the MPW staff in the future.

   6. Liaison and Coordination. Coordinates with FHWA Headquarters and field offices, including the National Highway Institute, on matters relating to the establishment of national policy leadership, program management and delivery, and technical assistance.