3. A description of the financial or other assistance or other services it provides to veterans and their dependents.
4. A description of the need for the requested funds.
(6) EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS. (a) Evaluation criteria. The evaluation committee shall evaluate grant applications submitted under sub. (5) utilizing all of the following criteria:
1. Organizational experience providing services to veterans.
2. Understanding and ability to communicate the needs of veterans and their dependents.
3. Stated purpose and objectives for the grant funds and method and timetable for expending funds.
4. Budget clarity and justification.
5. Evaluation plan for the project.
6. Outreach and referral plan to identify and assist veterans or their dependents with services.
7. Program implementation timeline.
8. Integration of outreach and employment services into plan.
9. Past performance.
10. Experience serving underserved populations or underserved geographic areas.
11. Past working relationships with veteran service organizations.
(b) Rating applications. The evaluation committee shall weight the importance of each evaluation criterion by assigning points to it. Using the evaluation criteria specified in par. (a) the evaluation committee shall evaluate each application against each applicable criterion and assign points signifying the degree to which the application meets the criterion up to the maximum number of points. The total points assigned to the application for all applicable criteria will be the score for the application. The evaluation committee shall numerically rank each solicitation for grant proposals under this section.
(7) NOTIFICATION. Each applicant shall be notified in writing of the department's decision in accordance with the public notice.
(8) GRANT AWARDS. (a) The department shall award a grant to the applicants with the highest numerical score as funds are available.
(b) A grant awarded under this section shall be made on forms prepared by the department. The award shall be signed by the authorized representative of the department and shall list the conditions to which the award is subject.
(c) The authorized representative of the recipient nonprofit organization shall accept the grant award by signing the award document and returning it to the department. The department may terminate a grant award if the award is not accepted within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance by the department.
(9) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. All grants awarded under this section shall be contingent upon availability of funds under s. 20.485 (2) (tf), Stats. (10) RESTRICTIONS. (a) Prohibited use of funds. Grant funds shall be used only for the payment or reimbursement of expenses which are reasonable, necessary, and properly assignable to the purposes of the approved grant. Any other use of grant funds is prohibited. A grantee may not use the grant funds to supplant existing employee wages and compensation. A grantee may not use grant funds to purchase capital equipment unless specified in the grant award.
(b) Violation of prohibited use of funds. If a grantee uses grant funds for prohibited activities under par. (a), the department may terminate the grant and recover funds previously paid to the grantee for that funding period on a recoupment schedule specified in the grant award.
(c) Record keeping. A grantee shall maintain grant records for at least 3 years and shall provide information to the department as required by the department for the purposes of program or fiscal audits and, at the request of the department, shall appear before the department to respond to any questions about the grant and use of grant funds.
(11) AMOUNT OF GRANTS. (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c), the amount of a grant award shall be based on the amount requested by the applicant and the amount approved by the evaluation committee.
(b) The maximum amount of a grant that the department may make to any nonprofit organization during any fiscal year is $25,000.
(c) The amount of a grant award is subject to the availability of funds under s. 20.485 (2) (tf), Stats. (12) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A grantee receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the department data and information on the use and effect of the grant funds as specified in this section and in the grant award by the later of 6 months from the date of award or June 30 of the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded. The grantee shall authorize the department to audit and inspect its records.
(13) ASSURANCES AND CERTIFICATIONS. (a) Authority to sign and accept funds. The grantee shall certify that the designated signatory official has the authority to sign on behalf of the grantee and has the authority to accept funds.
(b) Compliance statement. Before the department releases grant funds, the grantee shall provide a statement that it is in compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, including tax laws, the requirements of this section, and the grant award.
(c) Nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. In accordance with s. 16.765, Stats., the grantee may not discriminate in violation of state or federal law and shall follow equal employment opportunity practices in the administration and delivery of program services to eligible applicants. Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This rule shall take effect on the first day of the month beginning after publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register as provided in s. 227.22 (2) (intro), Stats.
