Frequently Asked Questions of the Focus Area Program
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 Question: What is the Focus Area Program? |
The Focus Area Program is a Water Research Foundation research program that was adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2011. It was formed to enable the Foundation to solve broadly relevant subscriber issues and challenges with a targeted, sustained research effort. | | Question: What is a Focus Area? |
A focus area is an issue that is of high interest and priority to Foundation subscribers because of a challenge or opportunity that is present, emerging, or anticipated, and that research will help address. A focus area will have measureable objectives that can be achieved through research and that lead to applied solutions for utilities. These solutions will provide economic, environmental, social, or regulatory benefits for subscribers. | | Question: How are Focus Areas identified and selected? |
A focus area is identified through extensive input from a variety of stakeholders and through a systematic internal process designed to identify high-priority subscriber needs. Focus areas are ultimately selected by the Foundation Board of Trustees. | | Question: Who develops the project ideas for each Focus Area? |
Technical Advisory Committees, made up of volunteers from the drinking water community who have specific technical expertise, develop and maintain a multi-year research agenda for each focus area. | | Question: Who oversees the Focus Area Program? |
Programmatic-level oversight is provided by the Focus Area Council, which is responsible for approving funding for individual research projects and for monitoring progress towards meeting the focus area objectives. The Focus Area Council includes selected Board members as well as Board-appointed utility subscriber representatives. | | Question: How much funding is committed to the Focus Area Program? |
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees allocates 60 percent of the Foundation’s annual research budget to the Focus Area Program each January. For 2012, the program budget is $3.85 million. | | Question: When are Focus Area Program projects funded each year? |
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees allocates Focus Area Program funding each January. The Focus Area Council then identifies projects to be funded from among those recommended by the various focus area TACs. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the funded projects generally are released in March of each year. | | Question: How are researchers selected for Focus Area Program research projects? | The Foundation will select researchers through competitive RFPs, and in rare cases, through sole-source awards. | | Question: Where do I find Focus Area Program RFPs? | RFPs for the Focus Area Program will be advertised on the Foundation’s Website in March of every calendar year, and are advertised through email announcements and our monthly e-newsletter. To find open RFPs, visit the Foundation’s Website at: http://www.waterrf.org/Research/RFPs/ | | Question: As a researcher, how do I submit a proposal in response to a Focus Area Program RFP? | | | Question: If I have a question about the Focus Area Program, who do I contact? |
For additional information about the Focus Area Program you may contact Chris Rayburn, the Foundation’s Director of Subscriber and Research Services, at 303.347.6188 or crayburn@waterrf.org. |
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