E7. Budget Items Supported

E7.1 Budget items which directly support provision of research infrastructure for use in research projects may be funded, including:

1.        purchase, upgrade, transportation of, installation of, maintenance of and/or management of access to the research infrastructure, including costs such as import taxes (and other similar expenses) for purchasing equipment, and salaries, including 30 per cent on-costs, directly associated with these activities;
2.       construction of research infrastructure, for up to five years. This includes salaries, including 30 per cent on-costs, directly associated with this activity;
3.     integrated research facilities consisting of multiple components which can be used either simultaneously or serially for research projects (where each of these research projects is integrated by having a single research aim or theme). However multiple components that are not genuinely integrated, cannot be requested solely to reach the minimum level of funding specified at E6.1.1;
4.     subscription or coordinated access to international facilities and major national facilities (enabled under a written agreement between the Administering Organisation and the relevant international or national facility), for up to five years;
5.     library and research information infrastructure (non-capital aspects only) to support specific research projects/programmes which may also include salaries and minor pieces of equipment to build an integrated facility; and
6.      compilations, catalogues, clearing houses or bibliographies that build on and develop other current or recent competitively funded projects/programmes.

E7.2  All budget items must be justified in the Proposal to the satisfaction of the ARC and the assessors involved in the peer review process, including confirmation that competitive quotes were negotiated for the research infrastructure.

E7.3 Any salary costs requested under E7.1.a or E7.1.b need to be very carefully justified.

E7.4 With regard to a written agreement as at E7.1.d, the agreement should be for the specific international facility under discussion and the negotiations about the agreement need to have commenced by the time of submission of the Proposal.