Midwest Regional University Transportation Center
Specific Request for Proposals
3 Specific Topics (follow links for more information):
1. Impact of Increased Freight Traffic on Pavement Maintenance Costs
2. Development of a guide to Statistics for Maintenance Quality Assurance programs in Transportation
3. Meaningful use of collected local roads data and information
All Proposals Due by February 28, 2004
(Added 2/2/05: 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 Transportation Asset Management Pooled Fund Research Program.
Proposals must combine the concepts of asset management and optimization analyses that may be directly applied toward transportation decision-making processes.
The MRUTC has an Open Call for Proposals as well as three specific requests for proposals. Researchers are requested to submit topics through either process.
General Information
Time: Final reports should be delivered no later than September 30, 2006. Projects can start May 1, 2005.
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 must also include identification of all matching fund sources. Proposals submitted to the MRUTC that include hard match dollars will be given higher priority than proposals with soft match dollars. 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
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.
Matching Funds - Budget estimates must include identification of all matching fund sources. During this call for proposals, it is unlikely that projects that do not include significant matching funding will be approved. While matching funds are not required on a dollar for dollar basis, matching funds are strongly encouraged. Proposals including supporting funds will be given higher priority than proposals with only in-kind or soft match dollars. Hard match dollar sources may include partnerships with State transportation agencies, other public sector agencies, and/or private sector interests. Projects that exceed a dollar for dollar match will receive additional consideration.
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 2006 and January 2007 (if applicable).