BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have already been implemented in many industries, including finance, healthcare, marketing, customer service, and manufacturing. AI is also making its way into the transportation sector, for instance, to provide safety warnings, monitor surrounding traffic conditions, and identify imminent collisions. In the traffic systems, management, and operations (TSMO) arena, AI is being used in traffic monitoring, real-time data analysis, bottleneck management, multimodal intelligent traffic signal systems, solutions based on predicted traffic flow, and emergency vehicle management. AI technologies are helping make roadway networks safer and more efficient.

AI use will continue to expand in other transportation disciplines and modes of transportation. The transition toward wider use of AI in the transportation sector will have significant implications for the state and local department of transportation (DOT) workforce.

Research is needed to help state DOTs and local transportation agencies evaluate workforce impacts and opportunities presented by AI.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive guide to support state DOTs and local transportation agencies in successfully integrating AI and transforming their workforce.

The guide shall address, at a minimum, these topics regarding the DOT workforce:

• Identification of AI trends and assessment of the impacts and opportunities of AI technologies on the workforce
• Gap analysis of the current and future workforce (e.g., skills, experience, competencies)
• Technological adaptation, skills requirements, and training needs
• Job transformation and displacement
• Diversity and inclusion
• Workforce size
• Safety and efficiencies in the workforce
• A framework for AI adoption and policy development from the workforce perspective
  
• Prioritization of actionable items and other strategies

RESEARCH PLAN

Proposers are asked to develop and present a detailed research plan to accomplish the project objective. The research plan must be divided into tasks and proposers must describe the work proposed in each task. Proposers are expected to present a research plan that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals shall (1) present the proposer’s current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective, (2) identify data and data sources that may be used to undertake this research, and (3) propose the format(s) of the final research product(s). 

The research plan will describe the appropriate deliverables (which may also represent key project milestones), including:

1. An interim report and panel meeting. The interim report shall include the analyses and results of completed tasks, an update of the remaining tasks, and a detailed outline of the final research product(s).  A panel meeting will take place after the panel review of the interim report. The interim report and panel meeting shall occur after the expenditure of no more than 40 percent of the project budget. Work on the remaining tasks of the project will not begin until NCHRP approval of the interim report.

2. Final research product(s) mainly intended for DOT leadership and workforce development professionals, including:

• A comprehensive guide to successfully integrate AI and transform the DOT workforce
• A conduct of research report that documents all research efforts, including:
  • An executive summary
  • 5 case studies exemplifying the implementation of the guide at a state DOT or local agency considering core DOT functions (e.g., administration, planning, design, construction, operations/maintenance)
  • Appendices for milestone deliverables (e.g., literature review, white papers)

3. A technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see Special Note K).

4. A webinar on how to use the guide organized and coordinated by the proposer (the webinar’s recording and presentation with the presenter’s notes will be part of the final deliverables). NCHRP will approve the final list of webinar attendees.

Note: The first draft of the guide is due at least 6 months before the contract end date. The research plan may include additional deliverables as well as additional panel meetings via teleconference. The interim deliverables will be published as Web-Only Documents, Research Results Digests, or other appropriate TRB publications after the NCHRP panel feedback is addressed.

Note: For budgeting purposes, the proposer shall plan on having one in-person panel meeting in Washington, DC. Costs for the in-person meeting venue and travel costs for NCHRP panel members will be paid separately by NCHRP.

SPECIAL NOTES

A. NCHRP will award the contract for NCHRP Project 23-46 for a fixed price of $500,000. This amount will not be subject to any adjustment by reason of the contractor’s cost experience in the performance of the contract. In addition to providing a detailed budget, the proposer shall provide a proposed schedule for progress payments tied to the detailed budget and project schedule, including a final payment at the end of the contract representing 10% of the value of the contract.

B. The Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs were revised in May 2024. Please take note of the new and revised text which is highlighted in yellow.

C. Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF file with a maximum file size of 10 MB. The PDF must be formatted for standard 8 ½” X 11” paper, and the entire proposal must not exceed 60 pages (according to the page count displayed in the PDF). Proposals that do not meet these requirements will be rejected. For other requirements, refer to chapter V of the instructions.

D. The Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs have been modified to include a revised policy and instructions for disclosing Investigator Conflict of Interest. For more information, refer to chapter IV of the instructions. A detailed definition and examples can be found in the CRP Conflict of Interest Policy for Contractors. The proposer recommended by the project panel will be required to submit an Investigator Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Form as a prerequisite for contract negotiations.

E. Proposals will be rejected if any of the proposed research team members work for organizations represented on the project panel. The panel roster for this project can be found at https://www.mytrb.org/OnlineDirectory/Committee/Details/7102. Proposers may not contact panel members directly; this roster is provided solely for the purpose of avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

F. Proprietary Products - If any proprietary products are to be used or tested in the project, please refer to Item 6 in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals.

G. Proposals are evaluated by the NCHRP staff and project panels consisting of individuals collectively knowledgeable in the problem area. The project panel will recommend their first choice proposal considering the following factors: (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 problem area; (4) the plan for ensuring application of results; (5) how the proposer approaches inclusion and diversity in the composition of their team and research approach, including participation by certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises; and, if relevant, (6) the adequacy of the facilities. A recommendation by the project panel is not a guarantee of a contract. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS - the contracting authority for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) will conduct an internal due diligence review and risk assessment of the panel’s recommended proposal before contract negotiations continue.

Note: The proposer's approach to inclusion and diversity as well as participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises should be incorporated in Item 11 of the proposal.

H. Copyrights - All data, written materials, computer software, graphic and photographic images, and other information prepared under the contract and the copyrights therein shall be owned by the National Academy of Sciences. The contractor and subcontractors will be able to publish this material for non-commercial purposes, for internal use, or to further academic research or studies with permission from TRB Cooperative Research Programs. The contractor and subcontractors will not be allowed to sell the project material without prior approval by the National Academy of Sciences. By signing a contract with the National Academy of Sciences, contractors accept legal responsibility for any copyright infringement that may exist in work done for TRB. Contractors are therefore responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for use of copyrighted material in TRB's Cooperative Research Programs publications. For guidance on TRB's policies on using copyrighted material please consult Section 5.4, "Use of Copyrighted Material," in the Procedural Manual for Contractors.

I. The text of the final deliverable is expected to be publication-ready when it is submitted. It is strongly recommended that the research team include the expertise of a technical editor as early in the project timeline as possible. See Appendix F of the Procedural Manual for Contractors Conducting Research in the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Program for technical editing standards expected in final deliverables.

J. Proposals should include a task-by-task breakdown of labor hours for each staff member as shown in Figure 4 in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals. Proposals also should include a breakdown of all costs (e.g., wages, indirect costs, travel, materials, and total) for each task using Figures 5 and 6 in the brochure. Please note that TRB Cooperative Research Program subawards (selected proposers are considered subawards to the National Academy of Sciences, the parent organization of TRB) must comply with 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. These requirements include a provision that proposers without a "federally" Negotiated Indirect Costs Rate Agreement (NICRA) shall be subject to a maximum allowable indirect rate of 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs. Modified Total Direct Costs include all salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each lower tier subaward and subcontract. Modified Total Direct Costs exclude equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each lower tier subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

K. The required technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” should (a) provide recommendations on how to best put the research findings/products into practice; (b) identify possible institutions that might take leadership in applying the research findings/products; (c) identify issues affecting potential implementation of the findings/products and recommend possible actions to address these issues; and (d) recommend methods of identifying and measuring the impacts associated with implementation of the findings/products. Implementation of these recommendations is not part of the research project and, if warranted, details of these actions will be developed and implemented in future efforts.

The research team will be expected to provide input to an implementation team consisting of panel members, AASHTO committee members, the NCHRP Implementation Coordinator, and others in order to meet the goals of NCHRP Active Implementation: Moving Research into Practice, available at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/NCHRP_ActiveImplementation.pdf

L. If the team proposes a Principal Investigator who is not an employee of the Prime Contractor, or if the Prime Contractor is proposed to conduct less than 50% of the total effort (by time or budget), then section five of the proposal should include: (1) a justification of why this approach is appropriate, and (2) a description of how the Prime Contractor will ensure adequate communication and coordination with their Subcontractors throughout the project.

M. All budget information should be suitable for printing on 8½″ x 11″ paper. If a budget page cannot fit on a single 8½″ x 11″ page, it should be split over multiple pages. Proposers must use the Excel templates provided in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs.

N. The National Academies have an ethical and legal obligation to provide proper attribution whenever material from other sources is included in its reports, online postings, and other publications and products. TRB will review all Cooperative Research Programs draft final deliverables using the software iThenticate for potential plagiarism. If plagiarized text appears in the draft final deliverable, the research team will be required to make revisions and the opportunity to submit future proposals may be affected.