Which of the following defines a type of error made in the Evaluation Plan section that can cause it not to be recommended for funding?

In grant proposals, especially in the Evaluation Plan section, SMART objectives are critical as they guide the assessment of project outcomes. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. When objectives are not articulated using this framework, it becomes challenging for reviewers to understand how the project's success will be measured. If an applicant fails to provide clear and precise SMART objectives, it raises concerns about the feasibility and accountability of the project’s evaluation process. This can lead to a major flaw in the proposal, which in turn can negatively impact its chances for funding.

While other factors such as insufficient stakeholder engagement, overly ambitious timelines, and underestimating costs are important in evaluating a proposal, the clarity and precision of objectives in the Evaluation Plan are foundational. Without well-defined objectives, even the best stakeholder engagement or budget planning can be rendered ineffective in articulating the project's predicted outcomes and necessary evaluations. Thus, not writing SMART objectives directly undermines the likelihood of the proposal being recommended for funding.