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Information for Panel Members

Congratulations on being selected to serve as a panel member on a Cooperative Research Program (CRP) Project. In order to assist you in serving, we have created this site with information and responses to questions that past panel members have posed.

We at the CRP are very appreciative of the time that you are devoting to serve. If you have any questions that are not answered on this site, please contact Joseph Snell at jsnell@nas.edu.

In many cases, three meetings are held in the life of a project, and these normally occur in Washington, D.C., but this year—given physical distancing recommendations and uncertainty about or inability to travel— we will not be holding in-person meetings for the time being. Meetings will be held virtually until future guidelines allow for in-person TRB events.

The Background Information and Conflict of Interest Declaration and a current resume or curriculum vitae must be returned for us electronically to process your panel membership. You will receive a formal appointment letter before the first meeting.

My invitation letter states that there are three meetings during the project; what occurs during those meetings?

At the first meeting (two days), the panel will craft the Research Problem Statement into a Request for Proposals. Panel members are given an orientation first and then the rest of the meeting is used to draft the problem statement. After the meeting has ended, staff will edit the problem statement before it is posted on the Requests for Proposals webpage.

The proposal selection meeting is dedicated to reviewing the proposals that have been received in response to the RFP and to choosing a contractor. After the meeting has concluded, staff will notify the successful proposer and begin to work on executing a contract.  The identify of the successful proposer is confidential until a contract is signed. 

A project will typically have one interim meeting of the panel and research team.  Some projects may have more.  At this meeting, an interim report developed by the contractor will be reviewed and the remaining tasks discussed. The panel can make changes to the research plan if they deem necessary.

Is there any other material that should be reviewed while I am serving on the panel?

During the course of the project, panel members will typically review the working plan, quarterly progress reports, an interim report, a preliminary draft final report, and a revised final report. Comments on these materials are facilitated through the staff officer for the project.

I am a panel member and have located some additional research that I feel would be of great interest to the panel and to the contractor. Am I permitted to send it to them directly?

All material should be sent to the staff officer for his or her choosing to send to the panel and the contractor.

We provide continental breakfast, lunch and an afternoon break snack during the meetings. If you have dietary restrictions, please alert the staff officer before the meeting.

What is the attire during the panel meetings?

Business casual. Some panel members feel comfortable wearing a light sweater during the summer months since the meeting rooms can be quite chilly.

When does the meeting start?

Meetings in Washington, D.C. typically start at 9:00 a.m.

When you receive information on a meeting, it will include contact information for a travel agency as well as the unique travel code for that meeting. We typically use HRG Worldwide (1-800-660-0031 or 202-328-8501).

I have just received the travel information to attend a panel meeting.  I would prefer to make my own reservations and claim reimbursement afterwards. Is that permitted?

Booking your travel arrangements using our travel agents is preferred since we pay for expenses upfront at no cost to you.  However, you are permitted to reserve your own airline/train ticket but you must contact your CRP travel coordinator to obtain an electronic constructive cost that will be necessary for your reimbursement. If you are booking your own hotel, the hotel rate must not exceed the per diem rate for the meeting area.

I have just attended a panel meeting and would like to claim my reimbursement. How do I do this?

Are transit stations nearby?  [Washington Metro System Map]

There are two metro stations close to the Keck Building. The Judiciary Square Metro Station is located on the red line; please use the National Building Museum/Police Memorial Exit when disembarking. At the top of the escalator, please turn left and walk to the end of the block. The Keck Center will be directly in front of you across the street. The Gallery Place Chinatown Station is located on the green, red and yellow lines (the yellow line provides access to Ronald Reagan National Airport). When disembarking, please use the 7^th Street Arena exit. Turn left and walk two blocks toward, 5^th street, then turn right to reach the Keck Center.  

Where can I park?

There is very limited free parking at the Keck Center for panel meetings. The entrance to the parking garage is on 6^th Street between E and F Streets. When you enter the garage, please show identification to the guard and you will be directed to park on the P1 level. Follow the signs in the garage to reach the visitor elevator to reach the first floor. Please note that there is no overnight parking at the Keck Center.

How do I update my contact information?  

Please either send an email to jsnell@nas.edu or call 202-334-3502.