BACKGROUND

The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) conducts applied research to develop practical, ready-to-implement products that address pressing problems in the airport industry. ACRP is administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Research is conducted by contractors with oversight provided by volunteer panels of expert stakeholders. TRB activities provide significant benefits including networking with the professional community, receiving valuable and timely information about ongoing research, and contributing to the broader transportation community. 

ACRP currently manages two academic engagement programs: the Graduate Research Award (GRA) and the University Design Competition (UDC). These two programs have had a major impact on building excitement around and attracting students to the airport industry. At the same time, the airport industry recognizes a continued need to increase the number and diversity of young people exploring and entering its workforce in technical and nontechnical disciplines. In responding to these industry challenges, ACRP seeks to increase the visibility of the two existing academic engagement programs and, in turn, attract new interest to the airport industry. 

The ACRP GRA is intended to stimulate thought, discussion, and research by those who may become future airport managers, operators, designers, and policymakers. The focus of this graduate student research program is to foster applied research on airport and related aviation system issues that, in turn, helps the public sector continue to improve the quality, reliability, safety, and security of the U.S. civil aviation system well into the foreseeable future. The program has been in existence since the 1980s and currently funds and supports up to 12 new awardees per cycle. Awardees receive a $12,000 stipend, access to a panel of expert advisors in their research field, an opportunity to present at the TRB Annual Meeting following completion of their research and the development of their paper, and the potential to publish that paper in the Transportation Research Record. Since 2010, more than 120 students representing more than 80 universities have participated.

The ACRP UDC engages undergraduate and graduate students at U.S. colleges and universities in the conceptualization of applications, systems, and equipment capable of addressing airport related challenges in a robust, reliable, and comprehensive manner.  Applicants can apply as individuals or as a team and have access to industry experts and airport operators with whom they can vet their ideas. Cash awards are given to the top teams from each of four general challenge categories: Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance; Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design; Airport Environmental Interactions; and Airport Management and Planning. These categories were updated for the 2023-2024 academic year and can change based on the current needs and interest within the industry.  First place teams are offered the opportunity to attend an award ceremony in Washington, DC and present at an industry conference in the following year. The competition has engaged more than 2,600 participants from more than 80 universities under the leadership of at least 160 faculty advisors.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this project are to provide support for (1) the ACRP GRA; and (2) the ACRP UDC. 

This support includes plans to evaluate program effectiveness and propose improvements, expanding the geographic and institutional reach of both programs. Amplify and develop new:

• Marketing opportunities;
• Coordination efforts including the engagement of historically black colleges and universities and other underrepresented universities and colleges; and 
• Relationships with transportation-focused education institutions, faculty members, research consortiums, student organizations, and professional societies.

The ACRP academic engagement programs should identify high-impact opportunities to enhance the awareness of airport related careers in a manner that supports diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.  

OBJECTIVE 1. ACRP GRA

Current activities are expected to continue, but new ideas are welcomed.

• In preparation for announcing the new program, update all program materials including program guidelines, application, and marketing materials. Take into consideration updated program goals, program feedback, etc.  Provide any necessary website updates to ACRP staff. 
  
• Announce the opening of program applications and support any marketing efforts ACRP/TRB staff or their representatives may undertake. Make sure all previous universities and colleges are notified and begin recruitment of new universities and colleges.
  
  
• Provide an electronic method for accepting applications and all supporting documentation and sharing those applications with the selection panel. 
  
  
• Provide selection panel with a method for submitting review comments prior to the panel meeting. Share comments with panel.
• In consultation with ACRP staff and the selection panel, schedule a 1-day in-person selection meeting.

• Attend 1-day in-person selection meeting for note taking and support of ACRP staff and selection panel.

• Notify awardees. Develop and provide all necessary award documents. Develop payment schedule and process payments to awardees. Develop a schedule of deliverables for each awardee for the new program cycle in consultation with the ACRP program manager.

• Support ACRP staff to announce awardees including preparation of a press release to be posted by the press office of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Expect to coordinate with ACRP’s dissemination contractor and the National Academies Office of News and Public Information.

• Support ACRP staff to identify selection panel members and expert advisors to each awardee.

• Working with the awardees, advisory panels, and ACRP staff, schedule three web-supported meetings with each student. Contractor will be expected to attend all meetings and provide support to awardees, advisory panels, and ACRP staff. Contractor will document decisions and guidance from each panel discussion and share with the awardees and panel.

• In consultation with ACRP staff, develop and support a process for the awardees to submit a draft of the paper for review by the advisory panel. The panels will provide comments and the awardee will adjudicate the comments and make any necessary updates. This must take place prior to the submission of the paper to the TRB Annual Meeting that is held in January. 
  
  
• In consultation with ACRP staff, track the student papers throughout the TRB Annual Meeting review and selection process. Develop marketing material to be used by ACRP staff to publicize the awardees presentations when the final schedule is announced.  
  
  
• Organize travel for all awardees and coordinate reimbursement to attend the TRB Annual Meeting.

• Support ACRP staff in organizing social event at TRB Annual Meeting.

• After completion of each project cycle, submit a short overview of the process including award winners, presentation opportunities, best practices, and recommended changes for the following cycle. In coordination with ACRP staff, prepare submission for ACRP Annual Report.

• Develop strategies, such as an alumni database, participant interviews to validate the effectiveness of the program and better understand how it benefits the industry. In supporting this effort, develop and maintain a process for tracking program participants through their career.

OBJECTIVE 2. ACRP UDC

Current activities are expected to continue, but new ideas are welcomed.

• Update all program materials including program guidelines and marketing materials, and support ACRP staff to develop a marketing plan for the new program cycle. Take into consideration updated program goals, program feedback, etc. Provide any necessary website updates to ACRP staff. Contact program partners and advise on any updates. 

• Prepare and deploy an electronic method for accepting Notice of Intents for the fall and spring academic semesters. As Notices of Intent are submitted, teams/individuals are allowed to request an expert advisor. The contractor should maintain a list of professionals who can act as expert advisors. ACRP staff can support contractor in developing this list.

•  Prepare and deploy electronic method for accepting project submissions.

• In consultation with ACRP staff, organize selection panels and schedule in-person meetings for each of the challenge categories.

• Provide selection panels with a method for submitting review comments prior to the panel meeting. Share comments with panel.

• Attend selection meetings and support ACRP staff and panel members.

• Notify winners via electronic letter.

• In consultation with ACRP staff, organize the award ceremony, develop draft remarks, invite presenters/speakers, design printed program, arrange for plaques and certificates for all award winning teams. Arrange travel for award ceremony participants.

• Support ACRP staff in announcing awardees, including preparation of a press release to be posted by the press office of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Expect to coordinate with ACRP’s dissemination contractor. 

• In consultation with ACRP staff, coordinate with ACRP program partners in identifying and confirming industry conferences where the awardees can present.
  
• After completion of each project cycle, submit a short overview of the process including award winners, presentation opportunities, best practices, and recommended changes for the following cycle. In coordination with ACRP staff, prepare submission for ACRP Annual Report.

• Develop strategies, such as an alumni database (see Special Note B), participant interviews to validate the effectiveness of the program and better understand how it benefits the industry. In supporting this effort, develop and maintain a process for tracking program participants through their career.

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP.  The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.