Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Excellence Awards

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the TPF Program?

The TPF Program, established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), enables public and private 

entities to combine resources to conduct high-priority research on a wide variety of shared, transportation-related 

problems. Pooling funds, expertise, and other resources allows participants to develop innovative solutions 

through research, planning, and technology transfer activities at less of a cost than conducting the research alone. 

Pooling funds helps to extend the reach and impact of participants’ research. To learn more, visit 

https://www.pooledfund.org/Home/ExcellenceAwardsProgram.

1

What are the TPF Excellence Awards?

The biennial TPF Excellence Awards highlight the importance of meaningful collaboration and partnership in 

transportation research by recognizing TPF studies that have significantly advanced national research efforts in 

the areas of safety, economic growth, equity, climate solutions, and/or transformation. Administered through a 

partnership between FHWA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

(AASHTO) Research Advisory Committee (RAC), the biennial TPF Excellence Awards recognize two TPF 

studies, with at least one led by a State department of transportation. 

What projects are eligible for a TPF Excellence Awards nomination? 

Any TPF study that is completed and has posted a final report/deliverable by June 30 of the year submitted is 

eligible for a TPF Excellence Awards nomination. 

Who can nominate a project?

Any participant in the TPF Program can nominate an eligible TPF study. The nominator is responsible for 

completing the nomination form1

 that summarizes the outstanding accomplishments of the entry. 

How will nominations be evaluated?

A panel of independent judges from various backgrounds will review and evaluate nominations based on how 

clearly the application demonstrates and describes how the TPF study research achieved the following: 

• Collaboration/strong partnership. 

• Improvements to the transportation industry. 

• Value added to and utilization and implementation by the transportation community. 

• Promotion of research and/or innovation. 

• Use of project deliverables by multiple State partners.

• Advancement of one or more of the U.S. Department of Transportation strategic goals2

: safety, 

economic strength, equity, climate and sustainability, transformation, and organizational excellence. 

When are TPF Excellence Awards nominations due? 

As a biennial award program, nominations for the TPF Program Excellence Awards are collected in the fall of 

odd years. 
Nominations for the 2024 TPF Excellence Awards cycle will open in August 2023 and close in September 2023. 

Please check https://www.pooledfund.org/Home/ExcellenceAwardsProgram1 for more information on the 

current award cycle’s due dates and the most recent announcements about the TPF Program Excellence Awards. 

How do I submit a nomination?

Nominators should complete the nomination form1

 and submit it via email to tpfexcellenceawards@dot.gov. 

When will nominations receive feedback of award status? 

The TPF Excellence Awards will notify awardees and nonrecipients of their status in the spring of even years. 

What is the timeline for the biennial TPF Excellence Awards cycle?

• Spring, year 1: The TPF Excellence Awards working group develops selection criteria. 

• Summer, year 1: The TPF Program markets and advertises the award program. 

• Fall, year 1: The TPF Program opens the call for nominations. 

• Winter, year 1: A panel of judges reviews submitted materials. 

• Summer, year 2: Awardees are recognized at an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the annual 

AASHTO RAC meeting.

Source: FHWA.

How will the awarded projects be recognized?

FHWA will use the collected information from awarded projects to showcase and enhance the public’s 

knowledge of the research and innovation conducted through the TPF Program. Awardees will be featured on 

the FHWA Research and Technology website,

3 highlighted in a Public Roads4 magazine article, recognized at 

an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the annual AASHTO RAC meeting, and acknowledged in a postceremony webinar. 

My question wasn’t addressed on this page! What do I do?

If you have an additional question, please email tpfexcellenceawards@dot.gov. 

1

Transportation Research Board. n.d. “Transportation Pooled Fund - Excellence Awards Program” (web page). 

https://www.pooledfund.org/Home/ExcellenceAwardsProgram, last accessed March 31, 2023. 2

U.S. Department of Transportation. 2022. “FY 2022-26 U.S. DOT Strategic Plan” (web page). 

https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan, last accessed March 31, 2023. 3

Federal Highway Administration. n.d. “Research and Technology (R&T) Program Portfolio” (web page). 

https://highways.dot.gov/research/rtportfolio/home, last accessed March 30, 2023. 4

Federal Highway Administration. 2023. “Public Roads Magazine” (web page). https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/home, 

last accessed March 30, 2023.

Publication No.: FHWA-HRT-23-073

HRTM-10/05-23(WEB)E

Recommended citation: Federal Highway Administration, Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Excellence Awards Program 

(Washington, DC: 2023) https://doi.org/10.21949/1521378