Grant proposals shall be reviewed using the criteria outlined in this Section. Based on the review, applicants shall be selected to enter into negotiations with the Department for a grant. The purpose of negotiations shall be to arrive at mutually acceptable grant provisions, which will be reflected in the Grant Agreement, including general, budgetary, and scope-of-work provisions. The final decision to make a grant award will be made by the Director of the Department. The Department shall use the following criteria when reviewing grant proposals and making awards:
a) the appropriateness of the targeted industries and occupations;b) the appropriateness of the targeted student population;c) the efforts to recruit female and minority students into the project;d) the strength of the local partnership and private sector involvement;e) the related experience and qualifications of the project staff;f) the quality of the project work plan;g) the proposed project costs in relationship to planned outcomes;h) the relationship of the project to the Department's economic development plans and initiatives;i) the geographic distribution of grant awards throughout the State; andj) the quality of presentations made to the Department, if the Department requests information. (Section 45 of the Act)Ill. Admin. Code tit. 14, § 110.170
Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 7741, effective April 10, 2006