Under the prospective contract, the contractor shall provide support services to operate the Federal Highway administration (FHW A) Research Library, assisting customers with research efforts, cataloging the library's holdings, and performing research services for the Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) program. The collection covers all aspects of surface transportation and is geared towards the information needs of all FHWA Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) employees, regardless of location. Particular emphasis is on research that supports the work of the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) laboratories. The FHWA Research Library will provide collections, electronic resources, and services to support FHWA research needs, and to collect and maintain all publications developed by or for FHW A. Services include literature search and review, bibliography preparation, collection development recommendations, electronic resources and general reference and referral.

The EAR program conducts longer-term, higher risk research with potentially dramatic breakthroughs for improving the durability, efficiency, and environmental impact, productivity, and safety aspects of highway and intermodal transportation systems. The EAR program requires continual scanning and convening activities by a librarian to "feed" the transformational research element of the EAR program.