(1) Scoring criteria are the primary guide for ranking applications and for the determination of grant viability. The department and advisory council will develop specific scoring guidance. Additional factors outside of the scoring criteria may be considered. Applications that meet minimum qualifications will receive a score based on the following criteria:
- (a) The project would support the recovery of degraded habitats through improvement, restoration, or enhancement efforts, or otherwise provide habitat uplift to or conservation gain to species of conservation need.
- (b) The application identifies priority habitats and/or species of conservation need expected to benefit from the project.
- (c) The geographic and temporal scope of the project. Projects impacting larger areas, across multiple landownerships, or with benefits over longer time scales will be given greater consideration than those with small-scale or short-term impacts.
- (d) If a project area provides public access, it will be given priority over projects that do not.
- (e) The amount of additional funding and in-kind contributions provided by project partners to complete the project. Projects providing greater amounts of outside-cost-sharing funds will be scored higher.
- (f) The number of additional partners involved in project funding, planning, implementation, and monitoring.
- (g) The grant application contains measurable objectives to evaluate project efforts and success.
- (2) Before review by the council, the department will review and provide analysis to the advisory council regarding application completeness and adherence to eligibility and application requirements.
- (3) The council will make funding recommendations to the department based upon their review, scores, and ranking. Council funding recommendations need not be based solely on ranking scores. They may consider components of applications deemed relevant by the council during the review process. The department will make final decisions on which projects will be funded.
Authorizing statute(s): 87-5-808, MCA
Implementing statute(s): 87-5-803, 87-5-804, 87-5-805, 87-5-806, 87-5-807, MCA
History: NEW, 2018 MAR p. 632, Eff. 3/31/18; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 1453, Eff. 6/22/24; AMD, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2025-274, Eff. 3/21/26.