Grants Online Notice of Funding Opportunity Document Creation Assistance
NOFO Field: Selection Factors
NOFO Location: Application Review Information - third field
- Preceding Field: Review and Selection Process
- Subsequent Field: Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
OMB Guidance:
V. Application Review Information
There is not any OMB guidance on this section. This is a required Department-specific section.
Additional Guidance:
- Do not enter the field name (shown in bold in the examples). The NOFO generator will enter the field name.
- Selection Factors is the third of 4 subsections under Application Review Information.
- Only for non-fellowship awards:
The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based on one or more of the following factors:
1. Availability of funding.
2. Balance/distribution of funds:
a. geographically
b. by type of institution
c. by type of partners
d. by research priority
e. by project types
3. Duplication of other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA/Federal agencies.
4. Program priorities and policy factors.
5. Applicant’s prior award performance.
6. Partnerships with/Participation of targeted groups.
7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the Grants Officer. - Only for fellowship awards:
The Selecting Offical shall award in the rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rankd order based on one or more of the following factors:
1. Balance/distribution of funds:
a. across academic disciplines
b. by type of institution
c. geographically
2. Availability of funding.
3. Program-specific objectives.
4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought.
Published Examples:
C. Selection Factors:
The Selecting Official will award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon any of the following selection factors:
1. Balance/Distribution of funds:
a. Across academic disciplines
b. By types of institutions
c. Geographically
2. Availability of funds
3. Program-specific objectives
4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought
The Selecting Official makes final recommendations for award to the Grants Officer who is authorized to obligate the funds.
C. Selection Factors:
The merit review ratings shall provide a rank order to the Selecting Official for final funding recommendation. The program officer may first make a recommendation to the Selecting Official applying the selection factors below. The Selecting Official shall award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the following factors:
1. Balance/Distribution of Funds
a. Across academic disciplines (not applicable to this program)
b. By types of institution
c. Geographically
2. Availability of funds
3. Program-specific objectives
4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought
C. Selection Factors:
The merit review ratings shall provide a rank order to the Selecting Official for final funding recommendations. The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based on one or more of the following factors:
1. Availability of funding
2. Balance and distribution of funds
a. By research area
b. By project type
c. By type of institutions
d. By type of partners
e. Geographically
3. Duplication of other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA/federal agencies.
4. Program priorities and policy factors.
5. Applicant’s prior award performance.
6. Partnerships with/Participation of targeted groups.
7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the NOAA Grants Officer.
C. Selection Factors:
The B-WET Program Manager will review the ranking of the proposals and recommendations of the review panel. The average numerical ranking from the review panel will be the primary consideration in deciding which of the proposals will be recommended for funding to the Selecting Official. The Selecting Official shall award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the following factors:
1. Availability of funding
2. Balance/distribution of funds
a. Geographically
b. By type of institutions
c. By type of partners
d. By research areas
e. By project types
3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA/federal agencies
4. Program priorities and policy factors as set out in Section I.B.1-3.
5. Applicant’s prior award performance
6. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups
7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the Grants Officer.
Projects considered for renewal will be evaluated by the BWET Program Manager and other National Marine Sanctuary Program staff to determine whether to be renewed for funding based upon the advice of the review panel. If there has been satisfactory prior award performance, projects considered for renewal may take priority over new proposals.