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                                    About NIC
                                    Funding Opportunities
                                    Application Review Process

      

                    
          
    Application Review Process
Applications for cooperative agreement awards are reviewed by a team of Institute staff members and are subsequently approved or disapproved by the Director of the National Institute of Corrections. Four categories of criteria are used in reviewing applications: programmatic, organizational, project management, and financial/administrative.

**Among the specific criteria used to evaluate the applications are:**

Indication of a clear understanding of the problem to be addressed, the key issues underlying the problem, and the relevance of the proposed project;
	Well-defined project objectives, tasks, and resources necessary to meet the objectives;
	Technical soundness of the design and methodology for achieving the project goals;
	Description of all elements and tasks of the project;
	Realistic time frames necessary to complete the tasks;
	Background, experience, and expertise of the proposed project staff, including any subcontractors;
	Sufficient and realistic time commitments from key project staff;
	Reputation or recognized skill of the applicant organization and any proposed subcontractors;
	Financial and administrative integrity of the proposal, including adherence to federal financial guidelines and processes;
	Adequate detail and narrative about the cost elements in the proposed budget;
	Provisions for adequate evaluation of the effectiveness of the project; and
	Potential for using the results of the project in other undertakings or programs.**Once the formal application has been received, a decision is normally made within 90 days.** Return to top

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