The Plan: Executive Summary / Need, Importance, Urgency / Purpose & Philosophy / General / Future Development / Appendix / Proposal Process

PROPOSAL PROCESS

Who may submit proposals?

Projects must be collaborative: any two or more libraries within the Consortium may submit proposals for collaborative collections projects.

What is the proposal process?

The process is intended to be as simple and non-labor-intensive as possible, particularly for the proposers; it is also designed to include input from all Consortium members. It is also assumed that virtually all proposals will include a request for funding from external sources. Process steps follow:

1. The proposing libraries submit to the CCMCC Coordinator a brief preliminary proposal describing the project proposed, an informal funding plan, and a statement of who will benefit. There is a brief consultation with the CCMCC Coordinator, after which the preliminary proposal may be revised or proceed as is through the process. Proposing libraries are encouraged to consult with other Consortium libraries while they develop preliminary proposals.

2. Copies of the preliminary proposal are sent to all Consortium members for comment. Consortium members use a rating sheet and brief comments to give feedback on the proposal.

3. The proposing libraries revise and expand the proposal, responding to feedback and providing more detail in particular in the areas of funding and plan of operation.

4. The revised and expanded proposal is submitted to the CCMCC along with copies of all rating sheets. The CCMCC makes a recommendation for final funding based on its judgment of how well the proposal has met the aims of the collaborative collections plan.

When should proposals be submitted?

Preliminary proposals may be submitted at any time. Final proposals which contain requests for funding must be submitted by _________________.

What are the criteria by which proposals will be judged?

Following are the criteria by which both preliminary and final proposals for collaborative projects will be judged. Criteria are weighted through a point system:

Benefit (25 points): Who will benefit from the project? How many persons? How will they benefit?

Cost and Funding Plan (25 points): What is the cost of the project, divided into one-time and continuing costs? Costs may be estimated in preliminary proposals but should be as exact as possible in final proposals. How do the libraries propose to meet the costs? How much, if anything, is being requested in external funding? How much is proposed as cost-sharing, both on the part of the proposing libraries and all libraries in the Consortium? Is there a plan for reverting to local funding after a start-up period?

Quality of Plan of Operation (25 points): Is the plan likely to succeed? Are there sufficient guarantees that commitments will be maintained--for example, via a formal written agreement? In particular, is the plan for providing service for the entire Consortium likely to be effective?

Expandability, Adaptability (15 points): Might the project, if successful, be expanded to a wider area or adapted by others? What is its value as a pilot project?

Quality of Plan for Evaluation (5 points): How will project effectiveness be evaluated? What is the plan for review and evaluation?

Plan for Reporting on Progress (5 points).

Proposing libraries will have a chance to resubmit revised proposals and will receive comments on failed proposals. However, the process outlined above is designed to promote success--to insure that projects are win\win for everyone; lack of success is likely to be related to lack of funding, not poor quality or irrelevant projects.