§ 272.30 - What criteria does the Secretary use to make a grant?

The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate applications for DAC grants.

(a) Mission and strategy. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the applicant understands effective practices for addressing problems in each of the desegregation assistance areas, including the extent to which the applicant:

(1) Understands the mission of the proposed DAC;

(2) Is familiar with relevant research, theory, materials, and training models;

(3) Is familiar with the types of problems that arise in each of the desegregation assistance areas;

(4) Is familiar with relevant strategies for technical assistance and training; and

(5) Is familiar with the desegregation needs of responsible governmental agencies in its designated region.

(b) Organizational capability. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the ability of the applicant to sustain a long-term, high-quality, and coherent program of technical assistance and training, including the extent to which the applicant:

(1) Demonstrates the commitment to provide the services of appropriate faculty or staff members from its organization;

(2) Selects project staff with an appropriate mixture of scholarly and practitioner backgrounds; and

(3) Has had past successes in rendering technical assistance and training in the desegregation assistance areas, including collaborating with other individuals and organizations.

(c) Plan of operation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including the extent to which:

(1) The design of the project is of high quality;

(2) The plan of management ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(3) The applicant plans to use its resources and personnel effectively to achieve each objective; and

(4) The applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicapping condition.

(d) Quality of key personnel. (15 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the key personnel that the applicant plans to use on the project, including:

(i) The qualifications of the project director;

(ii) The qualifications of the other key 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; and

(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 handicapping condition.

(2) To determine personnel qualifications, under paragraphs (d)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section, the Secretary considers:

(i) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project; and

(ii) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the project.

(e) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which:

(1) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and

(2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(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 methods of evaluation:

(1) Are appropriate for the project; and

(2) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.

(g) Adequacy of resources. (5 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.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1810–0517)

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2000c–2)