You can become involved with the work of the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) by submitting new research topics, becoming a TCRP Ambassador, or by serving as a panel member, proposer, or contractor for TCRP research.
TCRP solicits problem statements identifying research needs for the public transportation industry. These submittals form the basis for selection of the annual TCRP research program. It is easy to develop and submit a problem statement for consideration. Most are 1-3 pages in length using this outline. Problem statements may be submitted electronically by following this link.
If you have previously submitted a research problem statement that was not selected for funding, but is still a relevant transit research topic, please feel free to resubmit the problem statement for consideration. There are many good research topics that are not selected each year simply due to the level of funding available. Research problem statements must be resubmitted each year to receive further consideration.
The deadline for submitting problems for consideration in the FY 2025 program is June 14, 2024. The TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Commission will select the research problem statements for the FY 2025 program in the fall of 2024 and the selections will be posted on the TCRP homepage. For problems selected by the TOPS Commission, requests for proposals will be issued, and contractors will be selected through a competitive proposal process.
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TCRP Ambassadors participate in industry events and visit transportation providers in order to educate the public transit industry on the wide variety of solution-based research available from TCRP. The essential role of an Ambassador is to be a liaison between TCRP, its member organizations, the research community, and transportation properties.
Through peer-to-peer collaboration, Ambassadors place TCRP research information into the hands of transportation professionals, managers, and other personnel who utilize the program’s research products in the field. They also educate transportation properties about TCRP’s research process and how their transportation professionals can become involved.
TCRP organizes panels of experts to provide guidance on technical aspects of the research. Each research project is assigned to a panel, appointed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), which provides technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including members representing the intended users of the research products.
Panels prepare project statements and select contractors based on evaluation of the proposals received; they guide the projects and review the reports. As in other TRB activities, TCRP project panel members serve voluntarily without compensation. These panels are looked to for guidance and counsel in developing the details of research, monitoring research in progress, and, finally, evaluating the results of completed research.
TCRP regularly advertises for competitive proposals by releasing detailed project statements (i.e., requests for proposals) on the TRB website. Those who have an interest in receiving research project statements must periodically browse the Requests for Proposals webpage or register to be notified by email of new project statements.
The specifications for preparing proposals are quite strict and are set forth in the brochure entitled Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals. Proposals will be rejected if they are not prepared in strict conformance with these guidelines.
The process for selecting TCRP contractors allows all potential research agencies to compete on the basis of technical merit and ensures that all proposers are treated fairly and that the program has access to the best talent available for each project.
Proposals from potential research contractors are evaluated by the project panels. The evaluation considers the following: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experiment design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related areas; (4) the plan for promoting application of results; (5) the proposer's plan for participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises--small firms owned and controlled by minorities or women; and (6) the adequacy of the facilities.
Contractors who are selected to conduct research for TCRP are required to comply with the Procedural Manual for Contractors Conducting Research in the Transportation Research Board's Cooperative Research Programs.