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Research and Program Proposals
The ACPA Foundation reviews and funds innovative research, strategic partnerships and educational programs that support our mission to ensure the longevity, innovation and resilience of the concrete pavement industry. Through partnerships with leading researchers, academics and industry professionals, we advance solutions that address real industry needs and build a strong foundation for the future.
Guidelines
One of the ways we do this is through the consideration of research and program funding proposals up to $25,000. Please see the guidelines below for proposal consideration.
The ACPA Foundation works to raise and allocate funds toward programs that focus on the following:
The Foundation’s focus areas for funding research projects include the topics of:
- material economics
- emerging technologies
- infrastructure resilience
The Foundation’s focus areas for funding strategic partnerships and educational programs include the topics of:
- leadership and workforce development
- material economics
- emerging technologies
- infrastructure resilience
Additional Guidelines
- We do not encourage proprietary research.
- We do not fund direct advocacy or promotion programs. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all programs we fund must benefit the citizens of the U.S., in addition to the concrete paving industry.
- We avoid the duplication of efforts and would therefore not generally support the replication of existing or ongoing research topics.
- Research areas must have a broad scope, with applicability on at least a large regional, if not national basis.
- Partnerships are viewed favorably by our approval bodies. When proposing research, consider other entities to partner with in performing the research, and other potential funding sources.
- We seek proposals for specific, applied research and education programs. We rarely support general requests for organizations or programs.
- We do not fund sponsorships, ongoing association or industry operations, website development, traditional corporate leadership training activities, political lobbying or other activities regularly carried out by industry-related organizations.
- The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) Foundation reserves the right to retain copyright ownership of work products resulting from ACPA Foundation grants.
Funded projects in action
Wondering what kind of work the Foundation supports? Here are two examples of research projects funded through this program:
Market Dynamics of Competing Paving Materials: Quantifying the Cross-Price Effects of Increased Design and Procurement Alternatives, MIT CSHub
Lessons Learned from SPS-2 Test Sections of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, NCE
Projects like this reflect what our Board of Directors looks for: broad applicability, strong partnerships and measurable outcomes that advance the concrete pavement industry nationwide.
Conceptual proposals are reviewed bi-annually by the ACPA Foundation Board of Directors based on the criteria above. Notifications of requests for full proposals and denials will be sent out after the quarterly board meetings. For more information on the process or board meeting schedules, please contact Drew Burns at drew.burns@aoeteam.com.
The ACPA Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs or activities.
Questions? Contact Drew Burns at drew.burns@aoeteam.com
Evaluation criteria
For the time being, full funding proposals will be reviewed by the ACPA Foundation Board of Directors on a bi-annual basis for consideration. Full proposals are accepted by invite only based on review of the conceptual proposal form below. Full proposals will be judged according to the following criteria.
- Does the proposal contain sufficient content including, but not limited to, project summary, statement of need, timelines, evaluation methods, descriptions and budget?
- Is the problem or issue being addressed widely relevant and important to the concrete paving industry?
- Will the proposed design and methodology address the problem or issue effectively?
- Does the proposal enhance the ACPA Foundation’s mission and goals by providing resources and cooperation from other foundations, corporations or agencies?
- Does the approach being proposed appear to be cost-effective?
- Are the proposed outcomes measurable? How will they be measured and what steps will be taken to ensure the achievement of proposed outcomes?
- Are the qualifications of the applicant organization and project personnel sufficient to ensure that the project goals are met?
- Is the proposed evaluation plan sound and appropriate?
- Will the dissemination plan result in a broad sharing of findings, strategies and new techniques?
- In cases where it would be helpful to the project’s outcomes, has the applicant established coalitions or other industry and community linkages?
- Will the project outcomes have broad replicability or applicability within the concrete paving industry?
Application and review process
Applicants may submit a conceptual research or program proposal to gauge the interest of the ACPA Foundation for potential funding. If there is sufficient interest and confirmation that a topic is consistent with our mission and goals, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal to be evaluated by the ACPA Foundation Board of Directors.
The conceptual proposal deadline has been extended to November 1, 2026, with funding approval consideration in December. We encourage you to take part in this opportunity to help shape the future of the concrete pavement industry.
Conceptual proposals are reviewed bi-annually by the ACPA Foundation Board of Directors based on the criteria above. Notifications of requests for full proposals and denials will be sent out after the quarterly board meetings. For more information on the process or board meeting schedules, please contact Drew Burns at drew.burns@aoeteam.com.
The ACPA Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in its programs or activities.
Questions? Contact Drew Burns at drew.burns@aoeteam.com.