REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

LOUISIANA TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER

TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION FOR RESEARCH EXPLORATION (TIRE)

AWARDS - FY 2002

LTRC invites proposals for small-scale, exploratory research in all fields of transportation science, engineering and education normally supported by LTRC. Such research is characterized by:

•	preliminary work on untested and novel ideas

•	ventures into emerging research ideas

•	application of new expertise or new approaches to "old" research topics

•	multi/cross-disciplinary work crossing LTRC program boundaries

•	research having severe urgency with regard to availability or access to data, facilities or equipment (ie. study to supporting on-going research or construction projects)

•	efforts of similar character likely to catalyze rapid and innovative advances.

LTRC TIRE award amounts are for a maximum of $30,000, are non-renewable and are for a 12 month period. It is anticipated that four awards will be made in FY 2002. Because of the limited value of the award, INDIRECT COSTS SHOULD BE WAIVED! Proposals not waiving indirect costs will not be competitive. TIRE awards are available to Teaching/Research Faculty/Staff from Louisiana Universities. All proposals will be subject to internal or external review.

One copy of the proposal should be submitted. The project description should not exceed 8 pages including the standard pages described in the LTRC Manual of Research Procedures (Proposal title page, budget, bio + 5 pages of narrative.) Additional material will not be considered. Each proposal should include clear statements demonstrating that the proposed work meets at least one of the criteria listed above.

Final project reports will be required within the study period and will follow the guidelines in the LTRC Publication Guidelines. Investigators are expected to document all efforts and outcomes, even if the results are not considered successful.

Application Deadline:	October 5, 2001

Authorization to Begin Work:	November 1, 2001

Submit To:	Mr. Joe T. Baker, Director	Contact:	Mr. Skip Paul

LTRC	Assoc Director, Research

4101 Gourrier Ave.	225-767-9102

Baton Rouge, LA 70808	spaul@dotd.state.la.us