[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 10, Volume 4]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 10CFR605.10]

[Page 179-180]
 
                            TITLE 10--ENERGY
 
               CHAPTER II--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY--CONTINUED
 
PART 605--THE OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 605.10  Application evaluation and selection.

    (a) Applications shall be evaluated for funding generally within 6 
months but, in any event, no later than 12 months from the date of 
receipt by DOE. After DOE has held an application for 6 months, the 
applicant may, in response to DOE's request, be required to revalidate 
the terms of the original application.
    (b) DOE staff shall perform an initial evaluation of all 
applications to ensure that the information required by this part is 
provided, that the proposed effort is technically sound and feasible, 
and that the effort is consistent with program funding priorities. For 
applications which pass the initial evaluation, DOE shall review and 
evaluate each application received based on the criteria set forth below 
and in accordance with the Merit Review System developed as required 
under DOE Financial Assistance Regulations, 10 CFR part 600.

[[Page 180]]

    (c) DOE shall select evaluators on the basis of their professional 
qualifications and expertise. Evaluators shall be required to comply 
with all applicable DOE rules or directives concerning the use of 
outside evaluators.
    (d) DOE shall evaluate new and renewal applications based on the 
following criteria which are listed in descending order of importance:
    (1) Scientific and/or technical merit or the educational benefits of 
the project;
    (2) Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
    (3) Competency of applicant's personnel and adequacy of proposed 
resources;
    (4) Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget; and
    (5) Other appropriate factors established and set forth by ER in a 
notice of availability or in a specific solicitation.
    (e) Also, DOE shall consider, as part of the evaluation, other 
available advice or information as well as program policy factors such 
as ensuring an appropriate balance among the program areas listed in 
Sec. 605.5(b) of this part.
    (f) In addition to the evaluation criteria set forth in paragraphs 
(d) and (e) of this section, DOE shall consider the recipient's 
performance under the existing award during the evaluation of a renewal 
application.
    (g) Selection of applications for award will be based upon the 
findings of the technical evaluations, the importance and relevance of 
the proposed application to ER's mission, and fund availability. Cost 
reasonableness and realism will also be considered to the extent 
appropriate.
    (h) After the selection of an application, DOE may, if necessary, 
enter into negotiation with an applicant. Such negotiations are not a 
commitment that DOE will make an award.