OPTRA Labs Guide
Grant Basics

Project Fit Scoring Framework

Last reviewed: April 2026

A disciplined fit score helps teams avoid emotional or opportunistic applications. The purpose is not to create fake precision. It is to make decision-making explicit and comparable across projects.

Scoring dimensions

Use a 1 to 5 score for each category:

StageDescription
Strategic fitDoes the project support a real company objective?
ReadinessAre the owner, data, timeline, vendor inputs, and decision-makers in place?
FeasibilityIs the implementation plan believable for this team, within this budget, in this time frame?
Return logicCan the business explain what improvement it expects and why the spend is proportionate?

Interpretation bands

  • 16 to 20: proceed
  • 12 to 15: improve before submission
  • below 12: pause and redesign

You can also apply a mandatory override. If project timing has already compromised supportability, the score should not be used to justify submission.

Example

A company wants a regional ERP rollout.

Strategic fit: 5
Readiness: 2
Feasibility: 2
Return logic: 4

Total: 13

Decision: improve before submission. The business case is strong, but readiness and feasibility are weak.

Important note

Warning
A strong commercial idea can still be a poor grant application if the company is not ready to implement, measure, and evidence it.

Next step

Continue to PSG Playbook.

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