Step 1: Submit Idea and Need Statement
Ideas due: May 31, 2013
Please use the Ideascale link to submit a research project idea to Research Services.
All the ideas will be collated and reviewed by the Transportation Research Innovation Group (TRIG). The ideas that best meet MnDOT's transportation research priorities will be used to create need statements for FY2015 funding.
Research Services will work with the authors of the ideas to complete a Need Statement Form with a MnDOT, county or city champion.
For questions, contact Alan Rindels at alan.rindels@state.mn.us or 651-366-3779.
Step 2: Prioritize Needs
Deadline: July 31, 2013
Members of the TRIG and Local Road Research Board (LRRB) prioritize the need statements before they are released for proposals.
Step 3: Develop Proposals
Prioritized needs released: July 22, 2013
Proposals due: Sept. 17, 2013
Proposals are developed from the prioritized needs that included how the need will be solved, including tasks, costs, deliverables, and schedule.
Step 4: Review Proposals
LRRB review: Oct. 30, 2013
TRIG review: Oct. 22, 2013
The TRIG reviews the state proposals and the LRRB reviews the local proposals to help aid selection. Multiple proposals for MnDOT funding will use the above ranking guidelines.
Step 5: Selection
TRIG meeting: Dec. 10–11, 2013
LRRB meeting: Dec. 4–5, 2013
The TRIG and the LRRB hold separate meetings to select projects for funding. Funding awards are announced in mid-December. Note that the LRRB can also fund projects off-cycle as needed.
Step 6: Technical Advisory Panels
January 2014
Technical Advisory Panels (TAPs) are developed to guide each contract. Learn more about TAPs and TAP member roles by viewing the guidelines.
Step 7: Contracting
July 2014
Contracting is done to start the research/implementation effort using the MnDOT/LRRB workplan. Both the University of Minnesota contract document and the Materials Lab PI Work Plan are located here as well. Use the TPF form to establish pooled-fund studies.
Step 8: Contract Deliverables
Contracts contain both tasks and deliverables, and usually have final reports as products. Please review the publishing guidelines for final reports.
Step 9: Amendments
Contract amendments are sometimes necessary to ensure that a project is completed successfully.
Step 10: Closeout
Contract closeout includes collecting performance measures, as well as interpretation, implementation, marketing, outreach, education, technology transfer, additional projects/phases, etc.
