367.22—What selection criteria does the Secretary use?

The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application for a discretionary grant:

(a) Extent of need for the project (20 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project meets the specific needs of the program, including consideration of—

(i) The needs addressed by the project;

(ii) How the applicant identified those needs;

(iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and

(iv) The benefits to be gained by meeting those needs.

(2) The Secretary reviews each application to determine—

(i) The extent that the need for IL services for older individuals who are blind is justified, in terms of complementing or expanding existing IL and aging programs and facilities; and

(ii) The potential of the project to support the overall mission of the IL program, as stated in section 701 of the Act.

(b) Plan of operation (25 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including—

(1) The quality of the design of the project;

(2) The extent to which the plan of management ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(3) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;

(4) The quality and adequacy of the applicant's plan to use its resources (including funding, facilities, equipment, and supplies) and personnel to achieve each objective;

(5) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability;

(6) A clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access to services for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally under-represented, including members of racial or ethnic minority groups; and

(7) The extent to which the plan of operation and management includes involvement by older individuals who are blind in planning and conducting program activities.

(c) Quality of key personnel (10 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including—

(i) The qualifications of the project director;

(ii) The qualifications of each of the other management and decision-making personnel to be used in the project;

(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project;

(iv) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; and

(v) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally under-represented, including—

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(D) Elderly individuals.

(2) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the Secretary considers—

(i) Experience and training in fields related to the scope of the project; and

(ii) Any other qualifications that pertain to the objectives of the project.

(d) Budget and cost effectiveness (5 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which—

(1) The budget is adequate to support the project;

(2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project; and

(3) The applicant demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of project services in comparison with alternative services and programs available to older individuals who are blind.

(e) Evaluation plan (5 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) Accurately evaluate the success and cost-effectiveness of the project;

(2) Are objective and produce data that are quantifiable; and

(3) Will determine how successful the project is in meeting its goals and objectives.

(4) (Cross-reference: See 34 CFR 75.590.)

(f) Adequacy of resources (5 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the applicant plans to devote to the project, including accessibility of facilities, equipment, and supplies.

(g) Service comprehensiveness (20 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the proposed outreach activities promote maximum participation of the target population within the geographic area served by the project.

(2) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the DSA addresses the unmet IL needs in the State of older individuals with varying degrees of significant visual impairment. In making this determination, the Secretary reviews the extent to which the DSA makes available appropriate services listed in § 367.3(b), which may include any or all of the following services:

(i) Orientation and mobility skills training that will enable older individuals who are blind to travel independently, safely, and confidently in familiar and unfamiliar environments.

(ii) Skills training in Braille, handwriting, typewriting, or other means of communication.

(iii) Communication aids, such as large print, cassette tape recorders, and readers.

(iv) Training to perform daily living activities, such as meal preparation, identifying coins and currency, selection of clothing, telling time, and maintaining a household.

(v) Provision of low-vision services and aids, such as magnifiers to perform reading and mobility tasks.

(vi) Family and peer counseling services to assist older individuals who are blind adjust emotionally to the loss of vision as well as to assist in their integration into the community and its resources.

(h) Likelihood of sustaining the program (10 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine—

(1) The likelihood that the service program will be sustained after the completion of Federal project grant assistance;

(2) The extent to which the applicant intends to continue to operate the service program through cooperative agreements and other formal arrangements; and

(3) The extent to which the applicant will identify and, to the extent possible, use comparable services and benefits that are available under other programs for which project participants may be eligible.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0018)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 796k(b)(1) and (i)(1))