E5. Selection Criteria

E5.1 Proposals will be assessed and ranked using the following selection criteria:

1.     Significance of research to be supported with the proposed research infrastructure:              20%

2.                     nature of the research, including aims and significance;

3.                  relevance of the proposed research infrastructure to the needs of ARC and other competitively funded research projects/programmes;

4.                enhancement of support for areas of existing and/or emerging research strength; and

5.                demonstrated national or international focus for large scale cooperative initiatives.

6.     Need and use of the proposed research infrastructure:  30%

7.                    demonstrated need for the features specific to the requested research infrastructure;

8.                  availability of and access to similar research infrastructure at organisational, regional, national and/or international level;

9.                demonstrated needs from the researchers and/or research projects that will utilise the proposed research infrastructure, including level of demand and likely measurable impact on the research programme, including beyond the duration of the project;

10.                value for money and budget justification for cash and in-kind contributions, and the expected rate of use of the proposed research infrastructure;

11.                  planned use of the proposed research infrastructure, including proposed arrangements for broader access to individuals not named on the Proposal and the alignment of this planned use with other similar existing infrastructure within Australia and/or internationally;

12.                special needs for regional or otherwise isolated institutions; and

13.              national benefit of the proposed research infrastructure to the broader research community.

14.     Nature of the alliance and commitment between the organisations named on the Proposal:              30%

15.                    relevance of the research to the strategic priorities of the organisations;

16.                  evidence that each of the organisations is genuinely committed to, and prepared to collaborate in, the Project;

17.                existing or planned strategic research alliances between the higher education organisation(s) and other organisation(s); and