DATE: February 22, 2000
FROM: Barry McVay, CPCM
SUBJECT: Department of Energy (DOE); Merit Review Guide for Financial Assistance and Unsolicited Proposals
SOURCE: DOE Policy Flash 2000-02, February 2, 2000
AGENCIES: Office of Procurement and Assistance Policy, DOE
ACTION: Notice
SYNOPSIS: DOE has published the Merit Review Guide for Financial Assistance and Unsolicited Proposals to provide guidance on conducting merit reviews and to promote a more uniformed and disciplined approach to the review process. It is available on the Internet at http://www.pr.doe.gov/fahome.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Trudy Wood, 202-586-5625.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: It is DOE policy that discretionary financial assistance actions be awarded through a merit-based selection process. Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 600.13, Objective Merit Review, defines a merit review as a "thorough, consistent and objective examination of applications based on pre-established criteria by persons who are independent of those individuals submitting the applications and who are knowledgeable in the field of endeavor for which support is requested." Merit reviews are required for all discretionary financial assistance awards, such as competitive and noncompetitive grants, competitive and noncompetitive cooperative agreements, and unsolicited proposals.
According to the introduction to the guide, "in the current funding environment, it is increasingly important to make sure that merit review evaluations provide a sound basis for decision-making and that selection officials have the maximal amount of useful information on which to base their selection and funding decisions."
The contents of the 19 page guide are:
I. Introduction
Purpose
Applicability
Background
II. Merit Reviews
Purpose of Review
Types of Merit Review
Merit Review Procedures
III. Responsibilities
Program Officials
Merit Review Chair (or other official responsible for the review)
Contracting Officer
Selection Official
IV. Selection and Number of Reviewers
Selection
Number of Reviewers
V. Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality
Conflicts of Interest
Confidentiality and Communications
VI. Evaluation Criteria
Basis of Rating
Development of Criteria
VII. Rating Plan
Rating Scale
Rating Method
Weighting
Rating Plan for Noncompetitive Applications and Unsolicited Proposals
VIII. Conduct of Reviews
Conduct of Panel Reviews
Conduct of Mail Reviews
IX. Documentation
Summary Statement
Ranking Sheet
X. Appendices
A. Glossary
B. Conflict-of-Interest/Non-Disclosure Certificate
C. Rating Plan for Noncompetitive Applications and Unsolicited Proposals
D. Summary Statement Format
E. Ranking Sheet Format
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry McVay at 703-451-5953 or by e-mail to BarryMcVay@FedGovContracts.com.
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