CFR

1100.21—What selection criteria does the Director use to rate an applicant?

The Director uses the following criteria in evaluating each applicant for a fellowship:

(a) Quality of plan. (45 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the quality of the proposed project:

(1) The proposed project deals with an issue of major concern to the literacy field.

(2) The design of the project is strong and feasible.

(3) The project addresses critical issues in an innovative way.

(4) The plan demonstrates a knowledge of similar programs and an intention, where appropriate, to coordinate with them.

(5) The applicant describes adequate support and resources for the project.

(6) The plan includes evaluation methods to determine the effectiveness of the project.

(7) The project results are likely to contribute to the knowledge base in literacy or adult education, and to federal policy initiatives in these or related areas.

(8) The project will enhance literacy or adult education practice.

(9) The project builds research capacity or improves practice within the field.

(b) Qualifications of applicant. (25 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the qualifications of the applicant:

(1) The applicant has a strong background in the adult or family literacy field. (Include all relevant experience, which many include experience as a volunteer or an adult learner.)

(2) The applicant has expertise in the proposed area of the project.

(3) The applicant has demonstrated the ability to complete a quality project or has shown leadership in this area.

(4) The applicant provides letters of recommendation that show strong knowledge by others in the literacy field of the applicant's background and past work.

(c) Relevance to the Institute. (10 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the relevance of the applicant's proposal to the Institute:

(1) The project significantly relates to the purposes and work of the Institute.

(2) The applicant proposes a minimum of four visits to the Institute for quarterly meetings (this may be adjusted according to the number of months to be served in the fellowship) and, if necessary, depending on the nature and scope of the proposed project, to spend an additional portion of the project time at the Institute.

(d) Dissemination plan. (10 points) the Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the quality of the dissemination plan;

(1) The applicant clearly specifies what information will be made available to the field and how this information will further the efforts of the field.

(2) The applicant describes how this information will be shared with the field (e.g., print, on-line, presentations, video, etc.).

(e) Budget. (10 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the budget:

(1) The budget will adequately support the project.

(2) The costs are clearly related to the objectives of the project.

(3) The budget is cost effective.

(4) The budget narrative clearly describes the budget and how costs are calculated.

If the recipient initially receiving funds makes the funds available to a subrecipient, the recipient shall notify the subrecipient of its obligations under the Act and these regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6103 )

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