Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account Board

General Agency, Board or Commission Rules

Chapter 7: Grant Evaluation and Prioritization Process

Effective Date: 01/13/2006 to 03/31/2007

Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 039.0001.7.01132006

CHAPTER 7

GRANT EVALUATION AND PRIORITIZATION PROCESS

Section 1. Evaluation, Ranking and Prioritization of Grant Proposals. The Board shall review, evaluate, rank and prioritize applications for grants. The evaluation process shall include a pre-application screening of all applications. That screening shall consist of a preliminary review of all grant applications for compliance with the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act and for adherence to the criteria for grants established by the Board. The Board shall, at its sole discretion, determine which grants should move beyond the pre-application screening.

For those applicants that are selected to move beyond the pre-application process, such applicants must supply a final application and allow for a site visit by at least two (2) Board members and other qualified professionals as may be requested by the Board to offer expertise specific to the proposed project.

The Board shall rank and approve or reject small project final grant applications based on the overall purposes of the Act. Large project grant applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Board, and approved applications will be forwarded to the Select Committee for its review and recommendation.

In reviewing, evaluating and ranking final applications, the Board shall:

1. (a) place an emphasis on those projects that are partnerships involving private and public entities;
2. (b) consider the effects of the project on citizen access to public lands for hunting, fishing and recreational activities; and
3. (c) consider the socioeconomic impacts of the grant proposal on the affected community.

Section 2. Criteria for Grants. Grant criteria shall, at a minimum, include the ability of any project to accomplish one (1) or more of the following:

1. (a) improve and maintain existing terrestrial habitat necessary to maintain optimum wildlife populations;
2. (b) preserve open spaces;
3. (c) improve and maintain existing aquatic habitat necessary to maintain optimum fish populations;

(d) maintain or enhance terrestrial or aquatic habitat when existing habitat is determined critical or is present in minimal amounts;

(e) conserve, maintain, protect and develop wildlife resources, the environment and Wyoming's natural resource heritage;

(f) participate in water enhancement projects to benefit aquatic habitat for fish populations and allow for other watershed enhancements that benefit wildlife and other natural resources;

(g) address and mitigate impacts detrimental to wildlife habitat, the environment, and the multiple use of renewable natural resources attributable to residential, mineral and industrial development; or

(h) mitigate conflicts and reduce the potential for disease transmission between wildlife and domestic livestock.

Section 3. Ranking System. The Board shall prepare and approve a ranking system to be used to rank all eligible applications. The ranking system shall be approved by an affirmative vote of the Board. Any subsequent amendments to the ranking system shall also be approved by an affirmative vote of the Board.

Section 4. Multi-Year Projects. Projects which are funded as multi-year projects may be exempted from the ranking process by the Board for the duration of the project provided that annual evaluations of progress toward project goals are submitted and accepted by the Board. No commitment may exceed three (3) years without formal action by the Board to renew the grant or contract.

Section 5. For-Profit Corporations. The Board may, at its discretion, participate with for-profit corporations to develop wildlife habitat but may not divert financial resources to any for-profit corporation.