Grant Year 8

Asset Management RFPs

Midwest Regional University Transportation Center

Specific Request for Proposals

4 Specific Topics (follow links for more information):

1. Strategies for Appropriately Allocating Risk on Transportation Projects

2. Scoping Data Access and Integration Needs to Facilitate Better Management of Research Innovation

3. Materials Characterization and Analysis of the Marquette Interchange HMA Perpetual Pavement

4. Guidelines for Implementing Bridge Health Index

(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: Proposals are due February 1, 2007. Final reports should be delivered no later than July 1, 2008.

Format: Researchers should use the following format for submitting proposals:

Proposal Organization

Proposals may not exceed 10 pages in length (cover page and project summary are not counted), and should include a detailed description of the following:

1. Cover Page

   • Including project title; name and address of the performing organization; the name, title and mailing address of the principal investigator; and date of proposal submission
2. Project Summary
   • Please use this template (www.mrutc.org/research/summarytemplate.doc) for completing the project summary (not to exceed one page).
3. Problem Statement
4. Research Objectives/Task List
5. Qualifications, Accomplishments and Other Commitments of the Research Team
6. Equipment and/or Facilities
7. Time Requirements to Complete the Research
   • Provide a Gantt Chart or similar schedule by research task. The schedule should account for all activities including research tasks, final invoicing and review and revisions to the final report and deliverables. (See "Other Information" below for a desrciption of the Advisory Committee, who will review the report)
   • Projects must be completed by July 1, 2008. Please modify work plan accordingly.
8. Proposed Budget with Description of Matching Funds
   • 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, computer time, equipment (purchase and/or rental), expendable materials and supplies, report printing, special services (as applicable) and other related budgetary expenses.
   • Matching Funding: Budget estimates should also include identification of all matching fund sources.  MRUTC encourages researchers to partner with their State transportation agencies, other public sector agencies, and/or private sector interests. 
9. 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.
   • 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. 
10. Reports and other Deliverables (if applicable)
11. Appendices

Please submit one hard copy and one electronic copy of the proposal to:

Greg Waidley
Research and Education Coordinator
2205 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
gwaidley@engr.wisc.edu

If you have any questions, please call Greg at (608) 262-2013.

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.

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 (which will likely be composed of state and federal government, industry representatives and other academic peers) assembled to assist in guiding this research and 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 (in Word fomat) is preferred. An example of such a report is available here.

One hundred (100) paper copies (one unbound for duplication) of the final report will 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 the project Advisory Committee within two weeks of formally awarding projects. As referred to above, 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 2008.

return to top