OVERVIEW

July 2023

FHWA Federal-Aid Division State 

Planning and Research Subpart B 

(SPR-B) Program

WHERE SHOULD I START?

A helpful place to start is the American Association 

of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

Research Advisory Committee (RAC) 101 

introduction. The introduction provides a great 

overview of the RAC community. Another helpful 

resource is the SPR-B program checklist, which 

outlines all the high-level action items that need to be 

overseen and the respective actions and timeline for 

both the State department of transportation (DOT) 

and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division 

office. A 4-hour online National Highway Institute 

State planning and research (SPR) funds establish a comprehensive framework for making 

transportation investment decisions and carrying out transportation research activities 

throughout a State. The SPR-B program helps States develop innovative, research-driven 

solutions to increasingly complex transportation challenges. The basic principles governing 

this program are outlined in 23 U.S. Code (USC) Chapter 505 (b) and 23 Code of Federal 

Regulation (CFR) 420, which define how partners can use SPR-B funds for research, 

development, and technology transfer.

What SPR-B program resources should I be aware of?

SPR-B RESOURCES

FHWA’s Office of Planning, 

Environment, and Realty (HEP) 

research program frequently 

asked questions (FAQs):

These FAQs provide basic 

information on the focus of the 

HEP research program, share 

research coordinator contact 

information, and describe how HEP 

research is coordinated with other 

transportation research. 

(NHI) Research 101 course is also available and 

provides an overview of the administration of the 

SPR-B program. 

WHERE CAN I GET ANSWERS 

TO MY QUESTIONS?

Each State’s local FHWA division research 

coordinator is a great resource for SPR-related 

questions. FHWA’s Office of Corporate Research, 

Technology and Innovation Management also helps 

to support the program, but final determinations 

remain with the FHWA division office.

NHI Research 101 course:

A 4-hour online course that provides 

an overview of the SPR-B program.

SPR-B program action checklist: 

The SPR-B program action checklist

provides an overview of required 

and suggested actions of the SPR-B 

program, per 23 CFR 420. 

FHWA Division Review of State 

Department of Transportation 

Research Management Process:

This overview document was created 

based on feedback from research 

coordinators looking for additional 

guidance during the management 

process review. 

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OVERVIEW

2

July 2023

FHWA Federal-Aid Division State Planning and 

Research Subpart B (SPR-B) Program

Publication No.: FHWA-HRT-23-050

HRTM-10/07-23(WEB)E

https://doi.org/10.21949/1521992

For more information, contact: 

Tricia Sergeson

patricia.sergeson@dot.gov

Jill Stark

jill.stark@dot.gov

SPR-B GUIDANCE

State Planning and Research 

Funds Overhead/Indirect Cost 

Rate Guidance:

This FHWA memorandum, issued in 

July 2017, provides guidance to State 

DOTs on how the overhead/indirect 

cost rate should be calculated by 

universities when conducting research 

for DOTs using FHWA SPR funds.

FHWA, State DOT, and MPO 

Rights to Copyrighted and 

Patented Items Developed with 

FHWA Planning and Research 

Funds:

This guidance provides information on 

copyrighted publications and patented 

inventions or discoveries resulting 

from activities performed with FHWA 

planning and research funds. 

State Planning and Research 

Program Research, Development, 

and Technology Transfer Program 

Management Guidance for 

Implementing 23 CFR Part 420, 

Subpart B:

This guidance, published in October 

2018, is intended to assist FHWA 

and State DOT staff in implementing 

the 23 CFR Part 420, Subpart 

B Research, Development, and 

Technology Transfer Program 

Management regulations.

State Planning and Research 

Guide for Peer Exchanges:

This document, published in June 

2010, provides guidance for SPR 

peer reviews. It contains information 

about the philosophy and principle 

of peer exchanges, the use of peer 

exchanges to strategically improve 

research programs, and guidance 

and resources on conducting peer 

exchanges.

Guidance on the Use of FHWA 

State Planning and Research 

Funds for Reimbursement of 

Education and Tuition Expenses:

This guidance, published in April 

2015, provides frequently asked 

questions (FAQs) and answers on 

the use of FHWA SPR funds for 

reimbursement of education and 

tuition expenses.

Legislation, Regulations, and 

Guidance—Guidance on Use 

of Training FHWA Planning and 

Research Funds for Travel and 

Training:

This FHWA guidance, first published 

in January 2004 and subsequently 

updated in April 2017, clarifies 

the eligibility of FHWA SPR and 

metropolitan planning funds for travel 

and training.

Legislation, Regulations, and 

Guidance—Use of FHWA 

Planning and Research Funds for 

Conferences and Other Meetings:

This guidance, first published in 

December 2006 and subsequently 

updated in December 2014, clarifies 

the use of FHWA planning and 

research funds for conferences and 

other meetings.

REGULATIONS 

AND POLICY

FHWA Order 6030.1A—Peer 

Exchange Policy for State Planning 

and Research:

This FHWA order, issued on July 

14, 2010, provides questions and 

answers on FHWA’s peer exchange 

policy. This order references the SPR 

guide for peer exchanges noted in the 

previous bullet point. 

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