8.1. All applications will be considered through a competitive peer review process.
8.2. We manage the assessment of applications. Further information about the assessment process is available on the ARC website.
8.3. We may seek advice on national security or other matters from Commonwealth agencies in relation to the application.
8.4. We may seek information from You regarding due diligence activities in relation to the application.
What is the grant assessment process?
Eligibility criteria assessment
8.5. We will review Your application against the eligibility criteria at both the EOI application and full application stages.
8.6. We will assess the EOI application against a subset of the 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.
b. Research programs will be assessed against the medical research exclusions outlined in the ARC Medical Research Policy.
8.7. We will assess Your full application against all the eligibility criteria.
8.8. We may determine whether an application meets the eligibility requirements in these grant guidelines at any stage during the assessment process.
8.9. If an application is ineligible, the application may not be progressed through the assessment process and We must not recommend the application for funding.
The assessment process
8.10. All EOI applications and full applications which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using the relevant assessment criteria.
8.11. If We consider that an application is incomplete We may in Our absolute discretion decide to recommend that the application not be approved for a grant.
8.12. If We consider that an application is inaccurate or contains false or misleading information, or is otherwise a breach of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, We will in Our absolute discretion decide to recommend that the application not be approved for a grant.
8.13. During the assessment process, We may request additional information, which does not change the nature of Your application.
EOI application assessment
8.14. All EOI applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using assessment criteria ‘a’ and ‘b’. From this a shortlist of the most highly meritorious EOI applications is developed.
8.15. The process that We will undertake comprises the following steps:
We assign EOI applications to SAC members.
b. We assign EOI applications to Detailed Assessors. In assigning assessors. We may take requests not to assess into account (see below for further information).
c. Detailed Assessors provide assessments to Us with scores and written comments against assessment criteria for each application.
d. Applicants are provided with Detailed Assessors’ comments and are invited to submit a rejoinder (see below for further information on this process).
e. Applications, scores and comments provided in the detailed assessments and the applicant’s rejoinder are provided to the SAC for consideration. Assigned SAC members assign their own scores against the relevant assessment criteria.
f. The SAC meets to discuss the ranking of each application 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.
g. The recommended shortlist of EOIs is submitted to Our CEO for decision. The recommended shortlist and any advice on national security issues will be considered by the CEO.
h. If You are shortlisted, You will be invited to develop and submit a full application addressing the full assessment criteria. Only invited applicants are eligible to submit a full application.
Full application assessment
8.16. All full applications which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using all assessment criteria.
8.17. Your full application will be considered on its merits, based on:
how well it meets the assessment criteria;
b. how it is ranked against other applications; and
c. whether it provides value for money (as defined in the Glossary).
8.18. The process that We will undertake comprises the following steps:
We assign full applications to Detailed Assessors.
Detailed Assessors provide assessment to Us with scores and written comments against the selection criteria.
c. Applicants are provided with Detailed Assessors’ comments and are invited to submit a rejoinder (see below for further information on this process).
d. Applications, scores, and comments provided in the detailed assessments and the applicant’s rejoinder are provided to the SAC. The SAC assign their own scores against the assessment criteria.
e. The SAC meets to discuss the ranking of each application relative to other applications and determines funding recommendations.
f. 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
8.19. 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. Members of the SAC will conduct the interviews.
8.20. 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.
National Interest Test
8.21. On the full application form, applicants must provide a separate response on the national interest of the research proposal.
8.22. In making recommendations to the Minister, the CEO will:
consider the recommendations from the SAC;
consider the applicant’s response to the National Interest Test;
seek information from Administering Organisations on applications where there is concern about how they meet the National Interest Test based on the information provided in the application form; and
make grant recommendations to the Minister that satisfy the National Interest Test and which are eligible for funding.
Requests not to assess process
8.23. You may name up to three persons whom You do not wish to assess an application by submitting a Request Not to Assess (RNTA) form in RMS as detailed on GrantConnect and the ARC website. For this grant opportunity, the form must be received by Us in RMS two weeks before the EOI application submission date.
8.24. Only one request containing the names of up to three individual assessors may be submitted per EOI application.
8.25. An accepted RNTA for an EOI application will be used for any subsequent full application.
8.26. If a request includes the name of a current ARC College of Experts member, as listed on the ARC website or in RMS at the time of submitting the RNTA form, the request must be accompanied by comprehensive evidence justifying the request for the ARC College of Experts member or members named. If We consider the evidence is not sufficient for the named ARC College of Experts member or members, We will reject part, or all, of the request.
8.27. We will have absolute discretion about whether We accept or refuse a RNTA. We will not notify You of the outcome.
Rejoinder process
8.28. You will be given the opportunity to respond to assessors’ written comments on Your EOI application and full application through a rejoinder. Names of assessors will not be provided. Further information on the rejoinder process is available on the ARC website.
Who will assess applications?
8.29. Applications will be assessed by Detailed Assessors and a SAC comprising General Assessors.
8.30. Any Detailed Assessors or General Assessors must adhere to and uphold the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
8.31. Any College of Experts or SAC members who are not a Commonwealth Official, will be required to perform their duties in accordance with the CGRGs.
8.32. We have procedures in place for managing organisational and personal Conflicts of Interest for Detailed Assessors, SAC members and ARC staff. Details of these procedures are in the relevant section of these grant guidelines and in the ARC’s Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy available on the ARC website.
Who will approve grants?
8.33. In accordance with the ARC Act, Our CEO will submit grant recommendations to the Minister for consideration.
8.34. The CEO may seek advice on national security or other matters from Commonwealth agencies before making recommendations. The CEO will make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments and may take into account any advice received on national security or other matters from Commonwealth agencies.
8.35. Under the ARC Act, the Minister may (but is not required to) rely solely on recommendations made by the CEO.
8.36. The Minister will determine which grants to approve. In addition to the assessment criteria set out in Section 6, the Minister may consider the National Interest Test and any advice on national security risks in determining which applications to approve.
8.37. The Minister’s decision is final in all matters, including:
the approval of the grant;
b. the grant funding amount to be awarded;
c. the duration of the grant; and
d. the terms and conditions of the grant.
8.38. The ARC Act states that the Minister must not approve a grant for any application that fails to:
meet the eligibility criteria;
comply with the assessment process; and
satisfy the requirements for financial assistance.
8.39. There is no ARC appeal mechanism for decisions to approve or not approve a grant. We will consider appeals against the administrative process as specified at section 13 of these grant guidelines.