Glossary, Roles, Statuses, and Codes

Organization Roles

Contractor - The organization that conducts the study in accordance with the statement of work and as contractually directed by the lead agency.

FHWA Division Office - The organization that approves expenditure of federal funds by the affiliated state transportation agency and approves the Federal Aid Project Agreement (PR-2) to obligate federal funds on the agency’s behalf.

FHWA Research, Development and Technology, Office of Program Development and Evaluation - The organization within FHWA that serves as program administrator and as the central administrator for financial management of the transportation pooled fund program.

Lead agency - The organization that contracts for the research and administers the study (convenes the technical advisory committee, coordinates study administrative activities, publishes and distributes study reports, etc.). The Transportation Research Board (TRB,) FHWA, or a state transportation agency may fill this role. The lead agency is named in the solicitation.

Sponsoring agency - The organization (state transportation agency or FHWA) that formally proposes the study and solicits for participation and funding contributions from study partners.

Study partner - An organization that contributes funds or in-kind resources to participate in the study. Study partners may include state transportation agencies, FHWA, other federal agencies, regional and local transportation agencies, academic institutions, associations, foundations, private firms, and others.

Technical advisory committee - The group that guides the study from the statement of work through the time the research products are implemented. Members may include representatives from each of the study partners or may include only part of that group with other experts.

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