RFP: PITA FY 2013 for PA Research and Education Projects

Request for Proposal:
PITA FY 2013 for PA Research and Education Projects
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2012

Downloads and Links:
Technical Proposal Form (MS Word)
PITA Mission Statement (PDF)
PITA website

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA) is a collaboration among the Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) at Lehigh University, and the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES) at Carnegie Mellon University. The mission of the PITA Program is to assist the Commonwealth of PA and its companies in increasing operating efficiency and enhancing economic development by:

• Conducting technology development projects with PA companies;
• Developing technology leading to new PA companies;
• Conducting educational outreach programs for the benefit of PA companies and students;
• Seeding research and technology development projects that attract funding from other sources;
• Creating an environment linking PA companies, agencies and students to increase the creation and retention of high paying jobs in the Commonwealth; and
• Enabling PA universities to remain at the forefront of engineering research and education.

Following a one year period of without program funding, we are pleased to announce that Lehigh University, through the ATLSS Engineering Research Center, has again received PITA funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for FY13. The RFP for the program is now open and we invite the submittal of proposals that satisfy the PITA mission above by October 1, 2012.

The technical focus areas for PITA proposals include the following areas:

• Innovative Infrastructure Systems (IIS)
• Information and Systems Technology (IST)
• Product and Process Design and Optimization (PPDO)
• Biomedical and Health Engineering (BHE)
• Environmental and Energy Technology (EET)
• Nanotechnology (NANO)
• Courses and Outreach Programs (COP)

The PITA emphasis for FY13 continues to focus on the active participation of PA companies, with projects benefiting either established PA-based companies or start-ups with new technologies. Examples of active participation include cash cost matching and in-kind use of company facilities, equipment, materials, and/or personnel to conduct experiments, demonstrations, or other research tasks directly related to the project.

The typical award period will run from January 1st, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Typical project awards for PITA funds are expected in the range of $20,000 to $40,000. A list of previously funded PITA projects can be found at http://www.pitapa.org/.

In order to be considered for funding, a proposal must be submitted using the technical proposal and cost proposal templates given above, and if including a Pennsylvania industry project partner, should include a support letter from that organization.

In the meantime, questions regarding the proposal content should be addressed to Chad Kusko, PITA Associate Director at Lehigh University, at chk205@lehigh.edu or at 8-5299.

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Chad Kusko, Ph.D.
Administrative Director, ATLSS Engineering Research Center
Associate Director, PITA
Associate Director, RAMP
Lehigh University
117 ATLSS Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone: 610-758-5299
Fax: 610-758-5902
chk205@lehigh.edu