2009 Tech in the Works Competition

I. Intent

To fund quick turnaround collaborative research that informs the development of assistive and learning technologies that can improve educational results for all students, particularly those with disabilities.

II. Eligibility

• Collaboration team. Applicants must propose a collaborative study involving at least one researcher and one vendor to examine the effectiveness of a technology product in improving educational results for all students, particularly those with disabilities. NCTI is committed to fostering new talent in the field of learning and assistive technology. We strongly encourage graduate student-vendor teams to apply.
• Technology. The technology product should be innovative, beneficial for students with disabilities, and have wide market appeal.
• Non-disclosure of proposed ideas. NCTI and its reviewers will hold all knowledge shared in letters of intent and proposals in confidence.
• Funding. Up to five awards of $15,000 will be made in 2009. The collaboration team must secure matching funds of at least $15,000 from at least one of the parties involved in the study. The matching funds may be given to the project in the form of in-kind materials, equipment, or staff. We encourage creative arrangements. The NCTI award and matching funds may be used to support an expansion of an already existing research project. However, these funds cannot be used to purchase hardware or software. No more than five percent of the award may be budgeted to cover administrative and indirect costs.
• Research plan. Applicants must submit a short and detailed plan (5 page limit) for conducting the proposed research. Upon award, grantees need to provide documentation of approval by the sponsoring institution’s Internal Review Board (IRB) of the research plan to protect human subjects and submit the plan to the American Institutes for Research (AIR) for review. If an applicant does not work for an institution that has an IRB in place, the applicant may submit plans for the protection of human subjects to AIR for IRB approval.
• Research subjects. Subjects of the research should be children and youth (birth – 21 years old), but are not required to be studied in a school setting; research related to technology and training is acceptable. There is no requirement for the minimum number of subjects.
• Past research experience. Applicants must submit evidence of previously conducted research that indicates the ability to disseminate and publish findings. For proposals led by a graduate student, evidence of involvement and oversight by an established researcher in the field is mandatory.
• Mandatory participation in NCTI Conference. Awarded applicants are required to present the project design and findings at the NCTI Technology Innovators Conference Technology Expo in November 2009.  Preliminary results are acceptable.  Project monies may not be used to cover transportation or registration costs; discounted registration will be made available to awardees.
• Mandatory participation in NCTI research on collaboration. Through this effort, NCTI seeks to learn about the process of collaboration in technology innovation; therefore, awardees must agree to be interviewed about their collaboration at two points in the research year.
• Mandatory first publication of findings through NCTI. NCTI will create a case story to showcase the findings and publish it on the NCTI web site. Future publications should reference NCTI support.
• Availability of findings. Preliminary findings are due at the November 2009 NCTI Technology Innovators Conference. Final reports are due January 29, 2010. Awarded applicants are required to share findings of the research supported by this award through the NCTI web site and other venues such as conference presentations.
• Payment schedule. Payment of the award will be made in two equal increments: one available upon award, and one upon submission of final report.  “Upon award” means that a subcontract with NCTI, including approval from AIR’s IRB, is finalized with the proposed fiduciary agent of awarded projects.
• Questions. Questions may be submitted at any time to ncti@air.org. Questions will be compiled into an FAQ posting on the NCTI web site.

III. Exclusions

NCTI will not make awards to:

• Government agencies
• Individuals
• Lobbyists
• Members of the NCTI Advisory Board
• Researchers awarded support from a previous NCTI Technology in the Works Competition. (Vendors are not excluded.)
• Products already studied in previous NCTI Technology in the Works awards. Please see previous award abstracts for more information on these products.
• More than one project at a single organization. An organization may submit several proposals for consideration, but only one proposal may be chosen for funding.

Please note that schools are not excluded from this competition. We welcome applications from schools and other agencies that serve children.

IV. Letter of Intent – optional

A letter of intent to submit a proposal will be appreciated, but not required, for a complete submission. Please submit a one page letter via email to ncti@air.org at any time leading up to the proposal deadline. Indicate the technology to be investigated and the key parties that will be collaborating. This Intent is not binding for the proposal, but will assist NCTI with planning the review process.

V.  Proposal

Proposal narratives must be submitted in Word or PDF formats; budgets are to be submitted on the customized template. Reasonable accommodations must be requested one week prior to deadline.

The proposal must be submitted via email to NCTI at ncti@air.org by 5:00 p.m. ET on or before April 6, 2009.  A receipt message will be emailed to the submitter only; primary submitter should communicate with his or her team.

A complete proposal includes the following components:

1. Signed cover letter (electronic or scanned signature acceptable)
2. 200 word abstract (Note: NCTI may contact winning teams to coordinate marketing language for press releases and web postings.)
3. Up to five pages of narrative that include:
   1. Research plan (description of use of technology)
   2. Research activities (management plan and timeline)
4. Resumes (three page limit for each) of key research staff
5. Vendor profile (indicate the company’s ability to carry out the research plan within the budget and payment schedule)
6. Budget form provided (see instructions on the form)
7. Signed letter of commitment from both parties with the name and contact information of the prime researcher indicated. (A hard copy of this letter with original signatures will need to be mailed to NCTI if awarded.)

Submissions must be electronically time stamped by the deadline.  You will receive an email receipt for your proposal.  Reasonable accommodations must be requested one week prior to deadline.

VI. Review Process and Notification

Completed proposals received on or before April 6, 2009 will be evaluated by a review panel of experts in the field and of members of the NCTI Advisory Board. Applications will not be returned. NCTI and its reviewers will adhere to a non-disclosure agreement, holding ideas shared in proposals in confidence, sharing and publishing abstracts only of award winners. Up to five teams will be selected to conduct studies, and notification of all decisions will be released by May 4, 2009.

Each proposal will be reviewed on the following criteria:

• Collaboration: Proposal demonstrates a collaborative, interdisciplinary agreement that exhibits elements found to be critical to success. For more information, see NCTI’s case studies of collaboration.
• Feasibility of Design: Study is feasible within the timeframe and budget proposed and ample evidence is provided that both researcher and vendor have the time and capacity to successfully conduct the study.
• Importance of Study: The topic of the study is relevant and important to students with disabilities, as documented by existing research and emerging trends.
• Innovativeness: The technology being studied is innovative or applied in an innovative way to a new population, with ample evidence provided of the proof of concept for the technology or cross-population relevance.
• Qualifications of Staff: Evidence of past research provides confidence in research team to conduct the study, analyze results, and disseminate findings. For proposals in the graduate student category, evidence of involvement and oversight by an established researcher is mandatory.

VII. Contact Information

For further information, please contact Rachel Goins at (202) 403-5604 or rgoins@air.org.