Chapter 3: Communications with Universities
Anchor: #CHDFAHBBSection 1: Correspondence to TxDOT
Anchor: #i998768From Universities – General Requirements
The Cooperative Research and Implementation Agreement requires research agencies to direct all research-related correspondence required under that agreement to TxDOT’s Research and Technology Implementation Office (RTI) for handling and coordination. This applies to all agencies and entities performing research for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
This enables RTI to ensure proper coordination of program business. RTI forwards correspondence to personnel throughout TxDOT, as needed.
Examples of correspondence that universities send directly to RTI include, but are not limited to:
- proposals,
- project agreements,
- correspondence related to project agreements,
- draft and final reports,
- requests for researchers to travel out-of-state or out of the country on project budgets,
- requests to purchase equipment, and
- requests to approve surveys or questionnaires for field use.
More complete information about required approvals and coordination for proposals, project agreements, reports, researcher travel, and equipment purchases is included later in this manual, where each of those items is specifically discussed.
Anchor: #i998828Questionnaires and Surveys Prepared by Universities
A preliminary copy of all questionnaires and surveys prepared as part of a research project must be submitted to RTI, before being used in the field. RTI coordinates review and approval by the Project Director, and responds to the university.
Surveys are reviewed by TxDOT to make certain that they present the issues in an objective manner and do not offer inappropriate incentives to participants. No cash prizes should be offered to participants and TxDOT does not generally support paying participants to complete short surveys.
If, due to the time or out of pocket costs involved, the university expects to pay participants to complete questionnaires or surveys, this should be included in the approved work plan and budget for the project.