366.15—What selection criteria does the Secretary use?
The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate applications for new awards for training and technical assistance:
(a)
Meeting the purposes of the program (30 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the project will be able to meet the purpose of the program of providing training and technical assistance to eligible agencies, centers, and SILCs with respect to planning, developing, conducting, administering, and evaluating centers, including consideration of—
(2)
How the objectives further training and technical assistance with respect to planning, developing, conducting, administering, and evaluating centers.
(b)
Extent of need for the project (20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project meets specific needs recognized in title VII of the Act, including consideration of—
(c)
Plan of operation (15 points). The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including—
(2)
The extent to which the plan of management ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;
(4)
The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and
(5)
How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.
(d)
Quality of key personnel (7 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including—
(ii)
The qualifications of each of the other management and decision-making personnel to be used in the project;
(iii)
The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project;
(iv)
How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; and
(v)
The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally under-represented, including members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and elderly individuals.
(2)
To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the Secretary considers—
(e)
Budget and cost effectiveness (5 points). The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the extent to which—
(f)
Evaluation plan (5 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation—
(g)
Adequacy of resources (3 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities, equipment, and supplies.
(h)
Extent of prior experience (15 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent of experience the applicant has in the operation of centers and with providing training and technical assistance to centers, including—
(2)
The scope of training and technical assistance provided, including methods used to conduct training and technical assistance for centers;
(4)
The capacity for providing training and technical assistance as demonstrated by previous experience in these areas.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0018)