Merit Review Appeal Process

In alignment with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) and Federal Uniform Guidance, all Illinois Department of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) discretionary grants are required to conduct a merit review for all submitted grant applications which must include a Merit Review Appeal Process.

For discretionary grants, only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. Evaluation scores or funding determinations/outcomes may not be contested and will not be considered by the Department's Appeals Review Officer.

To submit an appeal, the appealing party must:

• Submit the appeal by using the Merit Review Appeal Request form including the reason for the appeal and supporting documentation to support the request.
  • Access the DCEO Merit Review Appeal Request Form
• Ensure the appeal is received within 14 calendar days from the date of the denial letter.

The DCEO Appeals Review Officer (ARO) will consider the grant-related appeals submitted to DCEO through the Appeal Request Form.

• The ARO must review the submitted Appeal Request Form for completeness and acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
• The ARO will consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation.
• The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the agency within the time period set in the request.
• The ARO shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required

Documentation of the appeal determination shall be sent to the appealing party and must include:

• Review of the appeal
• Appeal determination
• Rationale for the determination

Appeals resolutions may be deferred pending a judicial or administrative determination when actions concerning the appeal has commenced in a court or administrative body.