What is a PAC?
Project Advisory Committees (PACs) are formed for each Foundation project. PACs are comprised of four to six volunteers that provide expert peer review and technical oversight on all Foundation research projects. PAC members remain with a project from conception until completion. To insure high quality research, the Foundation recruits experts in the field and tries to have all stakeholders represented, including funding partners. Each PAC will usually have at least three stakeholder areas such as academia, utilities, consulting, government and industry, as well as Subscribers. PAC members are selected based on their technical expertise, experience, geographic location, and other factors based on the project.
What are the responsibilities of the PAC?
The PAC functions as an advisory panel and begins its work before the research begins. The PAC provides input and review of the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Solicited Research projects and reviews and evaluates all proposals received. Once a contractor is chosen to complete the research, the PAC reviews and provides feedback on quarterly progress reports and draft deliverables, including research reports and other products such as guidebooks, brochures, software, and websites. In addition, the PAC members attend all project meetings.
PAC members must comply with the Foundation's PAC roles and responsibilities as addressed in the Foundation's Project Advisory Committee Member Guidelines, including agreeing to the standard non-disclosure and conflict of interest policies outlined in Appendix A of this document.
Are you interested in being on a PAC?
If you would like to get involved more with the Foundation and have an expertise to lend, please complete the PAC Application Form.