01 M.R.S. § 001-406-6 - SOLICITATION AND AWARD PROCEDURES

1. While funds remain available, DACF may solicit proposals at any time during the fiscal year but shall solicit proposals at least once per year through fiscal year 2026.

2. DACF will issue a Request for Applications (RFA) to solicit grant applications. DACF will identify research priorities in the RFA. All research proposals must be submitted in the form and in accordance with the terms directed by DACF in the RFA.

3. The peer reviewers identified through the process described in Section 5 shall evaluate and score proposals, based on selection criteria contained in Section 7. Peer reviewers shall document each proposal's score and substantive information that supports the score.

4. Final decision-making authority for awarding grants rests with the Commissioner, based upon the grant criteria set forth in Section 7 and the recommendations of the peer reviewers.

5. DACF will send a written notification of a grant award to a selected applicant.

6. If an applicant is not selected, DACF will send the applicant a written notice of its decision. Such notice will include documentation of the review panel's final score for the applicant. Appeals will be decided by DACF in accordance with the procedures outlined in Section 9 below.

7. DACF reserves the right to cap the amount of funding for all requests based on available resources.

Notes

01 M.R.S. § 001-406-6