[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR636.21]

[Page 283-285]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
 CHAPTER VI--OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 636_URBAN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
             Subpart C_How Does the Secretary Make an Award?
 
Sec. 636.21  What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate 
an application?

    The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application 
under this part:
    (a) Determination of need for the project. (10 points). The 
Secretary reviews each application to assess the effectiveness of the 
procedures used by the applicant in determining need for the project, 
including consideration of--
    (1) The process used to ensure that the pressing and severe problems 
that

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are identified are in fact high priority problems for the urban area;
    (2) The priority relationship of the problems addressed by the 
project to other pressing and severe problems identified for the urban 
area;
    (3) The extent to which the problems addressed by the project 
represent pressing and severe problems in urban areas nationally;
    (4) The process by which project participants review and comment on 
proposed project goals, objectives, and strategies; and
    (5) The specific benefits to be gained by meeting the identified 
problems.
    (b) Quality of the applicant's organization for operation. (20 
points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of the organization for operation, including consideration of how the 
application describes the following:
    (1) The cooperative arrangement between the applicant and any of the 
following that are appropriate for the conduct of the proposed project:
    (i) Agencies of local government.
    (ii) Public and private elementary and secondary schools.
    (iii) Business organizations.
    (iv) Labor organizations.
    (v) Community service and advocacy organizations.
    (vi) Community colleges.
    (2)(i) Any previous working relationships between the applicant and 
the entities listed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and
    (ii) The outcomes of those relationships.
    (3) The agreement among project participants to commit their own 
resources in carrying out proposed project goals, objectives, and 
strategies.
    (c) Quality of project objectives. (10 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the objectives 
for each project component activity meet the purposes of the program, 
are realistic, and are defined in terms of measurable results.
    (d) Quality of implementation strategy. (20 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which--
    (1) The implementation strategy for each key project component 
activity is--
    (i) Comprehensive;
    (ii) Based on a sound rationale; and
    (iii) Is a cost-effective approach for accomplishing project goals 
and objectives; and
    (2) The described timetable for each project component and for the 
overall project is realistic.
    (e) Quality of evaluation plan. (15 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) Relate to the objectives of the project;
    (2) Describe both process and product evaluation measures for each 
project component activity and outcome;
    (3) Describe data collection procedures, instruments, and schedules 
for effective data collection;
    (4) Describe how the data will be analyzed and reported so that 
adjustments and improvements can be made on a regular basis while the 
project is in operation;
    (5) Describe a time-line chart that relates key evaluation processes 
and benchmarks to other project component processes and benchmarks; and
    (6) Establish the potential for effectively disseminating project 
information that can be generalized, replicated, and applied throughout 
the Nation.
    (f) Quality of key personnel. (10 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the qualifications of key personnel, 
including information that--
    (1) The past work experience and training of key professional 
personnel are directly related to the stated activity purposes and 
objectives; and
    (2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic.
    (g) Budget. (5 points). The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine whether the project has an adequate budget and is cost 
effective, including information that shows that--
    (1) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project 
activities; and

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    (2) The costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the 
project objectives and scope.
    (h) Institutional commitment. (10 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the extent to which the application 
demonstrates a financial commitment on the part of the applicant and the 
local governments associated with its application, including the nature 
and amount of the matching contribution, and other institutional 
commitments from the applicant and other entities associated with the 
project, that are likely to assure the continuation of project 
activities for a significant time beyond the grant project period.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1136b, 1136e)