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Application Format, Submission and Review 

• Annual workplan for the funding period (use HED form).
• Budget forms (use HED form, complete all tabs).
• Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and other expert personnel, not to exceed 2 one-sided pages per person.
• Proposed Scholarships Chart (use HED form)
• Other Partnership Activities Chart (use HED form)
• Signed letters of support from the presidents, chancellors, or other chief executive officers of the cooperating institutions in the United States, in addition to a signed letter from the proposed U.S. partnership director, and letters of support from other participating organizations.
• Signed letter from appropriate official at applicant institution verifying that all costs cited conform to established institutional policies and practices.

• Soundness of case made for addressing an identified strategic objective and development focus, as outlined in the RFA, which contributes to increased competitiveness of Mexico, institutional capacity, and investment in people.
• Coherence, appropriateness, and feasibility of the partnership;
• Appropriateness of activities implemented with new and proven approaches and techniques;
• Well-conceived implementation plan and timetable; and
• Overall likelihood of achieving significant demonstrable results.

• Demonstrated relevance of the training to address the development issue and focus area they have identified;
• Plans for trainees to return to Mexico within a defined timeframe and to an established setting;
• Number of graduate-level scholarships (five or more) for two academic semesters of training (leading to a degree, as appropriate) with award or cost share funds;
• Explanation of how additional scholarship support from CONACyT (up to four becas mixtas each year) might be utilized effectively; and
• A fair and transparent process to select scholarship and training recipients – including Mexican nationals primarily residing in rural, poor areas of Mexico and/or of indigenous descent – with approximately half of the training opportunities and scholarships offered to women.

• Strength of institutional commitment (engagement of faculty, students and administrators) within alliances among the U.S. and Mexican institutions;
• Strength of diverse partners, which may include the private sector, foundations, NGOs, community-based organizations, other higher education institutions, and the public sector, to assure enduring relationships and continued results from joint U.S.-Mexican efforts;
• Degree of collaboration among partners in oversight of and implementation of  activities; and
• Strength of detailed and substantive plans to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of partnership activities.

• Demonstrated cost-effectiveness and accuracy of budget with a clear, detailed explanation provided in the budget narrative;
• Realistic budget in relation to the breadth and scope of the proposed collaboration; and
• Level and quality of the cost sharing commitment from the U.S. and Mexican institutions and support provided by other partners.

• Monitoring plan that includes methodology for collecting baseline data;
• Appropriate benchmarks of progress toward achievable objectives;
• Clear description of how progress and results will be reported to USAID/Mexico through HED;
• Clearly articulated plan for an external evaluation to track the partnership's impact and achievement of objectives;; and
• Evidence of a report procedure for scholarship recipients to describe how they will use new skills when they return to their home institution(s).