Midwest Regional University Transportation Center
Specific Request for Proposals
3 Specific Topics (follow links for more information):
1. Guidelines and Strategies for the Preventative Maintenance of Bridges Solicitations Closed
2. Frozen Road Operation Improvements Solicitations Closed
3. Database Development for a Pavement Performance Analysis System Solicitations Closed
4. Estimating Cost Per Mile for Routine Highway Operations and Maintenance Solicitations Closed
(Please note that MRUTC proposals must have a Principal Investigator from an academic institution within USDOT Region 5.)
The Midwest Regional University Transportation Center (MRUTC) is soliciting the research community for proposals that reflect the focus and vision of the Center.
Proposals must combine the concepts of asset management and optimization analyses that may be directly applied toward transportation decision-making processes.
General Information
Time: Final reports should be delivered no later than September 30, 2007. Projects can start July 1, 2006.
Format: Researchers should use the following format for submitting proposals:
5. Equipment and/or Facilities
6. Time Requirements to Complete the Research
Budget Description
Provide a summary tabulation indicating staffing plans, and estimated person-hours specific to each operational phase. Budget estimates should include salaries, overhead and indirect costs, travel, equipment (purchase and/or rental), expendable materials and supplies, report printing, and special services (as applicable).
Matching Funding
Budget estimates should also include identification of all matching fund sources. As a result, the MRUTC encourages researchers to partner with their State transportation agencies, other public sector agencies, and/or private sector interests.
8. Descriptions of Cooperative Features and/or Partnerships (if applicable)
Letters of support must be included from each team member, if multiple institutions and researchers are involved.
10. Appendices
Please submit ten hard copies of the proposal and one electronic copy to:
Greg Waidley
MRUTC Research Manager
2205 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
If you have any questions, please call (608) 262-2013.
Criteria for Consideration
Partnerships are Encouraged - Priority will be given to research proposals submitted by universities in partnership with state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and/or private industry.
Educational Focus - Proposals must reflect strong consideration for educational missions of academic institutions. Private research institutes will not be permitted to submit proposals except in partnerships with academic institutions.
Proposals will be submitted for review to peers at other University Transportation Centers and other State Departments of Transportation. At least two peer reviews on each project proposal will be conducted. Proposal review criteria are available here.
Other Information
Proposals submitted should reflect a general understanding of Transportation Asset Management as defined through the FHWA and AASHTO. Visit the Transportation Asset Management Today website (http://assetmanagement.transportation.org) for background materials.
Researchers will be required to meet at least twice with the Advisory Committee sponsoring this research or MRUTC Staff. In practice, these meetings have been conducted by teleconference. A preliminary report on the status of the project will be due three months after the start of the project. Brief quarterly reports will also be required, electronic submittal is acceptable. An example of such a report is available here.
One hundred (100) paper copies (one unbound for duplication) of the final report should be submitted, in addition to an electronic version provided in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF format. Please budget accordingly for printing and shipping. A standard template for the cover page and other necessary disclaimer language will be provided to researchers to aid in their preparation of a final draft. In addition, researchers will have to prepare an electronic presentation of their materials suitable for delivery to a State DOT management team.
Researchers should be prepared for and open to editorial suggestions from the Advisory Committee selected to oversee the project and Center staff on final and interim reports. It is expected that researchers will thoroughly edit and revise reports as needed prior to submission. Researchers should aim to provide a final report useful to an audience of state, local, or federal transportation officials. Researchers are encouraged to prepare presentations and reports for conferences and other venues.
Researchers will also be asked to forward to Center staff a list of potential representatives for a project advisory committee within two weeks of formally awarding projects. This committee will be responsible for providing comments and guidance for the research project.
All research awarded through this Call for Proposals will also require a poster to be prepared (30”x40” maximum) for display during a MRUTC-sponsored reception at the TRB Annual Meetings in January 2007 and January 2008 (if applicable).