BACKGROUND

NCHRP Project 09-65, “Capturing Durability of High Recycled Binder Ratio (RBR) Asphalt Mixtures” was initiated to (1) develop a proposed American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standard practice and associated test methods for designing and evaluating durable asphalt mixtures with high recycled asphalt materials (RAM) content and (2) revise the proposed AASHTO Standard Practice for Characterizing Asphalt Mixtures with High Recycled Materials Contents and Recycling Agents.

The final report for NCHRP Project 09-65 was published as NCHRP Research Report 1130: Capturing the Durability of High Recycled Binder Ratio Asphalt Mixtures. It presents a stepwise approach and strategies for developing durable asphalt mixtures with a high recycled binder ratio (RBR). These strategies were derived from extensive laboratory experiments involving various virgin binders, aggregates, recycled asphalt materials, and additives. The laboratory work was complemented by performance modeling to assess resistance to fatigue loading after aging and moisture conditioning.

To effectively implement the findings of NCHRP Research Report 1130, it is essential to actively disseminate the research results and develop a comprehensive training program. By integrating these findings into a structured training course, practitioners can gain the expertise needed to support adoption and eventual inclusion in standard practice.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to develop and deliver a comprehensive training program for state departments of transportation (DOTs) to ensure the effective adoption and implementation of the research findings from NCHRP Research Report 1130.

RESEARCH PLAN

NCHRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe a research plan that can realistically be accomplished with the constraints of available funds and subaward time. The work proposed must be divided into tasks, and proposers must describe the work proposed in each task. Proposals must present the proposers’ current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective. 

To achieve the research objective, the research plan must outline well-defined tasks and deliverables, including the following:

1. Implementation Plan: Develop an implementation plan aligned with the NCHRP Active Implementation: Moving Research into Practice requirements (see Special Note J). This plan should:

• Identify barriers and drivers influencing the implementation of NCHRP Research Report 1130, including gaps or limitations.
• Collaborate with NCHRP to address these challenges within the available budget.

When formulating the implementation plan, proposers should assess whether the following strategies effectively support the project’s objective. Proposers are encouraged to suggest modifications or alternative approaches as budget constraints allow:

• Verify the guidelines and performance thresholds from NCHRP Research Report 1130 based on the field performance of sections studied in NCHRP Project 09-58, “The Effects of Recycling Agents on Asphalt Mixtures with High RAS and RAP Binder Ratios.”
• Develop a process that state DOTs can use to locally calibrate performance thresholds based on verification results.
• Create and deliver a training course covering:
  • The methodology from NCHRP Project 09-65 for designing durable high-RAM mixtures.
  • The research findings of NCHRP Research Report 1130.
  • The verification results and the process for local calibration of performance thresholds.

The training course should be delivered in a minimum of two in-person events, with 25 participants from state DOTs from all four AASHTO regions. The list of participants will be finalized in consultation with NCHRP.

Note: NCHRP must approve the implementation plan before executing any tasks related to the proposed deliverables.

2. Lessons Learned and Recommendations Report: Prepare a detailed report summarizing key lessons learned and actionable recommendations to promote the widespread adoption of durable high-RAM mixtures, building on the findings of NCHRP Research Report 1130.

3. Research Documentation and Dissemination Plan: Develop a final conduct of research report documenting project results and a dissemination strategy for the materials produced throughout the project.

Notes:

In developing the research plan and tasks, proposers should build in appropriate checkpoints with the NCHRP project panel, including at a minimum (1) a kickoff web-enabled meeting to be held within 1 month of the subaward’s execution date and (2) three additional web-enabled teleconferences tied to NCHRP review and approval of any interim deliverables as deemed appropriate.

All materials developed must be organized in a comprehensible and distributable format for future use by project participants and by other organizations not participating in this project.

The costs for any proposed in-person activities, including travel and other costs for all attendees, should be included in the detailed budget for the project. For estimating these costs, assume that in-person activities will be held at a TRB facility (the Keck Center in Washington, DC, or the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA). NCHRP will cover costs associated with NCHRP panel member travel. Catering services for all participants, including panel members, should be included in the detailed budget for the project.

Following receipt of the draft final deliverables, the remaining 3 months shall be for NCHRP review and comment and for research teams preparation of the final deliverables.

SPECIAL NOTES

A. Revisions to the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs are highlighted in yellow within that document.

B. 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.

C. 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 Subawardees. The proposer recommended by the project panel will be required to submit an Investigator Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Form as a prerequisite for subaward negotiations.

D. 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/7156. Proposers may not contact panel members directly; this roster is provided solely for the purpose of avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

E. 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.

F. 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; and, if relevant, (5) the adequacy of the facilities. A recommendation by the project panel is not a guarantee of a subaward. 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 subaward negotiations continue. 

G. Copyrights - All data, written materials, computer software, graphic and photographic images, and other information prepared under the subaward and the copyrights therein shall be owned by the National Academy of Sciences. The subawardee and lower-tier subawardees 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 subawardee and lower-tier subawardees will not be allowed to sell the project material without prior approval by the National Academy of Sciences. By signing a subaward with the National Academy of Sciences, subawardees accept legal responsibility for any copyright infringement that may exist in work done for TRB. Subawardees 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 Subawardees.

H. 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 Subawardees Conducting Research in the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Program for technical editing standards expected in final deliverables.

I. 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) or audited indirect rates shall be subject to a maximum allowable indirect rate of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (de minimis rate). Modified Total Direct Costs include all salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each lower-tier subaward. 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 in excess of $50,000.

J. The implementation plan 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. 

For more information, refer to “NCHRP Active Implementation: Moving Research into Practice".

K. If the subawardee 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 subawardee will ensure adequate communication and coordination with their lower-tier subawardees throughout the project.

L. 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.

M. 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.