| (a) Program purpose. The purpose of this section is
to provide a mechanism for determining the suitability of project
proposals to award funding to tax-exempt organizations for programming
that engages under-served populations in outdoor recreation, conservation,
and environmental education activities that support the department's
mission.
(b) Scoring Criteria:
(1) CO-OP Priorities (Total Range: 0-15 points).
(A) The quality and efficacy of proposed project outcomes
relative to CO-OP priorities. (0-8 point range)
(B) The quality of the proposed project's involvement
of participants in sustained direct connections to the department,
including department sites, programs, and personnel. (0-7 point range)
(2) Under-served Populations (Total Range: 0-30 points).
(A) The extent to which the proposed project includes
target populations, including female, ethnic minority, low-income,
and physically or mentally challenged populations. (0-6 point range
per target population for a maximum of 24 points.)
(B) A clearly articulated plan demonstrating a reasonable
probability that the proposed project will reach the target demographic.
(0-3 point range)
(C) A feasible plan to track and report demographic
information. (0-3 point range)
(3) Expected Impact (Total Range: 0-30 points). The
expected project results in terms of participant and environmental
impact, including:
(A) A project narrative illustrating goals that are
feasible, fully developed, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant,
and present a high potential for success. (0-5 point range)
(B) The extent to which the project will develop life-long
behaviors consistent with the program mission, with preference for
projects that engage participants in multiple experiences over an
extended period of time. (0-5 point range)
(C) The extent to which the proposed project will contribute
to the development of successive generations of natural resource and
outdoor recreation leaders or professionals. (0-5 point range)
(D) Activities utilize a hands-on, active engagement
approach to skill development. (0-5 point range)
(E) The quality of the tangible environmental benefits
resulting from the activities conducted by participants. (0-10 point
range)
(4) Timeline and Budget (Total Range: 0-20 points).
(A) The project has an acceptable timeline including
a detailed timeline that accounts for all project phases, is achievable,
and correlates with the project narrative. (0-8 point range)
(B) The identified budget items are allowable under
the administrative guidelines of §61.132 of this title (relating
to Grants Manual and Federal Procedural Guide), are reasonable, and
clearly support the proposed activities. (0-7 point range)
(C) The budget reflects consciousness of cost effectiveness
and provides a reasonable return on investment with respect to participant
impact. (0-5 point range)
(5) Organizational Capacity (Total Range: 0-5 points).
The applicant demonstrates the capacity to manage and implement the
grant project:
(A) The proposed project is within the scope of the
applicant's mission. (0-2 point range)
(B) The applicant demonstrates to the department's
satisfaction that qualified staff and resources are in place to manage
the grant from inception to completion, or, alternatively, evidence
that the applicant is partnered with an entity to provide staff and/or
resources necessary to manage the grant from inception to completion.
(0-2 point range)
(C) The organization plans to continue similar activities
and will maintain grant-supported supplies and equipment after the
grant period ends. (0-1 point range)
(6) Past Performance (Total Range: Deduction of 0-20
points). A scoring deduction will be imposed if the applicant is not
in compliance with the conditions of previously-funded grants awarded
by the department under this subchapter that were closed within two
years from the current application deadline. Non-compliance includes
failure to spend CO-OP grant funds, unfulfilled project elements or
grant agreement requirements, unresponsiveness to department requests
for information, and consistently missing, late or incomplete reports
required by agreement with the department.
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