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Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-06-037
Date: April 2006

Performance Plan Fiscal Year (FY) 2006-2007

Program Support Services

Office of Corporate Research and Technology

The Office of Corporate Research and Technology supports the Agency's commitment to implement the CMP to strengthen FHWA's role as a leader in national highway R&T. Created in the summer of 2004, the office has since taken a lead role in facilitating various Agencywide R&T activities, such as the development of functional area R&T multiyear roadmaps to advance FHWA strategic goals; development of a process for establishing an Agency Advanced Research Agenda; advancement of priority market-ready technologies (MRT) and a process for tracking their deployment; expansion of stakeholder involvement in advanced and applied research and deployment through the development of an integrated R&T information management system; and preparation of a draft Corporate R&T report. The Office of Corporate Research and Technology champions R&T leadership initiatives in collaboration with FHWA field and program offices, State and local highway agencies, and other key internal and external stakeholders. This includes collaborative review and implementation of authorized research initiatives under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

Key Activities and Milestones for FY 2006 and 2007

Key Activities	Goal	Anticipated Completion
Office of Corporate Research and Technology
Office Director: Debra Elston, Debra.Elston@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-493-3181
Facilitate updating and communication of the Agency list of Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovation.	All Goal Areas	Dec 2005
Manage development of FHWA Advanced Research Agenda and program management options.	All Goal Areas	Dec 2005
Develop and market the integrated FHWA Corporate R&T Web site.	Organizational Excellence	Jan 2006
Facilitate, distribute, and market updated multiyear functional area R&T roadmaps.	All Goal Areas	Jan 2006
Manage implementation of FHWA Advanced Research Agenda program.	All Goal Areas	Mar 2006
Produce and publish an FHWA 2006 Corporate R&T report.	Organizational Excellence	May 2006
Identify and communicate deployment status of MRT.	Organizational Excellence	Sep 2006
Conduct corporate R&T functional area program review.	Organizational Excellence	Mar 2007
Manage coordination of Scientific Peer Review procedures.	All Goal Areas	Semiannual

Office of Program Development and Evaluation

The Office of Program Development and Evaluation champions the RD&T Program and those it serves by developing and executing policy, budget, program management, and evaluation tools to further a national highway R&T program. Program development activities include the development of legislative and budget proposals and a budget delivery plan. The office is the focal point for FHWA's participation in cooperative research activities, such as NCHRP, and encourages partnerships to leverage resources through the TPF Program, which enables FHWA and State DOTs to pool resources to pursue projects of mutual interest. The Office of Program Development and Evaluation also manages FHWA participation in the Small Business Innovation Research Program and works with the Research and Innovative Technology Administration to support the University Transportation Center Program. In the area of evaluation, the office compiles the RD&T Performance Plan, the performance section of the annual TFHRC Profile Report, and manages a lab assessment program.

Key Activities and Milestones for FY 2006 and 2007

Key Activities	Goal	Anticipated Completion
Office of Program Development and Evaluation
Office Director: Marci Kenney, Marci.Kenney@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-493-3117
Develop a Legislative Implementation Plan for the research provisions in SAFETEA-LU.	Organizational Excellence	Dec 2005
Develop an R&T Budget Delivery Plan.	Organizational Excellence	(Annually) Jan 2006 Jan 2007
Develop FHWA's portion of the USDOT R&D Strategic Plan.	Organizational Excellence	Jul 2006
Identify and adopt FY 2008 R&D budget priorities.	Organizational Excellence	Jul 2006
Provide a summary of FHWA R&T activities and funding for USDOT annual performance reports on RD&T required by SAFETEA-LU.	Organizational Excellence	(Annually) Jul 2006 Jul 2007
Conduct FY 2006 lab assessments; complete lab assessments for Aerodynamics Lab, Coatings and Corrosion Lab, and Crash Analysis Labs.	Organizational Excellence	Sep 2006
Provide summary of R&T activities and funding for RD&T annual report.	Organizational Excellence	(Annually) Oct 2006 Oct 2007
Identify and adopt FY 2009 R&D budget priorities.	Organizational Excellence	Jul 2007
Conduct FY 2007 lab assessments; complete lab assessments for the Geotechnical Lab, Highway Safety Information Systems and Design Lab, Bridge Management Information Systems Lab, and Nondestructive Evaluation and Pavement Surface Analysis Lab.	Organizational Excellence	Sep 2007

Office of Resource Management

The Office of Resource Management provides critical management support services that contribute to the Office of RD&T's research and deployment of T&I activities. The Office of Resource Management staff provides assistance and support for a wide range of activities and operations. These include financial management of R&T and General Operating Expenses funding; acquisition planning and contract administration for research programs and research support activities; human resource management and employee development; information technology support for research and business applications; accountable property management and disposition, and RD&T facilities management-including emergency planning, FHWA continuity of operations support, and physical security.

Key Activities and Milestones for FY 2006 and 2007

Key Activities	Goal	Anticipated Completion
Office of Resource Management
Office Director: Doreen McCarthy, Doreen.McCarthy@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-493-3173
Implement the Management Cost Accounting System.	Organizational Excellence	Jun 2006
Assess and improve the annual RD&T Workforce Succession Plan.	Organizational Excellence	Jul 2006
Develop the TFHRC Capital Improvement Plan.	Organizational Excellence	Sep 2006
Implement E-travel.	Organizational Excellence	Sep 2006

Office of Research and Technology Services

The Office of Research and Technology Services leads in leveraging T&I deployment, one of the Agency's key business processes. The office also provides various marketing and communication services Agencywide, as well as within the Office of RD&T. These include planning and executing the FHWA-wide exhibit program; administering the R&T Products Distribution Center; editing, publishing, and distributing RD&T research reports; overseeing RD&T Web pages; and publishing periodicals, such as Public Roads, that reach customers worldwide. The office also supports the implementation of the CMP.

Key Activities and Milestones for FY 2006 and 2007

Key Activities	Goal	Anticipated Completion
Office of Research and Technology Services
Office Director: John McCracken, John.McCracken@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-493-3422
Coordinate the National Exhibit Program, including maintaining and updating the exhibits database: Ship 30 exhibits and related publications annually to 20 Division Offices in support of marketing efforts. Ship 45 exhibits and related publications annually for the Resource Center and program offices. Coordinate FHWA presence at the TRB Annual Meeting including shipping, setup, staffing, and take down of approximately 80 exhibits and related publications. Coordinate FHWA presence at the AASHTO Annual Meeting including design, shipping, setup, staffing, and take down of the exhibits. Ship 25 exhibits annually to national exhibitions that are of a crosscutting nature (involve multiple FHWA offices).	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Operate the R&T Product Distribution Center to distribute approximately 300,000 items (reports, CDs, videos, National Highway Institute course materials): Provide online access to the Product Distribution Center database.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Continue improvements to the RD&T Technical Reference Center to enhance the collections and access to the resources, including reference and research services: Provide online access to the Technical Reference Center database.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Provide technical meeting support services for at least 30 meetings for various FHWA offices nationwide.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Provide writing and editorial services for 200 FHWA projects annually.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Solicit articles, edit, and print R&T periodicals: Public Roads-at least 6 issues per year. Focus-12 issues per year. Transporter-12 issues per year.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Coordinate at least 50 external outreach and information exchange events each year.	All Goal Areas	(Annually) Sep 2006 Sep 2007
Improve the RD&T publication process.	All Goal Areas	Sep 2006
Improve the RD&T communication plan process.	All Goal Areas	Sep 2006

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