(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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §61.135 adopted to be effective September 19, 2019, 44 TexReg 5053