The Office of Technical Services – Built for Success

Established in 2009, the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Technical Services (OTS) is a leader in advancing transportation solutions, deploying new technologies and preparing the current and future transportation workforce for the challenges of tomorrow. Agile and dynamic, OTS has changed over the years to reflect the needs of the industry and stakeholders, but remains committed to its foundational mission – providing expert technical assistance, cutting-edge training, and innovation deployment.

Composed of two major units in 2016 – the FHWA Resource Center (RC) and the National Highway Institute (NHI) – OTS collaborates with all FHWA units and serves both internal and external customers. With employees in five main locations serving customers across the Nation, OTS is adept at finding unique ways to operate to maximize its depth and breadth of expertise. Working in virtual teams, OTS staff members maintain close collaboration and accessibility to one another and to their customers. Team members continually seek new processes and communication methods that allow the organization to sustain its high level of customer service and employee satisfaction rates.

OTS is guided in its work by four foundational goals, which are considered to be the pillars that give structure to all OTS does. With a commitment to PARTNERSHIP, the office aligns and collaborates closely with its headquarters program offices, works in concert with the division offices, and partners with other key stakeholders to ensure the technical assistance and training OTS delivers are directly correlated to agency and industry needs.

A focus on SYNERGY ensures that OTS units work as a fully integrated organization to meet its customers’ needs. Regardless of which unit provides expertise, customers are ensured of getting top notch service and responsiveness. Having the concept of ENGAGEMENT at OTS’s foundation means its team members are informed, involved, and accountable. Finally, OTS’s commitment to its WORKFORCE means its employees have the technical and leadership skills to meet the emerging needs of the transportation system and its employees.

OTS activities are closely aligned with, and directly support FHWA’s national goals, primarily in its lead role for technical assistance and innovation deployment.

• National Leadership OTS provides key leadership to national innovation deployment efforts, helping transportation agencies institutionalize new technologies and processes through programs such as EDC and SHRP2 implementation.

• System Performance OTS works with FHWA headquarters and division partners to assist State DOTs and other agency partners in improving highway safety by advancing data-driven highway safety management practices and system performance measures.

• Program Delivery OTS provides front-line technical assistance and training to ensure the agency’s partners have the requisite capabilities to oversee major projects.

• Corporate Capacity One of OTS’s most important jobs is to support the development of the agency’s workforce, so it has the proper skills and resources to achieve the agency’s goals and meet its customers’ needs. This is done through the Discipline Support System (DSS) and complementary activities, including employee participation in NHI training.

The activities in the OTS 2016 performance plan were linked directly to FHWA’s strategic goals. In the pages that follow, this report will highlight some of those activities and key accomplishments from each unit. It will also feature cross-cutting, OTS-led activities and share what’s planned in 2017 and beyond.