7.1 All applications will be considered through a competitive assessment process.
Who will assess grant applications?
7.2 We manage the assessment of applications. Applications submitted for funding under this grant opportunity will be assessed by Detailed Assessors and a Selection Advisory Committee (SAC).
7.3 Detailed Assessors are assigned applications to review for their specific expertise in a field of research. Detailed Assessors are discipline-specific and interdisciplinary experts in their knowledge fields. Detailed Assessors for this grant opportunity are drawn from the ARC Assessor Community and are usually almost entirely from the international research community. ARC Assessor Community assessors may have nominated to assist the ARC or be former recipients of ARC grant funding who are obligated to assess as a condition of their Grant Agreements.
7.4 The SAC is a multi-disciplinary group of experts from academia and industry appointed to assist us to evaluate applications and to provide a recommendation for funding to the CEO.
7.5 Any assessor who is not an Australian Public Servant will be expected to uphold the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct in accordance with Part 1, section 2.9 of the CGRGs. SAC members are paid for the assessment work undertaken and Detailed Assessors are not.
7.6 We have procedures in place for managing organisational and person conflicts of interest for assessors, SAC members and ARC staff. Details of these procedures are in the relevant section of these guidelines and at www.arc.gov.au/arc-conflict-interest-and-confidentiality-policy.
What is the grant assessment process?
7.7 Assessment against eligibility criteria is undertaken at both the EOI application and full application processes. We may determine whether an application meets the eligibility requirements at any stage during assessment of the application.
7.8 If We consider that an application is ineligible, the application may not be progressed through the assessment process.
7.9 If We consider that an EOI application does not meet the relevant eligibility criteria, We cannot recommend it for shortlisting.
7.10 If the full application is ineligible, We cannot recommend it for shortlisting.
EOI application assessment
7.11 The EOI application is a short application addressing two selection criteria and requiring consideration of a subset of the eligibility criteria.
7.12 The EOI applications are assessed against the relevant eligibility and assessment criteria and against other EOI applications. From this a shortlist of the most highly meritorious EOI applications is developed.
7.13 We will assess Your EOI application against the relevant eligibility criteria:
Individuals nominated as a Centre Director, CI or PI will be assessed against the eligibility criteria for their nominated role and specifically institutional affiliation and grant opportunity limits.
Research programs will be assessed against the medical research exclusions outlined in the ARC Medical Research Policy.
7.14 All EOI applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using selection criteria A and B.
7.15 The assessment process We will undertake comprises the following steps:
We assign EOI applications to SAC members who will assess the EOI applications against the selection criteria.
We assign EOI applications to Detailed Assessors who will assess and report, and may provide written comments against the selection criteria. In assigning assessors the ARC takes the requests not to assess into account (see section below for further information).
Following assessment by Detailed Assessors, We provide a consolidated report of comments to You and You are invited to submit a rejoinder to the assessment text (see section below for further information on this process).
We provide the applications, scores and comments provided in the detailed assessments and the applicant’s rejoinder to the SAC for consideration. Assigned SAC members assign their own scores again the relevant selection criteria.
The EOI applications are merit ranked against the selection criteria relative to the others on the basis of the EOI application, any assessors’ reports and any rejoinder. This ranked listing forms the shortlist for which call for fully applications will be made. The SAC will consider this ranked list and shortlist EOI applications for full application. The SAC may also recommend that two or more EOI applications which demonstrate significant synergy, overlap or duplication be amalgamated into one full application.
The recommended shortlist of EOIs is submitted to Our CEO for decision.
7.16 If You are shortlisted, You will be invited to develop and submit a full application addressing the full selection criteria. Only invited applicants are eligible to submit a full application.
Full application assessment
7.17 We will assess Your full application against all the eligibility criteria.
7.18 All full applications which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using all the given selection criteria.
7.19 Your full application will be considered on its merits, based on:
how well it meets the criteria;
how it compares to other applications; and
whether it provides value for money.
7.20 The assessment process comprises the following steps:
We will assign full applications to Detailed Assessors who will assess and report, and may provide written comments against the selection criteria.
Following assessment by Detailed Assessors, We provide a consolidated report of comments to You and You are invited to submit a rejoinder to the assessment text.
The SAC considers the applications, the scores and comments provided in the detailed assessments and the applicant’s rejoinder and assigns their own scores against the relevant selection criteria.
The full applications are merit ranked against the selection criteria relative to the others on the basis of the application, any assessors’ reports and any rejoinder.
We may shortlist full applications prior to inviting applicants to interviews. You will be notified if You are unsuccessful at being invited to participate in an interview.
Interviews
7.21 If You are required to take part in an interview We will inform You of the interview format, date, time, and any required participants, at the same time. We will not fund interviewee participation. The SAC will conduct the interviews.
7.22 Following interviews, the SAC will finalise the list of recommended full applications and recommend a budget for each, relative to other full applications on the basis of the above assessment process and with consideration of value for money.
Requests not to assess process
7.23 You may name up to three persons whom You do not wish to assess an EOI and full application by submitting a ‘Request Not to Assess’ form as detailed on the ARC website. This form must be received by us on or before the relevant EOI closing date and time as given on the ARC website.
7.24 Only one request containing the names of up to three individual assessors may be submitted per EOI application.
7.25 An accepted Request not to Assess for an EOI Application will be used for any subsequent full application.
7.26 In extraordinary circumstances, You may submit a ‘Request Not to Assess’ form naming more than three persons whom You do not wish to assess an application. Any request containing more than three names must be accompanied by comprehensive evidence justifying the request for each person named (including the first three). If We consider the evidence is not sufficient for one or more of the named people, We may reject part or all of the request.
7.27 We will have absolute discretion about whether We accept or refuse a Request Not to Assess.
Rejoinder Process
7.28 You may be given the opportunity to respond to assessors’ written comments on Your EOI application and full application through a rejoinder, and to provide any additional information requested by the ARC. Names of assessors will not be provided. Further information on the rejoinder process is available on Our website at www.arc.gov.au/rejoinders.
Who will approve grants?
7.29 In accordance with the ARC Act, Our CEO will submit grant recommendations to the Minister for consideration. We reserve the right to recommend funding levels which may be less than those requested in the application, and duration of ARC funding which may differ from that requested in the application.
7.30 The Minister will determine which applications will be funded.
7.31 The Minister’s decision is final in all matters, including:
the approval of the grant;
the grant funding amount to be awarded;
the duration of the grant; and
the terms and conditions of the grant.
7.32 The ARC Act states that the Minister must not approve a grant for any application that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in these grant guidelines, and/or if they reasonably consider the program funding available across financial years will not accommodate the grant offer, and/or the application does not represent value for money.
7.33 Any successful application awarded a grant will be subject to sufficient funds being available for the Project and the provisions of the ARC Act.
Section 7 - Linkage Program - ARC Centres of Excellence commencing 2020 - The grant selection process | Zoe