The Federal Highway Administration's Broad Agency Announcement (693JJ3-23-BAA-0002) outlines funding opportunities for research to support infrastructure development and improvement. This announcement invites diverse proposals aimed at enhancing highway safety, resilience, and efficiency through advanced digital construction and materials research. Key areas of focus include technological advancements in pavement management, bridge preservation, and safety enhancements. The proposal process is structured in two phases: the initial submission of project concept papers followed by detailed project proposals upon invitation. Eligibility for submission is open to various organizations, including universities and private sectors, provided they are registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Funding levels are expected to range from $50,000 to $750,000, contingent on project scope and available resources. Proposals are evaluated based on their alignment with strategic goals, which emphasize safety, economic competitiveness, equity, climate and sustainability, and organizational excellence. This BAA encourages innovative solutions that can provide public benefits and improve national infrastructure, reflecting a holistic approach to addressing contemporary transportation challenges. The document highlights the importance of collaboration among stakeholders and the prioritization of well-documented, sustainable research initiatives.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement focused on research initiatives supporting the development of next-generation structural materials and systems. Central to this announcement is the requirement for a Quad Chart format, which visually and succinctly presents project objectives, progress, and significant information. The Quad Chart consists of four quadrants: the first showcases key graphics representing the technology and its impact; the second provides a brief project description in bullet points; the third outlines quantitative advancements the project aims to achieve, including improvements in efficiency and safety; and the fourth lists project milestones with associated costs along a three-year timeline. Moreover, adherence to strict formatting guidelines, including font type and size, is emphasized to ensure clarity and legibility. The document also stresses the submission of Quad Charts in a specified Microsoft PowerPoint template, limiting file size for efficiency. This initiative highlights FHWA's effort to foster innovation in structural engineering through concise communication of project potential and impact, aligning with government priorities for infrastructure development and sustainability. Overall, the document serves as a structured template for submitting research proposals in a competitive governmental funding environment.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued guidance for creating a Quad Chart, a concise visual tool used to convey project objectives and progress related to structural engineering research initiatives. The Quad Chart is structured into four quadrants: the upper left features graphics representing key technological ideas, while the upper right provides a brief project description in bullet points. The lower left quadrant presents quantitative statements on how the project addresses existing limitations and enhances areas such as safety and efficiency. Lastly, the lower right outlines significant project milestones along with associated costs, depicted through a timeline or bulleted list. The document emphasizes clarity and brevity, specifying formatting details such as font choices and size, and notes that Quad Charts must adhere to specific file requirements. This guidance serves as a standard for submitting proposals and progress reports in the context of government Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and grants, facilitating effective communication of technical projects to non-expert audiences.

The document serves as a cost proposal model for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) agreements, enabling prospective recipients to detail proposed costs associated with projects. Key components include sections outlining personnel costs, fringe benefits, travel expenses, equipment, supplies, and contractual consulting fees, all with placeholders for estimated hours, rates, and total costs, which are initially set to zero. It also specifies inclusion of indirect charges related to facilities and administrative costs. The document is structured to allow the offeror to provide detailed breakdowns by task and labor category, indicating a comprehensive approach to cost estimation for federal contracts. This framework ensures transparency and accountability in the financial planning of federally funded projects, adhering to the necessary guidelines for RFPs, grants, and contractual agreements.

The document is a certification regarding lobbying in connection with federal grants, loans, contracts, and cooperative agreements. It asserts that no federal funds have been or will be used to influence government officials regarding such federal transactions. If non-federal funds are utilized for lobbying, the undersigned is required to submit a "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities" form. The document mandates including the lobbying certification language in all sub-award documents, ensuring compliance from all sub-recipients as well. This certification is a significant legal requirement under section 1352 of title 31, United States Code, and failure to comply may result in civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for each violation. The structure includes a certification section with spaces for the organization name, address, a certification by an authorized representative, and a signature with the date. This form is essential for transparency and accountability in the use of federal funds.

The FHWA Subcontracting Plan outlines requirements for bidders to address subcontracting opportunities related to the BAA 693JJ3-23-BAA-0002 solicitation aimed at supporting the Office of Infrastructure Research and Development. Bidders must submit a plan detailing the planned allocation of subcontracted dollars, including goals for small businesses and specific categories like Veteran-Owned and Women-Owned enterprises. The document specifies that participants must provide rationale for any goals set below certain thresholds, including mandated reporting and record-keeping practices. It emphasizes equitable opportunities for small and disadvantaged business concerns (SB, SDB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB) and adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This plan serves as a commitment to ensuring that small businesses are actively involved in government projects, supporting economic inclusion and fair competition in federal contracting. It articulates standards for subcontracting practices, compliance measures, and administrative responsibilities to promote the effective implementation of the subcontracting goals.

The FHWA Strategic Plan for FY 2022-2026 outlines the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) goals and objectives in alignment with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) strategic priorities. It emphasizes safety, economic growth, equity, climate sustainability, transformational change, and organizational excellence. The plan positions FHWA to leverage the $550 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for significant infrastructure improvements. Key goals include reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries through improved safety measures and innovative designs, enhancing economic competitiveness by restoring and modernizing critical infrastructure, and promoting equity by engaging underserved communities in decision-making processes. The plan also addresses climate challenges by advocating for sustainable practices and the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Furthermore, FHWA seeks to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, enhancing workforce diversity and inclusivity while maintaining transparency and accountability in program management. With an integrated approach, the FHWA aims to build a resilient transportation system that responds effectively to evolving societal needs and environmental imperatives, thereby serving all Americans more equitably and effectively.

The FHWA InfoMaterials document outlines the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Web-based portal designed to enhance access to infrastructure research and materials testing datasets. Launched in January 2020, InfoMaterials serves as a repository for asphalt, concrete, and other highway infrastructure materials data, emphasizing the importance of effective data management to avoid redundancy and foster innovation. The document provides guidance on creating a comprehensive data management plan, emphasizing structured, unstructured, and semistructured data types, along with their respective metadata requirements. Key elements of data management include defining data needs, organizing data collection processes, ensuring quality control, and implementing centralized, secure data storage. The document also outlines the necessity of project-level and data-level metadata to facilitate a clear understanding of datasets, including guidelines for folder structures and naming conventions for files. The significance of this document lies in its potential application to federal and state/local RFPs by promoting standardized approaches to research data organization, ultimately aiding stakeholders in utilizing the data effectively for infrastructure development and improvement. Through detailed metadata practices and effective data management, FHWA aims to enhance the accessibility and usefulness of vital transportation research datasets.

The FHWA Communication Reference Guide Updates document serves to revise and clarify the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) existing Communication Reference Guide (CRG) used by authors to prepare and promote FHWA's research outputs. This update, applicable as of July 1, 2021, consolidates recent changes in guidance regarding attribution lines, references, and compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Key updates include the mandatory inclusion of attribution lines under all FHWA-owned images, enhancements to in-text citation formatting to align with the Chicago Manual of Style, and detailed approaches for ensuring Section 508 compliance, particularly for accessibility. The document outlines proper formatting for various reference types, emphasizes the use of Unicode characters for symbols to improve accessibility, and introduces guidelines for the representation of equations and color contrast in visuals. It aims to enhance the clarity of communication products and ensure they meet modern accessibility standards, thereby furthering FHWA's commitment to effective public outreach and compliance with federal regulations.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has established an authorship policy aimed at enhancing transparency in government communications, particularly in scientific and technical products. This initiative aligns with the directive from the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, issued on January 27, 2021. The policy requires clear identification of the authors responsible for the information and conclusions presented in FHWA research products. It is applicable from February 22, 2022, and serves as a guideline for developing credible research outputs, reinforcing accountability and public trust. For further inquiries, Lisa A. Shuler, the FHWA Team Director for Marketing and Communications, is the designated contact point.

The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 693JJ3-23-BAA-0002 from the Federal Highway Administration outlines research priorities to support infrastructure initiatives, focusing on Advanced Digital Construction (ADC), Transportation Resilience and Safety (TRS), Enhanced Pavement Management (EPM), Bridge Preservation and Management (BPM), and Pavement Modeling and Performance (PMP). It invites concept papers on various research topics, including the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), automated data collection, and the impact of climate change on infrastructure. Key topics include assessing the return on investment (ROI) for BIM, integrating digital twins, automated vehicle impacts, maintenance fleet electrification, and evaluating risks to bridge management. Additionally, calls for research on life-cycle assessments for pavement treatments and improving measurement quality for pavement macrotexture highlight a comprehensive approach towards sustainable infrastructure management. The announcement signifies funding opportunities within specified ranges, aiming to foster innovations that enhance infrastructure maintenance and resilience amid evolving technical and environmental challenges, ensuring effective resource allocation and informed decision-making across transportation agencies.