[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 34, Volume 3]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 34CFR636.21]



[Page 284-285]

 

                           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 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



[[Page 285]]



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

    (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)