[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR420.207]

[Page 90-91]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 420--PLANNING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart B--Research, Development and Technology Transfer Program 
                               Management
 
Sec. 420.207  Conditions for grant approval.

    (a) As a condition for approval of FHWA planning and research funds 
for RD&T activities, a State shall implement a program of RD&T 
activities for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of 
highways, public transportation, and intermodal transportation systems. 
Not less than 25 percent of the State's apportioned SPR funds shall be 
spent on such activities, unless waived by the FHWA, in accordance with 
the provisions of Sec. 420.107. In addition the State shall develop, 
establish, and implement a management process that identifies and 
implements RD&T activities expected to address highest priority 
transportation issues, and includes:
    (1) An interactive process for identification and prioritization of 
RD&T activities for inclusion in an RD&T work program;
    (2) Utilization, to the maximum extent possible, of all FHWA 
planning and research funds set aside for RD&T activities either 
internally or for participation in national, regional pooled, or 
cooperatively funded studies;
    (3) Procedures for tracking program activities, schedules, 
accomplishments, and fiscal commitments;
    (4) Support and use of the TRIS database for program development, 
reporting of active RD&T activities, and input of the final report 
information;
    (5) Procedures to determine the effectiveness of the State's 
management process in implementing the RD&T program, to determine the 
utilization of the State's RD&T outputs, and to facilitate peer reviews 
of its RD&T Program on a periodic basis and;
    (6) Procedures for documenting RD&T activities through the 
preparation of final reports. As a minimum, the documentation shall 
include the data collected, analyses performed, conclusions, and 
recommendations.

[[Page 91]]

The State shall actively implement appropriate research findings and 
should document benefits.
    (b) Each State shall conduct peer reviews of its RD&T program and 
should participate in the review of other States' programs on a periodic 
basis. To assist peer reviewers in completing a quality and performance 
effectiveness review, the State shall disclose to them information and 
documentation required to be collected and maintained under this 
subpart. Travel and other costs associated with peer reviews of the 
State's program may be identified as a line item in the State work 
program and will be eligible for 100 percent Federal funding. At least 
two members of the peer review team shall be selected from the FHWA list 
of qualified peer reviewers. The peer review team shall provide a 
written report of its findings to the State. The State shall forward a 
copy of the report to the FHWA Division Administrator with a written 
response to the peer review findings.
    (c) Documentation that describes the management process and the 
procedures for selecting and implementing RD&T activities shall be 
developed and maintained by the State. The documentation shall be 
submitted by the State to the FHWA Division office for FHWA approval. 
Significant changes in the management process also shall be submitted by 
the State for FHWA approval. The State shall make the documentation 
available, as necessary, to facilitate peer reviews.