1. (a) Grant award recommendations and decisions, including, but not limited to, actions relating to an applicant's eligibility, evaluation, award, and funding amount rest within the discretionary authority of the OOG and all award decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.
2. (b) Only applications that have first received a recommendation from the advisory board will be considered by the OOG for funding.
3. (c) The OOG will give priority to eligible applicant institutions that involve the recruitment of a Nobel Laureate, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or the National Academy of Medicine.

4. (d) The OOG shall give priority to applications that:

   1. (1) Demonstrate a reasonable probability of enhancing Texas' national and global economic competitiveness;
   2. (2) Demonstrate a reasonable probability of creating a nationally or internationally recognized locus of research superiority or a unique locus of research;
   3. (3) Are matched with a significant amount of funding from a federal or private source that may be transferred to the applicant institution;
   4. (4) Are interdisciplinary and collaborative; or
   5. (5) Include a strategic plan for intellectual property development and commercialization of technology.

5. (e) In making its decision, the OOG may also consider the following matters:

   1. (1) the likelihood that the researcher being recruited will not accept a position with the applicant without the institution's receipt of a GURI grant;
   2. (2) the extent to which the subject matter of the research offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary and collaborative research at the applicant institution and with other eligible institutions; and
   3. (3) any commercialization track record of the researcher being recruited.

6. (f) The OOG may award a grant to a proposal that:

   1. (1) supports the recruitment of a distinguished researcher distinguished in, or to be engaged in, basic, translational, or applied research; or
   2. (2) proposes the recruitment of a distinguished researcher for new research capabilities of the eligible institution or to expand the institution's existing research capabilities.
7. (g) The OOG will make a final determination on whether a researcher who is proposed for recruitment by an applicant qualifies as a distinguished researcher for purposes of the GURI program.

Source Note:The provisions of this §190.25 adopted to be effective February 4, 2016, 41 TexReg 776.