SECTION VII. CONCEPT LETTER AND FULL PROPOSAL REVIEW CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used to rate Concept Letters and Full Proposals. Each category will be rated according to the following scale:

Excellent (10)___ Very Good (8)___ Good (6)___ Fair (4)___ Poor (2)___

Categories –

A. Rationale - The degree to which the proposed project addresses an important state and/or regional issue, problem, or opportunity in development, use, or management of marine or coastal resources.

B. Programmatic Justification - The degree to which the proposed project addresses the priorities in guidance provided in the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Request for Proposals, Strategic Plan, and other program guidance and the needs of important local, state, regional, or national constituencies.

C. Clarity of Objectives - The degree to which the proposed objectives address the problem or opportunity identified in the Rationale and Programmatic Justification.

D. Innovativeness of Approach - The degree to which new approaches to solving problems and exploiting opportunities in resource management or development, or in public outreach on such issues, will be employed; alternatively, the degree to which the activity will focus on new types of important or potentially important resources, issues, and opportunities.

E. Scientific/Outreach Merit - The feasibility of the proposed methods and design of proposed project in addressing objectives, as well as the degree to which the proposed project employs or advances the scientific or outreach discipline through use and extension of state-of-the-art methods.

F. Adequacy of Budget - The degree to which the proposed budget will adequately support the proposed work and provide the necessary and appropriate amount and distribution of funding across budget categories.

G. Investigator’s Knowledge of Field - The degree to which the investigator(s) is (are) experienced, proficient and recognized in their respective fields.

H. User Relationships - The degree to which potential users of the results of the proposed activity have been brought into the planning of the activity, will be brought into execution of the activity, or will be kept apprised of progress and results.

I. Dissemination of Results - The degree to which the proposed project includes appropriate strategies for information and product development and delivery to targeted users (e.g., through Sea Grant Extension, etc.)