(a) Establishment of criteria
Grants under this subpart shall be awarded on the basis of criteria established by the Secretary by regulations.

(b) Priorities to be given in criteria
In establishing criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants which have not previously received funding from the Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program and to previous grantees with a proven record of success, as well as to applications that contribute to achieving balance among projects with respect to geographic region, academic discipline, and project type.

(c) Required criteria
In establishing criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider the following selection criteria in making grants:

(1) plan of operation;

(2) quality of key personnel;

(3) budget and cost effectiveness;

(4) evaluation plan;

(5) adequacy of resources;

(6) identification of need for the project;

(7) potential institutional impact of the project;

(8) institutional commitment to the project;

(9) expected outcomes; and

(10) scientific and educational value of the proposed project.