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The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is now accepting submission of abstracts for our 2009 Design-Build in Transportation Conference. With the huge success of our previous conferences, we are looking for cutting edge, innovative session proposals featuring seasoned and experienced presenters and/or panelists.

*PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO PRESENTATIONS THAT INCLUDE AN OWNER REPRESENTATIVE

WHAT SEGMENTS OF THE TRANPORTATION INDUSTRY ARE OF INTEREST TO DBIA?
As the sub-theme suggests, Design-Build can successfully deliver projects as varied as your transportation options. As such DBIA seeks varied and diverse presentations covering all segments of the transportation industry including:

• Air Transportation
• Railway Transportation
• Maritime Transport/Coastal Ports
• Pipeline Projects
• Vehicle Traffic (Highways/Roads/Bridges)
• Mass Transit
• Within all of these areas, case studies of small projects ($100 million or less) are encouraged

WHAT KEY TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY ISSUES ARE OF THE MOST INTEREST?
Over the past several years our country has changed through a series of disasters (including natural disasters) that have impacted the entire Nation. During particularly difficult and challenging times such as these, it is critical that design and construction professionals focused on the transportation sector continue their ability to meet the needs of the general population as well as more stringent financial constraints at both the Federal and local levels. As such, session submissions of particular interest include the following topics:

• Solutions for Dealing with Aging Infrastructure
• Tactics for Rapid Response to Transportation-Related Disasters and Emergencies
• Adding “Capacity" to Support Increased Usage
• Key Considerations in Structural Analysis and Inspection
• Rehabilitation and Repair of Existing Infrastructure
• Effective Handling of Right of Way and Utility Issues
• Financing Issues and Solutions Related to all of the Above

WHAT KEY PROJECT DELIVERY ISSUES ARE OF THE MOST INTEREST?
As part of our core missions to help owners save money, save time, and increase quality, DBIA always encourages presentations that focus on planning, design, construction, contractual performance, and other issues related to design-build for transportation infrastructure, as well as how issues were resolved. Among the “project delivery" topics sought are:

• Best Practices and Lessons Learned
• Choosing the Right Procurement Methodology
• Contracting Approaches and Contract Structures
• Team risk allocation
• The surety environment
• Innovative technologies/solutions
• Design-Build versus Other Alternatives: Key Decision-Making Factors in Choosing Design-Build
• Engaging Owners to Ask the Right Questions and Make the Best Project Delivery Choice
• Transitioning from Design-Build to Design-Build-Operate (or Design-Bid-Build to Design-Build)
• Key Elements for Design-Build Teaming
• Developing Well-Written Performance Requirements
• Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly Defining for Optimal Results

SELECTION PROCESS
The deadline for submissions is September 29, 2008. The review process will be completed by the end of October. Presenters will then be notified when final selections are made. Successful proposers must agree to submit draft presentation by November 7, 2008 and final presentation papers, PowerPoint presentations or substantive binder content (text, graphs, charts, illustrations) by February 27, 2009.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES FOR PRESENTERS
Government Employee and Private Sector Owner Speakers that are selected will be provided a complimentary registration for the FULL conference. Practitioner Speakers will receive a complimentary DAY registration for the day of their presentation OR a discounted registration rate of $250.00 to attend the FULL conference.

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
DBIA's conference offers concurrent educational sessions that range between 60 to 90 minutes in length. The sessions offer participants an opportunity to learn about new subjects or gain more in-depth knowledge about a topic with which they are already familiar. We strongly encourage dynamic presentation formats such as interactive workshops for disseminating your information, providing practical tools and take-home reference materials, and allowing for ten to fifteen minutes at the end of the presentation for questions and answers.

1. Primary Speaker's Contact Information
   Name, Title, Company Name, Address, Phone, Fax, Email
2. Would you be interested in writing an article for DBIA's DATELINE on this topic?
3. Speaker's Background
   (A brief narrative describing speaker's experiences and qualifications to present the submitted presentation topic)
4. Title of Presentation
5. Suggested length of presentation (includes time for Q&A)
   60 minutes, 90 minutes
6. Presentation Summary (75-100 words)
7. Three Major Presentation Bullet Points
   (This should describe what attendees will learn/gain in the session.)
8. Presentation Level
   Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced
9. Presentation Format
   Lecture, Case Study, and/or Panel
10. Additional Speaker's Contact Information:
    Name, Title, Company Name, Address, Phone, Fax, Email
11. Additional Speaker's Background
    (A brief narrative describing speaker's experiences and qualifications to present the submitted presentation topic)
12. Has this (or a similar) presentation be done by you before? If yes, please indicate when and where (for what group or organization)?
13. If “yes" to number 12, please provide references from the organizations.

Questions regarding the submission process should be directed to:
Mihisha Henderson
Director, Education Logistics
Voice: (202) 454-7532
Fax: (202) 682-5877
E-mail: mhenderson@dbia.org