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FY 2011 International Scanning Program

Proposals are currently being accepted for the (FY) 2011 cycle of the International Technology Scanning Program (ITSP) which is conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).

The ITSP enables U.S. highway professionals to evaluate innovative technologies and practices in other countries that could significantly improve highway transportation in the United States. The program allows innovations to be adapted and put into practice much more efficiently without spending scarce research funds to re-create advances already developed by other countries. More than 80 international scans have been completed since the program's inception in 1991. The returns have been substantive and have helped save costs, time, and lives. Many of the most significant improvements in U.S. highway practices in recent years have come from, or benefited from the ITSP.

To learn about the Information on the International Technology Scanning Program, please visit: http://international.fhwa.dot.gov/scan/

Deadline for Scan Proposals:

Scan proposals are due by September 30, 2009.

Scan Proposal Submissions:

Scans may be proposed by FHWA, AASHTO and indirectly by NCHRP Project Panel 20-36 "Highway Research and Technology - International Information Sharing," as detailed below:

• FHWA - Scan proposals may be submitted by FHWA Program Offices and through the Resource Center. Proposals originating from other offices (i.e. Division Offices) must be channeled through a Program Office or the Office of Technical Services. Each proposal must be endorsed by the Associate Administrator of the corresponding Program Office or the Director of Technical Services. Endorsement includes a commitment to fund 25% of the total scan cost, if the scan is selected. Proposals may be submitted for co-sponsorship by two or more Program Offices or by the Office of Technical Services and a Program Office(s). In such case, the proposal must have endorsement from the Associate Administrator of each of the corresponding Program Offices and/or the Director of Technical Services.
• AASHTO - Scan proposals may be submitted by any AASHTO committee or subcommittee dealing with road transportation. Each proposal must be endorsed by the relevant committee or subcommittee chairman. Proposals may be submitted for co-sponsorship by two or more AASHTO committees or subcommittees (i.e., cross-cutting scans). In such case, the proposal must have endorsement from each of the corresponding committee chairmen.
• NCHRP Project Panel 20-36 - Other non-AASHTO or FHWA scan proposals (such as transportation industry associations or academia) may be submitted to NCHRP Project Panel 20-36. Project Panel 20-36 will evaluate such proposals and forward promising ones to the relevant AASHTO Committee(s) for consideration in preparing scan proposals. Please contact Nanda Srinivasan at: nsrinivasan@nas.edu for additional information.

Scan Proposal Form:

• Review Blank Scan Proposal Form

Please be thorough when completing the proposal form. Proposals may be returned with a request for further information or development.

Please feel free to contact the FHWA Office of International Programs if you would like to discuss potential scan ideas and/or if you would like to receive guidance on completing the scan proposal form. Please contact Hana Maier at Tel: 202-366-6003 or E-mail: Hana.Maier@dot.gov.

Scan Selection Criteria:

Scan proposals will be reviewed, evaluated and selected by a joint panel of FHWA, AASHTO and NCHRP representatives. The following criteria will guide the selection process:

• Whether the proposed topic represents a current issue that needs exploring.
• Whether the topic is of nationwide interest.
• Whether the topic addresses FHWA and AASHTO strategic goals (view FHWA strategic goals and AASHTO strategic goals)
• Whether the topic has already been sufficiently covered on previous scans (view list of all previous and planned scans)
• Whether similar or potentially duplicative efforts are already underway.
• Whether the proposed topic has the potential to produce technologies and/or practices that the U.S. highway community could adopt/adapt.
• Whether there is sufficient information and experience abroad to warrant a scan.
• The probability of this scan being successful.
• The anticipated return of the scan with respect to its cost.
• Whether an FHWA Program Office is willing to fund and sponsor the scan.

Number of Scans to Be Selected

Four scans plus one alternate scan will be selected for FY2011.

Scan Financing

All scans that are part of the International Technology Scanning Program are co-financed by FHWA and AASHTO/NCHRP. AASHTO/NCHRP's share of funding (50%) is channeled through NCHRP Project Panel 20-36, "Highway Research and Technology - International Information Sharing." FHWA's share of funding (50%) is co-financed between the Office of International Programs (25%) and the respective sponsoring Program Office(s) and/or Office of Technical Services (25%).

The cost of a scan includes travel expenses for Federal, State, local government, and academia representatives, including a report facilitator. Representatives from other DOT administrations and offices, U.S. government agencies, foreign governments and agencies, and the private sector are required to pay their own expenses. In addition, the cost of a scan includes all activities required to plan, coordinate and conduct a scan as well as the following post-scan activities: (1) preparation of a summary of scan team findings 30 days upon the return of a scan; (2) development of a powerpoint presentation summarizing scan findings; (3) scan report development (including editing, design and printing); (4) development of scan team implementation plan (STIP) and (5) a post-scan team reassembly meeting.

The cost of a scan does not include funding for follow-on scan implementation. However, seed money to promote the early implementation of selected technologies and practices identified in the STIP is available through the program. To obtain these funds, scan teams are required to submit their STIP to an AASHTO/FHWA/NCHRP Implementation Working Group for review, approval and allocation of scan implementation funding (up to $30,000). While this seed money is intended to help jump-start implementation, FHWA offices that sponsor scans are encouraged to budget additional funds to support further scan implementation efforts.

FHWA offices that sponsor scans should plan on providing to OIP 25% of the total actual cost of their scan (approximately $80,000). It is requested that these funds be provided to OIP as early as possible in FY2011and no later than 3 months prior to the scan being conducted. OIP will work closely with sponsoring FHWA offices to keep them informed of scan costs, as well as factors that affect scan costs, throughout the scan process.

Selection of Scan Team Members:

All scans will have an AASHTO and FHWA co-chair. AASHTO team members are selected by AASHTO Headquarters. FHWA team members are nominated by the Associate Administrator of the respective Program Office or by the Director of Field Services and approved by the FHWA Executive Director. Other team members (report facilitator, local government, academia, and private-sector representatives) are identified jointly by the scan co-chairs in coordination with the program sponsors.

Participation on a scan team requires a significant level of effort. Scan team members are expected to help structure the scan study, select target countries to visit, actively participate in the scan, compile the scan report, and develop and execute an implementation plan to promote key scan findings. This effort may take up to three years from the scan's inception and initial planning stage.

Implementing Scan Findings:

Scan co-chairs and team members will have prime responsibility for organizing and participating in actions to disseminate and implement useful scan results in the United States. In addition to the production of a scan report, follow-up actions may take the form of articles, presentations, workshops, full-scale demonstrations, revised technical guidelines/standards, etc. Whatever the activity, scan team members, as well as relevant AASHTO committees and FHWA offices, are expected to play a primary role in implementing promising scan findings in the United States.