(1) DOSH staff will:

(a) Review applications to make sure they meet application criteria;

(b) Conduct a substantive evaluation of eligible applications;

(c) Forward applications along with scored evaluations and funding recommendations to the assistant director for DOSH and a designated grant-review committee.

(2) The designated grant-review committee will:

(a) Review project applications and the accompanying DOSH evaluations and recommendations;

(b) Evaluate each project application and provide concurrence or dissension with DOSH evaluation and funding recommendations;

(c) Prioritize and select, by a majority vote of the eligible voting members, those projects recommended for funding;

(d) Forward funding recommendations to the SAC and the assistant director of DOSH.

(3) The assistant director of DOSH, after consulting with the SAC, will make a final decision on project approval and funding.

(a) Safety and health projects, regardless of size, will be based on the ability of the project to foster accident prevention through cooperation between employers and employees or their representatives; the likelihood of reducing workplace injuries, illnesses, or fatalities; and the ability of the applicant to achieve project goals. Assessment will be based on an objective scoring method developed by the department.

(b) Return-to-work project approval, regardless of size, will be based on the ability of the project to foster return-to-work through cooperation between employers and employees or their representatives, the likelihood of increasing return-to-work, and the ability of the applicant to achieve project goals. Assessment will be based on an objective scoring method developed by the department.

(c) If the assistant director rejects an application the grant-review committee has recommended for funding or approves an application the grant-review committee recommended for denial, the assistant director will provide a written explanation to the SAC. The SAC may request reconsideration of such decision by a majority vote of the voting members, with a minority report allowed. The assistant director will reconsider the decision in consultation with the director.

(4) Applicants will be notified in writing when their application is approved or not approved for funding.

(5) Upon approval of an application and before project activities begin, the department and the applicant will enter into a written agreement. The agreement will:

(a) Include the approved application packet in its entirety, which will outline the project scope and timeline, activities, work plan, milestones, and products; and

(b) Spell out the terms and conditions governing the project, project participants, and the products resulting from the project.