[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 13, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 13CFR119.12]

[Page 206-207]
 
                TITLE 13--BUSINESS CREDIT AND ASSISTANCE
 
                CHAPTER I--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 119--PROGRAM FOR INVESTMENT IN MICROENTREPRENEURS (``PRIME'' OR ``THE ACT'')--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 119.12  What criteria will SBA use to evaluate applications for funding under the PRIME program?

    During the first year for which funding is available for the PRIME 
program, SBA will give special consideration to organizations located in 
and serving areas of, or with a history of successful outreach to, low-
income and very low-income persons, to enable the PRIME program to 
assist those with the greatest need first. SBA will evaluate 
applications for funding in accordance with the specific goals of the 
Act, and as more fully described in the Program Announcements. 
Evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (a) Applications for Technical Assistance Grants:
    (1) Applicants will compete based on expertise and ability to 
fulfill the purposes of the Act.
    (2) SBA will evaluate organizational structure, financial stability, 
financial management systems, personnel capacity, and electronic 
communication capabilities (or potential for same). SBA

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will also evaluate data collection capabilities, reporting capacities, 
and ability to account for performance and outcome.
    (3) SBA will evaluate the applicant's history of providing technical 
assistance to low-income and very low-income microentrepreneurs. This 
factor includes patterns of program growth, client success, outcomes of 
training, success in establishing new businesses, and success in 
arranging micro-level financing when the client indicates financing as a 
goal.
    (4) SBA will evaluate the applicant's ability to use community 
partnerships and collaborations with state and local entities to better 
serve low-income and very low-income microentrepreneurs.
    (b) Applications for Capacity Building Grants:
    (1) SBA will evaluate the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section.
    (2) SBA will evaluate the applicant's history of providing capacity 
building services to MDOs, as an indication of the organization's 
understanding of the goals and purposes of capacity building, its 
historical effectiveness with the microenterprise development industry, 
and its ability to provide quality programming to the targeted market. 
SBA will evaluate patterns of program growth, outcomes of training, 
types of services provided, delivery systems used, the number and types 
of clients served, and the successes realized within the client's 
organizational goals.
    (3) SBA will evaluate expected impact on client MDOs; expected 
impact on services to low-and very-low income microentrepreneurs; and a 
plan for service and delivery.
    (c) Applications for Research and Development Grants:
    (1) SBA will evaluate the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section.
    (2) SBA will evaluate how the research potentially will enhance 
microenterprise-oriented technical assistance services to disadvantaged 
entrepreneurs. Applicants must show the method(s), scope, duration, and 
implementation plans of the proposed research.
    (3) SBA will evaluate applicant's plan of action incorporating 
original and secondary research. Applicants must show impact on improved 
access to microenterprise development services for disadvantaged 
microentrepreneurs, and the expected replicability/transferability of 
the finished product to the field.
    (d) Applications for Discretionary Grants will be evaluated based on 
the goals and the viability of the project.