Montana Department of Transportation is seeking contractors for an open services term contract. This contract will provide research into highway-related issues; research will typically be applied research but could include basic research. MDT uses federal and state funding to hire qualified researchers to complete research projects. The Agency expects that a variety of researchers and skills will be able to help identify and fill these needs and conduct research for MDT. MDT will choose and define the funded projects that are most beneficial to Agency. Research ideas will be defined and developed by MDT staff and documented using the Research Section Research Problem Statement Form, which includes, but is not limited to, research objectives, tasks, IT needs, and benefits from the idea. All research projects have an MDT Champion who leads the project through the selection process. After selection, the MDT Champion chairs the Technical Panel, which guides the research, meets regularly with the researchers, and reviews the project delivery. Each task assignment will also be assigned a Research Section project manager.