Deadline: 22-Nov-22
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has announced the proposals for Preparing the Water Sector to Embrace Technology: Skillsets and Enterprise Management Approaches for the Digital Age.
This project is funded by The Water Research Foundation (WRF) as part of WRF’s Research Priority Program.
Objectives
- Introduce new skillsets, training opportunities, processes, procedures, or methodologies that would enable the digital transformation of the water sector and its workforce.
- Develop tools, guidance, and/or frameworks that illustrate how digital transformation may be applied to a diverse set of utility sizes with specific business needs.
Research Approach
For the proposing team to be successful, a strong and diverse team of partners including workforce organizations in the water sector, utilities, federal agencies, academics, etc., is strongly encouraged. The team will be tasked with developing a framework and matrices focusing on the business needs and include functions, roles, and maturity levels for varying sizes of utilities.
Funding Information
- Applicants may request up to $150,000 in WRF funds for this project.
- The anticipated period of performance for this project is 18 months from the contract start date.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate the commitment of the water sector to the adoption of digital tools by modernizing processes necessary to procure and leverage digital tools and technology.
- Identify key function/functional areas, skillsets, training, development strategies, and hiring approaches needed to support digital technology and digital outputs to optimize utility processes and decision making.
- Encourage partnering with consultants/vendors while still procuring and championing efforts within the utility to enable affordable talent solutions.
- Build confidence for the people and organizations that need digital solutions to solve the complex challenges they are facing using technology.
- Understand utilities’ digital transformation level of maturity that helps utilities identify a list of short- and long-term actions and pass the test of time.
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals will be accepted from domestic or international entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities.
For more information, visit https://www.waterrf.org/open-rfps
