§ 57.706 - Evaluation of applications.

(a) As required by section 798(a) of the Act, each application for a grant under this subpart shall be submitted to a peer review group, composed principally of non-Federal experts, for an evaluation of the merits of the proposals made in the application. The Secretary may not approve such an application unless a peer review group has recommended the application for approval. The Secretary will approve or disapprove all applications filed in accordance with § 57.704, taking into consideration:

(1) The degree to which the project plan adequately provides for meeting the requirements set forth in § 57.705 and 42 CFR 57.803;

(2) The potential effectiveness of the project in carrying out the purposes of section 750 of the Act and this subpart;

(3) The capability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project;

(4) The local, regional, and national needs the project proposes to serve;

(5) The adequacy of the project's plan for placing graduates in health professional shortage areas;

(6) The soundness of the fiscal plan for assuring effective use of grant funds;

(7) The potential of the project to continue on a self-sustaining basis after the period of grant support; and

(8) The adequacy of the project's plan to develop and use methods designed to attract and maintain minority and disadvantaged students to train as physician assistants.

(b) In determining the funding of applications approved under paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary will consider any special factors relating to national needs as the Secretary may from time to time announce in the Federal Register.