TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIESAdvisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of Engineering

Institute of MedicineNational Research Council

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Developing Research Needs Statements for TRB’s Cooperative Research ProgramsIt’s a Fine Art…Mike Salamone, Manager ACRP

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Mike’s Agenda

1) TRB is multimodal!

2) What is CRP?– Annual Cycle

3) Research Needs – Do you have a problem?

– Considerations

– Selection

– Process

4) Want to do the research?

5) Get Social!

6) Need more information?

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Transportation Research Board (TRB)

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ProgramProgram

NCHRP (Highway)

TCRP (Transit)

ACRP (Airports)

NCRRP (Rail)

BeganBegan

1962

1992

2005

2010

BudgetBudget

$40M

$3.5M

$15M

$5M

Sponsors & Partners

Sponsors & Partners

FHWA, AASHTO

FTA, APTA

FAA, ACI-NA, ACC, AAAE, NASAO, A4A

FRA

TRB’sCooperative Research Programs

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Typical CRP Annual Research Cycle

Open solicitation for new problem

statements. Begin review and evaluation of

problem statements.

New projects selected from

problem statements.

Open solicitation for new Synthesis and Legal topics.

Solicit nominations for

panel volunteers.Select new

Synthesis and Legal topics.

Begin forming project panels and Synthesis topic panels.

Begin issuing RFPs for new

projects.

Begin synthesis meetings.

Review proposals and select research

contractors.

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Introduction to Problem Statements

• It is a written justification for funding a research idea.• It is Not a grant request to do research.• All CRP projects start as problem statements.• They are used to identify the most appropriate use of

limited research dollars.• Each program has its own rules for who can submit a

problem statement.• Most CRPs receive hundreds of problem statements but

only a few are selected.• Many are rejected because they are unclear, unfocused,

or poorly written.

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General Considerations

Your Problem Statement Must…• Clearly describe a modal practitioner’s need and the

practical benefit to a particular modal industry.• Show improvements or additions to practical/applied

knowledge or practice.• These are high priorities for all CRPs.

• Clearly define a research objective.• be well-written and easily understood.• not be too long or too short (1 to 2 pages) and not too

technically detailed.

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How Topics Are Selected

• Any industry practitioner may submit research needs to TRB committees.• TRB Committees must look to each CRP to identify eligibility

requirements for problem statement submissions.

• Each CRP has an oversight committee to select priority projects that focus on applied research for their modal constituency.• Research must be relevant, applicable, and valuable to each

mode AND its field practitioners.• Research should not duplicate other, current research within

TRB or elsewhere in the industry.• Research must be technically feasible.

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Research Process

How CRP takes a research idea to publication…• A project panel (6-8 people) is formed.

• The Panel develops a scope of work from the original problem statement and TRB solicits proposals from potential contractors in the industry.

• The Panel reviews proposals and selects the best contractor for the research.

• The Panel oversees progress of the selected contractor in completing the research scope, through interim deliverables, teleconferences, and meetings.

• The Panel comments on draft final report to improve its value to the industry.

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Want to do the research?

Submit a proposal…• Any interested individual, agency, or others may submit

a proposal in response to an RFP for any CRP project.• Detailed instructions for proposers:

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/crp/docs/ProposalPrep.pdf

• Proposals are only accepted in response to a posted RFP.

• CRP staff will debrief proposers if asked.

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Get Social

LinkedIn – Facebook – Twitter • Participate in online discussions• Get the latest news

and announcements• Share YOUR success

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TRB’s Cooperative Research Program

4 ways to become involved:– Submit a research idea, also called a Problem

Statement.

– Volunteer to participate on a project panel. We reimburse for travel.

– Prepare a proposal to conduct research.

– Use our research results.

www.TRB.org/AboutTRB/AboutCooperativeResearchPrograms.aspx

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Mike Salamone(ACRP)

msalamone@nas.edu

Chris Hedges(NCHRP)

chedges@nas.edu

Chris Jenks(TCRP & NCRRP)cjenks@nas.edu

For More Information

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TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

Thank you!Questions?