A9Selection and Approval Process

A9.                   Selection and Approval Process

A9.1               Assessment and Selection Process

A9.1.1            The ARC manages the assessment of Proposals. The ARC may make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments or solely on the basis of its expertise.

A9.1.2            All Proposals will be considered against the selection criteria for the relevant scheme and compliance with these Funding Rules.

A9.1.3            Proposals may be:

a.             assigned to independent assessors to assess and report on the Proposal against the selection criteria; and

b.             ranked relative to other Proposals and recommended a budget,  by the SAC, on the basis of the Proposal, any assessors’ reports and any rejoinder.

A9.1.4            The ARC may stop the progression of Proposals at any time during the selection process. Grounds for cessation include, but are not limited to:

a.             the Proposal does not meet the eligibility requirements set out in these Funding Rules; or

b.             the Proposal contains incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information.

A9.1.5            The SAC for the relevant scheme will make recommendations to the CEO on which Proposals should be approved for funding, which Proposals should not be approved for funding, and the level of funding and duration of Projects.

A9.1.6            The ARC has procedures in place for managing organisational and personal Conflicts of Interest for assessors, members of the ARC College of Experts or SAC, members of other ARC Committees and ARC staff. Details of these procedures are available on the ARC website.

A9.2               Rejoinder

A9.2.1            The Administering Organisation may be given the opportunity to provide a rejoinder to assessors’ written comments, and to provide any additional information requested by the ARC. Names of assessors will not be provided to the Administering Organisation or to Proposal participants. Further information on the Rejoinder process is available on the ARC website.

A9.3               Recommendations and Offer of Funding

A9.3.1            In accordance with the ARC Act, the CEO will submit funding recommendations to the Minister for consideration. The Minister will determine which Proposals will be funded and the amount and timing of funding to be paid to Administering Organisations for approved Proposals.

A9.3.2            Under the ARC Act, the Minister must not approve for funding any Proposal that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules.

A9.3.3            All Administering Organisations will be notified of the outcomes of their Proposals (including Proposals not recommended for funding). Outcomes, funding allocations and other relevant information about the successful Proposals will be published on the ARC website and GrantConnect.

A9.3.4            Administering Organisations whose Proposals are approved will be notified in a letter of offer and will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement in RMS.

A9.3.5            The ARC may vary the funding approval if, in the opinion of the ARC, the particular circumstances of the Project warrant variation. Any variation or change will accord with the relevant Funding Rules and Funding Agreement.