[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 34, Volume 2] [Revised as of July 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 34CFR377.21] [Page 417-419] TITLE 34--EDUCATION REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PART 377--DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO INCREASE CLIENT CHOICE PROGRAM--Table of Contents Subpart C--How Does the Secretary Make an Award? Sec. 377.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use? The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application: (a) Plan of operation. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including-- (1) The extent to which the project includes specific intended outcomes that-- (i) Will accomplish the purpose of the program to provide increased client choice in the rehabilitation process, including at a minimum increased choice in the selection of goals, services, and providers, leading to an employment outcome; (ii) Are attainable within the project period, given the project's budget and other resources; (iii) Are objective and measurable for purposes of evaluation, including an estimate of the numbers of clients to be served; (iv) Include objectives to be met during each budget period that can be used to determine the progress of the project toward meeting its intended outcomes; (2) The extent to which the plan of operation specifies the methodology for accomplishing each objective of the project; (3) The extent to which the applicant's plan of management, including resources and timelines, is designed to achieve each objective and intended outcome during the period of Federal funding; (4) The extent to which the applicant's plan identifies the numbers of eligible clients by type of disability [[Page 418]] and the number of eligible clients with severe disabilities who are available to participate in the project; (5) The extent to which the applicant plans to conduct outreach activities to obtain eligible clients; (6) The extent to which the applicant's plan ensures that clients who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, or age; (7) The extent to which the applicant's plan describes a workable process for determining the monetary value of any service or product offered to eligible clients, including, if appropriate, the value of vouchers; and (8) The extent to which the applicant's plan describes a satisfactory system for conducting vocational assessment with eligible clients to ensure that a full range of vocational goals are considered. (b) Key personnel and other resources. (15 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel proposed for the project, including-- (i) The relevant experience and training of the project director; (ii) The relevant experience and training of each of the other key personnel to be used on the project; (iii) The amount of time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; (iv) The extent to which persons referred to in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section are capable of providing technical assistance to other entities interested in replicating the project; and (v) The extent to which the applicant will ensure that persons employed through the project are selected and work without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disabling condition. (2) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources the applicant plans to devote to the project, including-- (i) The facilities that the applicant plans to use; (ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use; and (iii) The recordkeeping capabilities of the applicant for financial and evaluation purposes. (c) Service provision. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality and comprehensiveness of the services to be offered and the applicant's capacity to provide increased choice in the provision of services to eligible clients, including the extent to which the applicant-- (1) Has the capacity to evaluate the eligibility of applicants for services and to develop written plans for services for individual clients; (2) Has demonstrated knowledge of a wide range of potential service providers that can meet the needs of eligible clients; (3) Has described a workable process for enabling eligible clients to choose from among a wide range of service providers; (4) Has described satisfactory systems to account for the appropriate expenditure of funds; and (5) Has described satisfactory systems to ensure the provision of quality services. (d) Evaluation plan. (10 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-- (1) Are appropriate to the project; (2) Will determine how successful the project is in meeting its intended outcomes; and (3) Are objective and produce data that are quantifiable, including data that are required under Sec. 377.30. (e) National significance. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which-- (1) Project findings might be effectively used within the State vocational rehabilitation service system; and (2) Project activities might be successfully replicated by other entities. (f) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 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; [[Page 419]] (2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0018) (Authority: Sec. 802(g)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 29 U.S.C. 797a(g)(3))