6.1 We publish information on ARC Centres of Excellence grant opportunities every three years. These opportunities have a predetermined opening and closing date for submitting applications.
6.2 This ARC Centres of Excellence grant opportunity is administered through an application process comprising:
an EOI application; and
a full application.
6.3 Only shortlisted EOI applications are invited to develop and submit a full application.
6.4 Before submitting an EOI application or full application, You must read and understand these grant guidelines, the sample application forms for an EOI application or full application (as relevant), the ‘Instructions to Applicants’ and the sample Grant Agreement. These documents may be found at GrantConnect. Any alterations and addenda[2] will be published on GrantConnect. By registering on the GrantConnect website You will be automatically notified of any changes.
6.5 You may only submit an EOI application or full application for funding if the named participants will be eligible for that grant opportunity as per these guidelines on the Grant Commencement Date.
6.6 To submit an EOI application and a full application You must:
complete each section of the relevant application form and make sure You provide the information in the format We have requested;
address all of the eligibility and assessment criteria requested to be considered for a grant;
ensure the application contains all the information necessary for assessment, including eligibility assessment, without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation;
certify that the application is compliant with all relevant laws and regulations;
make sure that Your application is submitted in accordance with these guidelines, Grant Agreement and application form; and
only submit one application for the same proposed project in the same grant opportunity regardless of any variation in the proposed research, the named participants and/or administering organisations.
6.7 You must:
submit Your EOI application or full application on the relevant application form available in the Research Management System (RMS) unless We advise You otherwise; and
You must certify Your EOI and full application online in RMS. Research Offices must ensure that the person assigned the Research Office Delegate role in RMS is authorised to certify and submit applications.
6.8 You are responsible for ensuring that Your EOI application or full application is complete and accurate. Giving false or misleading information will exclude Your application from further consideration and is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). We will investigate any false or misleading information and may exclude Your application from further consideration.
6.9 Your EOI or full application must contain all the information necessary for its assessment, including eligibility assessment, without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation. We reserve the right at any point in the process to request additional information from you, but We are not obliged to do so.
6.10 You cannot change Your EOI application or full application (including additions, deletions and modifications) after the closing date and time.
6.11 We may approve the withdrawal of an EOI application or full application on receipt of a written request with justification from You.
6.12 You may only submit a full application when the proposed project is a mature research plan presenting the proposed Centre as coherent, integrated and ready for implementation.
6.13 Substantial changes to the research program, personnel or organisations in a full application arising from a single previous EOI application must be justified.
6.14 In the full application You must list all current grants and requested funding for each named participant under any ARC grant opportunity and any other Commonwealth grant program. We will not fund the same research activities, infrastructure or projects previously funded or currently being funded through any other Commonwealth grant. Full details of any financial assistance received for, or in connection with, the research activities or project must be disclosed in the full application and on an ongoing basis.
6.15 You must provide a budget in a full application. In this You:
must not include cash or in-kind contributions in years beyond the Project Activity Period;
must establish the merit of the case for recognition of in-kind contributions, which must be essential and central to the proposed Centre; and
must not include in the in-kind contribution, basic salary for any Commonwealth Fellowships unless it is salary over and above the Commonwealth supported component.
6.16 We reserve the right to invite a single amalgamated full application where the research programs of two or more EOI applications demonstrate significant synergy, overlap or duplication. The Administering Organisations may choose to give effect to Our invitation. Should the invitation be accepted, the Administering Organisations of the EOI applications will be responsible for negotiating with the previously proposed Centre Directors, researchers and organisations in relation to the coordination, preparation and submission of a single amalgamated full application. We will not accept separate individual full applications arising from EOI applications where a single amalgamated full application has been invited.
6.17 Where a single amalgamated full application has been invited, the proposed research program, personnel and organisations may vary from those stated in the individual EOI applications. It is expected, however, that the amalgamated full application will incorporate aspects of both the research programs and appropriate personnel and organisations from each initial EOI application.
6.18 The application form includes help information and further information is in the ‘Instructions to Applicants’ document on Our website at www.arc.gov.au/arc-centres-excellence. If You have any technical difficulties, with RMS please contact arc-systems@arc.gov.au.
Timing of grant opportunity
6.19 We publish information on grant opportunities on GrantConnect for all Linkage Program grant opportunities and this includes the relevant timing for the submission of applications.
6.20 You must submit Your application to Us by the closing date and time which are specified on GrantConnect.
6.21 You can only submit an application between the published opening and closing dates. We cannot accept late applications, other than in in exceptional circumstances (such as due to natural disasters) in which case We will discuss this with You, and if We agree, invite You to make a late application.
6.22 The Grant Commencement Date for ARC Centres of Excellence in this grant opportunity is 1 January 2020, unless other arrangements are approved by the Minister.
6.23 Funding for a grant will commence on the later date of:
the Grant Commencement Date for the opportunity;
after Ministerial announcement;
a date set by the Minister; or
in line with other arrangements that are approved by us.
Attachments to the application
6.24 You must attach supporting documentation to the relevant application form in line with the instructions provided within the form or in the ‘Instructions to Applicants’. You should only attach requested documents. We will not consider information in attachments that We do not request.
6.25 Your full application must include a letter of support from each Other Eligible Organisation(s) and Partner Organisation(s). In providing and signing these letters, the organisations are certifying the support to, and researcher participation in (if relevant), the proposed Centre. These letters of support must:
include the official letterhead;
specify financial commitments (both cash contributions and/or In-kind contributions) specific to the application and not including any general financial commitment to the Administering Organisation;
certify that if providing a cash contribution, no part of this is drawn from funds previously appropriated or awarded from Commonwealth or Australian State or Territory sources for the purposes of research, nor from funds previously used to leverage government research or research infrastructure funding;
specify the participation of named participant researchers in the application; and
be signed by a senior representative (Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent) of the organisation.
Questions during the application process
6.26 Questions during the application period should be directed to Your Research Office. We may post answers to questions on Our website under Frequently Asked Questions.