413.21—What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application proposing research and development activities?
The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in evaluating each research and development application:
(a) Program factors.
(20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which each of the required research and development activities described in § 413.3(a)(2) will be of high quality and effective.
(b) Plan of operation.
(35 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the proposed center, including—
(2)
The procedures the applicant will use to implement the National Center particularly with regard to the public or private nonprofit institution of higher education with which it is associated and, in the case of a consortium, with the other member institutions of the consortium;
(iii)
Coordination procedures for communicating among staff, subcontractors, members of the consortium, if any, and the Department of Education;
(iv)
Procedures for ensuring that adequate progress is being made toward achieving the goals of the grantee by subcontractors, and members of a consortium; and
(v)
Procedures for ensuring that adequate budget, accounting, and recordkeeping procedures will be used;
(5)
The quality of the applicant's general plans for developing appropriate, coherent, and effective vocational education research and development activities, or dissemination and training activities, or both, for years two through five.
(c) Key personnel.
(10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use for the National Center, including—
(i)
Appropriate professional qualifications, relevant project management experience, and administrative skills;
(2)
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
(i)
Have experience and training in project management and in fields related to the proposed activities they will be carrying out; and
(d) Vocational education experience.
(10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the applicant understands the state of knowledge and practice related to vocational education, including—
(1)
The applicant's experience in conducting applied research and development activities, dissemination and training activities, or both, in the field of vocational education of the type described in § 413.3 ;
(2)
The applicant's capacity for conducting applied research and development activities, dissemination and training activities, or both, in the field of vocational education of the type described in § 413.3; and
(3)
How the activities of the National Center will contribute to the advancement of relevant theory and practice in vocational education.
(e) Budget and cost effectiveness.
(10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which—
(f) Coordination activities.
(5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which there is an effective plan for the coordination of activities described in § 413.3 (a) and (b), and whether these activities are carried out between two institutions or within one institution.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control No. 1830-0013)