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Evaluation Process of an Application for an AFG Award Part I
The evaluation process for your application was set up to determine who would best benefit the most from the free federal grant money allocated to the AFG program. This evaluation process follows the guidelines and priorities set each year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
There is a pre-screening process that looks at the funding priorities and criteria set by the criteria development panel. With the type of community the applicant’s area serves, their application will be ranked relative to the preset funding priorities. If more than one application is received from any single applicant, they will be judged separately. This is if there no more than one application per type is received. Your score will also be divided by what you request. Each area weighted ratio to funding.
If your application passes the pre-screening, then it goes through the peer-review process. Applicants who apply for areas that are high on the priority list will score the highest. Each year the priority changes and this year it is on training. To ensure the money awarded is used in the best way, over twice as many applications are reviewed as will receive an award. This is standard DHS practice. Three individual panelists will review each application and score them on project narrative, general questions, and activity specific questions.
Applications for equipment and/or training will have their critical infrastructure considered in the applicant’s area and is relative to its ranking during evaluation. Critical infrastructure is a concern with public or private systems or processes that would cause a large loss of life or a hazard to a large portion of the surrounding population if attacked, or a hazardous event happens at or near them or their facility. This list includes water supply, power supply, chemical factories, nuclear power plants, and telecommunication facilities to name a few.
Panelist evaluate each project issues and areas, then score the following criteria:
1) Clarity of the proposed project including the budget.
2) The needs of the organization.
3) The cost to benefit ratio from the award.
4) How will the daily operation improve or impact the applicant’s organization to protect life and property in there protected area.
Each area is scored with equal weight.
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