CII 2024 Request for Qualifications

CII 2024 Request for Qualifications
Version date: 3/5/2024

Introduction

CII is a consortium of organizations in the capital projects industry. Its mission is to provide a research and development platform to create and drive innovative solutions that tangibly improve business outcomes through an academically based and disciplined approach.

CII is now soliciting Qualification Submittals for research related to multiple topics described in Appendix A. Through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), CII expects to identify investigators to conduct research that innovates and provides significant business value for the CII member organizations.

Academics wishing to be considered for these projects must respond by submitting their qualifications following the requirements described below and the instructions provided in the online form available at: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bdD9QxZRfOHiEiW

Applicants should remember several important points:

• Where applicable and requested in the topic summaries (see Appendix A), CII encourages the inclusion of academics or experts in adjacent areas (like business, social sciences, etc.). The goal is to bring innovative ideas from other fields of study. See the topic descriptions for more details under the 'Member Background' section.
• Although CII does not require graduate research assistants (GRAs) to be identified at this point when we select an academic for a study, we do consider the reputation of the University's Graduate Program and its capability to attract qualified students.
• Of the projects listed in Appendix A, two are two-year projects and one a shorter six-month 'breakthrough' study – see the descriptions for more details.
• A full proposal will be required from each selected applicant after the RFQ process (see the timeline below). The final proposal will be developed by the PI in collaboration with CII staff and industry members. This will be particularly important for the 'breakthrough' study as academics will work with CII to identify a development partner. See the guidelines in the topic statement below.
• The research grant will only be awarded upon CII's acceptance of the final proposal. CII may opt to not proceed with any of the listed topics or submitted proposals.

To assist with this process, CII will conduct a webinar to orient prospective PIs on the CII researcher selection process and research expectations, address any process-related questions, and clarify elements of this RFQ. The purpose of the webinar is to discuss the process rather than research topic details. The webinar date and time, along with an access link, are listed in the "Timeline" section below.

The objectives and expected deliverables for each project are described in Appendix A.

CII Research Team Overview
The selected academic team for each topic will work in conjunction with industry practitioners who are representatives from CII member organizations to be identified by CII.

The overall guidelines for CII research apply and can be found here: CII FSC Guidelines for Research Teams v2.5a - CII Funded Studies Committee Wiki - UT Austin Wikis (utexas.edu). Applicants are required to review the guidelines before submission.

Eligibility

• Any faculty member with an appointment in a U.S. or Canadian university holding a terminal degree in their discipline from an accredited university.
• Experience with CII research is strongly encouraged, but not a prerequisite. CII will coordinate with academics who have no CII experience to provide mentorship.
• The PI must be familiar with the specific topic (i.e., have a track record of projects and/or publications related to the topic). This experience may be in an adjacent field rather than only in Construction Engineering and Management.
• CII will accept a PI from fields of study other than Construction Engineering and Management.
• CII also requires the PI or the co-PI to be from the Construction Engineering and Management field – in case a co-PI is included.
• CII will not select applicants with late/pending deliverables for CII research projects.

CII Requirements

• One PI per team. The PI will be the main point of contact for project management purposes and is expected to perform most of the project management tasks.
• Each applicant can only apply for two topics – either as a PI or co-PI. The two applications cannot be for the same topic (one as PI and one as co-PI). However, CII will not grant more than one project to a single applicant (either as PI or as co-PI).
• At most, one co-PI per team.
• Budget: The current target budget range for the two-year projects is $180,000 to $260,000 (inclusive of fringe and overhead). The six-month breakthrough project budget limit is $50,000 not including potential development costs to be addressed directly by CII. Note that CII does not pay overhead on travel and tuition. Itemized budgets will be submitted along with the final proposal, after applicant selection. Proposed budgets will be reviewed considering the availability of funds for the portfolio of projects to be funded in 2024.
• A full proposal will be required from each selected PI after the RFQ selection process (see the timeline below).

Submission and Selection

Applicants should complete and submit the online RFQ form, observing the deadlines listed under the "Timeline" section below.

Selection Criteria (in order from most to least relevant):

• PI's vision and insights for the project as addressed in the statement of interest, interview (where applicable), and by the inclusion of an academic or experts in adjacent areas (where applicable)
• PI with experience on the topic (as shown in the submitted publications)
• PI's experience working with CII and/or industry teams
• Graduate program's reputation

All criteria above will be evaluated based on submitted RFQ information. Where necessary, an interview may also be conducted with finalists.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of members of CII's Funded Studies Committee and CII staff. This process will include the following steps:

• Step 1 – Review applications.
• Step 2 (if necessary) – Schedule and conduct interviews.
• Step 3 – Rank submissions and select finalists.

Timeline

1. Applicants will submit qualification applications by noon Central on April 8, 2024, using the online form.
2. Applicants may participate in an informational webinar on March 18, 2024.
3. (If applicable) CII will conduct interviews between April 1 and April 8, 2024.
4. RFQ selection results will be announced by April 22, 2024.
5. (For 2-year projects) Proposal preparation by the selected applicant in collaboration with CII: April 22 – May 13, 2024.
6. (For 2-year projects) The proposal must be submitted by the selected applicant by May 13, 2024, at 5:00 pm Central. The breakthrough project will have a separate deadline to be determined (July-August 2024).
7. The expected kickoff meeting may vary by topic and depends on CII's capability to recruit industry members for the research team. The target date for kickoff meetings is the week of June 24.

Appendix A

Summary of the RFQ Projects

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Topic #1: Implementation of CII Best Practices for Small Projects

Background

CII Best Practices, as management principles, are intended to be applicable to all projects, regardless of size. However, CII members report that they struggle with consistent implementation for small projects (including projects without dedicated resources and managed as a matrix organization) and frequently express the need for additional guidance in this area.

This issue could be because detailed practices and implementation guides have been primarily developed for larger, more complex projects with limited consideration for scalability for use with smaller or less intensive projects.

More than 20 years ago, CII's RT-161 (Executing Small Capital Projects) published IR 161-2, Small Projects Toolkit, to guide the execution of smaller projects. Though IR 161-2 remains helpful, there is an opportunity for CII to improve the industry by driving the implementation of CII Best Practices to support implementation at a smaller scale.  

Objectives

Provide guidance to capital project organizations on implementing CII Best Practices on small projects (e.g., maintaining the fundamental best practices and underpinning principles, but adjusting the scope of approach and scaling their implementation methods). Other objectives may include: 

• Revisiting the definition of "small" compared to RT-161's definition (RT-161's criteria include cost range, duration, scope, resource availability, project intensity or complexity, and risk). This objective could lead to the use of words other than "small" going forward.
• Revisiting how CII Best Practices should be scaled for small or less resource-intensive projects. This effort may include the introduction and integration of leaner, fit-for-purpose tools such as checklists or simpler templates to facilitate implementation. Note that in many cases this may be a trivial task and, in others, result in a recommendation along with guidelines to scale down existing practices.
• Understanding which tools exist that already support small projects and which tools/resources need to be adapted to support small projects.

Expected Research Outcomes

• New (Small) Project Best Practice Implementation recommendation as a document, which will identify tools and processes that are currently available and opportunities to develop new ones.
• A project workflow diagram showing the implementation of practices by project phase.
• A process or guidelines for identifying which projects would be characterized as "small" given the size and nature of both the project and the organization(s) undertaking the project.
• A scope and framework for a CII online course on the topic (to be developed and implemented by CII).

Notes to Team

• When defining 'small', consider 1) project complexity in the definition of "small". RT-305 - Measuring Project Complexity and Its Impact created a definition of complexity. RT-398 (ongoing) also has a definition of complexity; 2) whether the project has a dedicated management team or is managed in a matrix organization as part of a portfolio.

Research Team Member Backgrounds

• Members experienced in the implementation of CII Best Practices.
• Members connected to the management of small projects in their organizations.
• CII Implementation Champions are encouraged to join the team.

Time Frame and Milestones

• Nominations for RT Industry Members: March-May 2024
• PIs meet with CII to prepare for kickoff: May 2024
• Kickoff: Last week of June 2024 (target)
• Mid-project (online) presentation: September 2025
• Presentation at a CII event: August 2026

References

CII. (2001). RT-161-1 - Executing Small Capital Projects. Austin: CII. Retrieved from Small Project Execution (construction-institute.org).

CII. (2017). RT-305-1 - Measuring Project Complexity and Its Impact. Austin: CII. Retrieved from https://www.construction-institute.org/a-new-approach-to-assessing-and-measuring-project-complexityhttps://www.construction-institute.org/resources/knowledgebase/knowledge-areas/project-program-management/topics/rt-305.

CII. (2023). RT-398 (Phase 2) - Developing a Fit-for-Purpose Handbook for Effective Implementation of CII Best Practices. Austin: CII. Retrieved from RT-398 (construction-institute.org). 

Topic #2: Accelerating AI for Construction Safety: A Collaborative Framework for Development and Evaluation

Background

While CII members acknowledge the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize safety in construction, most discussions have remained focused on exploration of ideas rather than implementation. This project aims to bridge this gap by creating a platform for rapid development and rigorous analysis of industry-driven AI tools.
In this 'breakthrough' research project, CII aims to create a collaborative research platform that fosters rapid prototyping of an AI tool while analyzing its effectiveness and broader impacts. This will provide CII members with hands-on experience in developing, using, and analyzing the tool, fostering both technical understanding and analytical thinking.
The project team will include an academic researcher, a development partner, and CII members. The academic researcher will:

• Develop a sound analytical and theoretical framework for the AI application, ensuring scientific rigor.
• Provide continuous guidance throughout development and field trials, leveraging their expertise.

The development partner will:

• Collaborate with the researcher and CII members to understand project goals and requirements.
• Process data and implement the AI model based on the established framework.

CII, in collaboration with the selected researcher, will identify the development partner after the RFQ.
Industry members will:

• Serve as subject matter experts.
• Contribute with data from their organizations.
• Support field trials in their organizations.

CII members identified pre-task risk assessment as a critical area for improvement. Current practices, often seen as a formality, may compromise worker safety. This project presents a timely opportunity to develop and test an AI solution that enhances pre-task risk assessments and ultimately improves worker safety. However, CII remains open to alternatives based on the identification of development partners and depending on the availability of data to be provided by CII members.

Objectives

• Develop and deploy an AI application: Define the application's purpose, scope, and parameters and utilize member-provided data to develop and refine the AI tool.
• Evaluate the application's impact: Conduct a field trial to assess the AI application's effectiveness in a real-world construction setting. Analyze the tool's impact on safety practices, user experience, and potential limitations.
• Investigate broader implications: Explore the ethical considerations, data privacy concerns, and future opportunities associated with AI adoption in construction safety.
• Establish a collaborative model for projects involving AI R&D: Document and refine the research process to serve as a foundation for future AI R&D initiatives within the construction industry.
• The project will expose CII industry members to the development of AI applications and provide a foundation that can be replicated in their organizations.

Expected Deliverables

• An open-source AI (prototypical) application that CII members can test with no intellectual property restrictions.
• A comprehensive research report detailing the development process, field trial results, broader implications of the application, and recommendations for future AI integration in construction safety practices.

Research Team Member Backgrounds

Academic Researcher

• Strong research background in construction safety.
• Demonstrated experience applying AI within the construction management domain, preferably with publications or projects showcasing this expertise.

Development Partner (to be identified in collaboration with CII after the RFQ result):

• Proven ability to rapidly develop and deploy functional prototypes of AI applications within a short timeframe (ideally 6 months or less).
• Ability to work collaboratively with researchers and industry members.

Industry Members:

• Deep understanding of construction safety practices, regulations, and challenges faced by the industry.
• Ability to obtain and provide relevant safety-related data (e.g., incident reports) for the research and development process.
• Ability to advocate for and drive the implementation of AI-based solutions within their organizations to improve construction safety and disseminate research findings to benefit the broader industry.

Additional Notes

The selected academic(s) will work with CII in the identification and selection of a development partner and specific application prior to the project proposal. The development partners should be able to prototype an AI application that is open-source and may be available for CII members at no charge. Failure to identify a partner will hinder the approval of a project proposal. Academics are encouraged to identify potential partners in their submitted qualifications.

Time Frame and Milestones

• Nominations for RT Industry Members: March-May 2024
• PIs meet with CII to prepare for developer search and selection: May-June 2024
• Kickoff: (Target) September 2024
• Project presentation: February 2025
• (Possible) Presentation at a CII event: August 2025

Topic #3: Best Practices to Implement CII Research in Organizations

Background

Over the past 20 years, CII has convened multiple research teams (RT-166, RT-246, RT-31) to study barriers to implementing CII research and strategies to overcome those barriers. The result includes six Implementation Resources that offer an oftentimes complex array of stand-alone models and matrices, with different research teams offering different implementation methodologies.

Most of the barriers and recommendations addressed in these RTs are still valid today, and there is an opportunity to increase their potential impact by leveraging and engaging effective ways to train implementers on the strategies and tools for successful implementation. This opportunity may be taken by effectively addressing the following needs that have been identified:

• Need to streamline and simplify the recommendations for implementation of CII research.
• Need to connect the different CII resources currently available and identify what are still the best practices and what may have been replaced by later research outcomes.
• Ultimately, CII needs to offer updated and compelling guidance for the implementation of research outcomes.

Therefore, this initiative aims to improve and consolidate the recommended process for the implementation of CII research with a modern approach that considers the latest barriers, education opportunities, references, etc.

Objectives

The main objective of this initiative is to create consolidated and improved guidelines for the implementation of CII research, building on past research but addressing current barriers, benefits, needs, and gaps, and considering the need to simplify the approach. Ultimately, this initiative's purpose is to effectively influence organizations to implement CII research outcomes and improve the delivery of capital projects. Specific objectives include:

• Review and update current implementation barriers. These barriers may relate to the organizational structure of a PMO or inherent cultural and behavioral aspects of organizational change management. Note that the use of the term 'change management' in this topic relates to the management of the implementation of new processes and technologies in organizations rather than the management of project development and scope changes.
• Identify the most relevant and meaningful parts of the existing CII Implementation Resources (IRs) and consolidate them into new tools/processes that support implementation in organizations.
• Provide guidance for various types of organizations experiencing different barriers and having different levels of resources to engage in implementation (owner vs. contractor, U.S. vs. International, new CII member vs. long-term member, large versus small staff of implementation resources, etc.)
• Define whether a single implementation guideline can address all types of practices or if CII may need to consider different implementation guidelines for different categories of practices (for instance, according to the expected complexity of practices).

What this project is not about? 1) Improving the CII website or search engine; 2) Addressing project development and scope changes; 3) Providing implementation guidance for specific CII tools/practices; 4) Providing implementation guidance that is specific to a company's processes.

Expected Research Outcomes

1. A new single CII Implementation Resource(s) to replace all the existing IRs related to the effective implementation of CII research. Note that this new document may refer to the existing CII publications/resources.
2. An outline for the development of companion education content to be developed by CII.

Research Team Member Backgrounds

• Project Management functions
• PMO functions
• CII Implementation Champions are encouraged to participate
• Members with an organizational change management background
• Members with experience in planning and executing the implementation of best practices in capital projects

Time Frame and Milestones

• Nominations for RT Industry Members: March-May 2024
• PIs meet with CII to prepare for kickoff: May 2024
• Kickoff: (Target) Last week of June 2024
• Mid-project (online) presentation: September 2025
• Presentation at a CII event: August 2026

References

CII. (2001). IR166-2, Implementation Model + Knowledge Structure Guide
CII. (2007). RS246-1, The Implementation Planning Model: An Overview
CII. (2009). RS246-1a, The Role of Executive Support in Implementation Champion Success
CII. (2009). IR246-2, The Implementation Planning Model: Steps to Success
CII. (2012). IR246-3, Support for the Implementation Champion: The Experience Reference Index
CII. (2013). RS246-1b, Support for the Implementation Champion: The Experience Reference Index
CII. (2014). IS31-2, The Implementation Process Action Tool
CII. (2014). IS31-3, The Vision to Action Hot List
CII. (2014). IS31-1, From Vision to Action: Igniting the Passion and Imagination of an Organization to Introduce Positive Change
CII. (2017). SP166-4, CII Best Practices Handbook
CII. (2022). IR166-3, CII Best Practices Guide: Improving Project Performance
CII. (2022). Change Management Best Practice Definition. Austin: CII. Retrieved from CII Best Practices (construction-institute.org). 
CII. (2023). RT-405-1 - Leveraging Culture and Behavior to Drive AWP Success. Austin: CII. Retrieved from RT-405 (construction-institute.org).