EPA Grants External Peer Reviewer Orientation Reviewer Support

EPA Grants External Peer Reviewer Orientation

Reviewer Support Materials • Requests for Applications (RFA) announcement • Background • Peer Review Process, Evaluation Criteria and Rating Classifications • Guidance for Writing Grant Evaluations • Guidance on Review of Quality Assurance Statements 2

Overview: Reviewer Assignments • Check for Conflicts of Interest • Each application: • • Assigned to a minimum of three primary peer reviewers • One reviewer will be assigned the role of Rapporteur Each reviewer: • Assigned to 8 -10 applications 3

Overview: Application Reviews • This review is designed to evaluate each application according to its scientific merit. • For each assigned application, primary reviewers will: • Read the entire application package. • Prepare an individual written evaluation, in ARM. 4

Overview: Application Rating • Rate applications: Excellent, Very good, Good, Fair, or Poor • Peer Review Teleconference: • Discuss applications that received at least two ratings of Very Good or one rating of Excellent from primary reviewers • Provide final rating • Develop a final summary report 5

Evaluation Criteria are listed in descending order of importance (i. e. , Criteria 1 has the heaviest weight) 1. 2. 3. 4. Research Merits Responsiveness Project Management Other Factor (Innovation) 6

Guidance for Writing Grant Evaluations These guidelines are intended to help you write constructive, clear and defensible comments. 1. Provide comments relevant to ‘Evaluation Criteria’. 2. Comments should substantiate the given score. 3. For each of the Evaluation Criteria: • Provide comment as a Strength/Weakness. • Provide the degree of strength or weakness: major or minor. 7

Guidance for Writing Grant Evaluations 4. Do not provide advice or suggestions for improvement unless it is phrased as a strength or weakness. 5. Do not compare applications to each other or refer to another applicant. 6. Do not recommend or state that EPA should fund the application. 7. Comments should be in complete sentences. • Do not ask questions 8

Guidance for Writing Grant Evaluations 8. Spell out abbreviations or acronyms when used for the first time. 9. Write comments in the third person. 10. Do not use language that may be viewed as derogatory. 11. Avoid fonts. the use of symbols and advanced If problems arise during the review, please contact EPAReview. 9

Closing Final Reminders Thank You Questions? 10