Section 40.1457 - Grant Selection Process(1) Grant Applications shall be evaluated based upon the criteria set forth in the application package which shall consider without limitation: the proposal's potential to address a balance between technical education, and community outreach and participation; and the relative impact of the disposal site location on health, safety, public welfare and the environment (including consideration of whether the disposal site location is within an Economic Target Area or area designated as an Environmental Justice Community).(2) In each funding round, the Department shall rank the applications according to a weighted value assigned for the criteria set forth in the application package. This ranking shall be used by the Department to establish a grant funding priority list that shall indicate which grants are likely to be funded during that funding round. The Department may determine the number of grants on the grant funding priority list based on the following considerations: (a) the Department's administrative capacity to manage the technical assistant grant program at the time the grant funding priority list is established; and(b) the total amount of funding available for the grant program in a given round.(3) Upon final determination of the Department's grant funding priority list, the Department shall publish the list in the Environmental Monitor and on the Department's website.(4) Following publication of the Department's funding priority list, a copy of the applicant's evaluation sheet will be made available upon written request.(5) Any applicant on the grant funding priority list may be bypassed for an award if the Department determines that the applicant is for any reason unable to accept or receive the grant during that funding cycle. Any application that is bypassed shall not retain its priority rating for future funding rounds. The next highest ranked application which was otherwise not likely to be funded shall be added to the grant funding priority list for each bypassed application. Each grant funding priority list shall be in effect only during the funding round in which it was established.(6) Once the grant is awarded, the applicant shall be referred to as the grantee. A grant shall be deemed awarded when a Grant Agreement is entered into by the Department and the grantee, and the Grant Agreement has been accepted by the Office of the Comptroller. The Grant Agreement shall consist of the grant offer as executed by the Department and the grant acceptance as executed by the grantee as well as any and all terms and conditions under which the grant is being awarded to the grantee.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1503, eff. 3/1/2024.Amended by Mass Register Issue S1516, eff. 3/1/2024.