Section 235.120  Proposal Review and Approval for New Programs

Proposals submitted for initial funding under this Subpart B shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria applicable to the specific grant for which a proposal is being submitted.

a)         Grants for Statewide Training, Technical Assistance and High-Quality Supports

1)         Experience (30 points)

The applicant demonstrates sufficient knowledge about educational, health, social and child development services to young children and their families.  The applicant demonstrates prior successful experience in providing training, technical assistance activities and high-quality supports similar in scope and type to those required under the RFP.

2)         Program Planning (15 points)

The proposal presents thorough procedures for assessing the staff development needs of the personnel in local Early Childhood Block Grant programs and assuring that all stakeholders have a voice in articulating training and technical assistance needs and involvement in evaluation efforts.  The proposal describes a comprehensive data collection, evaluation and continuous quality improvement plan and sufficiently explains how the information will be provided to the State Board of Education by the deadlines indicated.  

3)         Program Description (30 points)

The proposed activities are comprehensive, demonstrate a sound approach, are evidence-based and have a strong likelihood of effectively addressing the staff development needs of Early Childhood Block Grant personnel to assist them in complying with the statutory mandate to implement an evidence-based program model (as applicable), research-based curriculum, and the components of the Early Childhood Block Grant program. The proposal describes appropriate staff development activities, reasonable outputs and timelines, and proposes evaluation methods that will be successful in determining the effectiveness of the approaches taken.

4)         Cost-Effectiveness of the Proposed Activities (25 points)

The proposed staffing level is sufficient to assure that the proposal's activities and services will be provided in an effective and efficient manner. The proposed budget is consistent with the proposal's activities and appears to be cost-effective, as evidenced by the cost in relation to the numbers to be served and the services to be provided.

b)         Grants for Web-Based Services

1)         Grantee Capability (30 points)

A)        The applicant demonstrates sufficient capacity to fully deliver a project of the magnitude and scope inherent in web-based resources and services.  The applicant includes a thorough description of its proposed staffing (indicating the number of staff to be employed and their responsibilities and qualifications).  The staffing plan appears to have a high likelihood of contributing positively to the applicant's capacity to successfully perform the work outlined in the RFP.

B)        The proposal adequately demonstrates the applicant's ability to effectively manage and account for allocations and expenditures of the awarded funds.

C)        The proposal presents sufficient evidence of the applicant's expertise and experience in website construction and maintenance to suggest that the project will be implemented in a high-quality manner in accordance with the program specifications outlined in the RFP.

2)         Quality of the Project Implementation/Work Plan (50 points)

The proposed plan is appropriate and demonstrates thorough planning, communication and innovation sufficient to meet each of the objectives identified in the RFP.  The activities proposed are appropriate for the work to be accomplished.

3)         Timeline, Cost-Effectiveness and Budget (20 points)

The project timeline is appropriate for the scope of the work and project deliverables.  The proposal represents a cost-effective use of State resources, as evidenced by the amount requested to support the activities proposed.  The budget is reasonable in relation to the services to be provided.

c)         Priority consideration may be given to proposals with specific areas of emphasis, as identified by the State Superintendent of Education in a particular RFP.

(Source:  Former Section repealed at 35 Ill. Reg. 3742, effective February 17, 2011, and new Section added at 40 Ill. Reg. 15168, effective October 24, 2016)