1. (a) Eligibility for applied research grants. The following are the criteria which identify an applicant's eligibility for an applied research grant.

   1. (1) The applicant must show that the specific application of the proposed research is for the improvement of the quality of wastewater treatment and/or reducing the cost of providing wastewater treatment to consumers.
   2. (2) The research project must be conducted in Texas, and must concern technology or systems applicable in Texas.
   3. (3) Corporations organized under the Texas Business Corporations Act must not be delinquent in taxes owed the state under the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 171.

2. (b) Information required for applied research grants. The following information must be submitted in writing for each applied research grant proposal:

   1. (1) if the proposal is in response to the council's solicitation or request, the applicant shall include the proposal title and the method of improving the quality of wastewater treatment and/or reducing the cost of providing wastewater treatment to consumers; or
   2. (2) if the proposal is submitted on an unsolicited basis and does not address a specific project identified by the council, the applicant shall include the method of improving the quality of wastewater treatment and/or reducing the cost of providing wastewater treatment to consumers;
   3. (3) for applicants who are affiliated with an accredited college or university in Texas, a verified statement from the college or university's president, or dean of the appropriate program, describing the affiliation in detail;
   4. (4) a discussion of how the applicant intends to fulfill the requirements of the proposal, including an identification of the potentials for, or plans to incorporate and use, proprietary information;
   5. (5) resumes of principals, potential subcontractors, and principal investigators (including names, addresses, and phone numbers), and a summary of pertinent experience of each entity;
   6. (6) site(s) of proposed project;
   7. (7) a list of tasks and a time schedule for tasks to be completed by principals and subcontractors;
   8. (8) recommendations for implementing research results, including identification, and involvement of potential users;
   9. (9) the total project cost, the amount(s) and source(s) of the local matching funds and services, and the total amount requested from the council;
   10. (10) a detailed project budget and timetable, and a detailed task budget for all aspects of the project;
   11. (11) all information required to satisfy the criteria for eligibility as set out in this section;
   12. (12) all information necessary to evaluate the application under the selection criteria as set out in this section;
   13. (13) a list of reports, plans, products and other deliverables the applicant will provide to the council;
   14. (14) information of other sources of funding, matching funds and like-kind funding or matching grants, if applicable;
   15. (15) suggested progress monitoring procedures;
   16. (16) any other pertinent data as deemed necessary by the council; and
   17. (17) evidence that the applicant is insured or can become insured for the tasks undertaken as a result of receiving a grant.

3. (c) Criteria for selection of applied research grants. The council will review the grant proposals. Grants may be awarded based upon the following criteria:

   1. (1) the availability of matching funds and other sources of funding for the proposal;
   2. (2) the urgency of need for the research;
   3. (3) the degree to which the proposal is responsive to the overall council objectives listed in these rules;
   4. (4) the qualifications of project staff and directly-related project and staff experience;
   5. (5) the reasonableness of the proposed budget and time schedules;
   6. (6) project organization and management, including project monitoring procedures;
   7. (7) statewide or regional application of research results;
   8. (8) technical, economic and environmental merit of the proposal;
   9. (9) relevance to and probability that the research will result in the improvement of the quality of wastewater treatment and reducing the cost of providing wastewater treatment to consumers; and
   10. (10) any other information as may be required for the specific project.

Source Note:The provisions of this §286.51 adopted to be effective May 4, 2000, 25 TexReg 3789.