Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007

No longer in force

Administered by

Department of Education

This item is authorised by the following title:

Australian Research Council Act 2001

Latest version

F2006L02655

16 August 2006 - 16 October 2014

These Funding Rules were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training on 31 July 2006.

Table of contents

Introduction
Overview
This document sets out the funding rules for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects, a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP), which comply with the requirements of the ARC Act.
These Funding Rules are current as at July 2006 and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the ARC Act in force at that time. These Funding Rules are subject to change at any time, for reasons including any subsequent amendment, replacement or supplementation of the ARC Act.
Funding under Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects is provided to Administering Organisations, not to researchers. That is, the ARC will accept a Proposal only from an Eligible Organisation and not from any individual researcher or researchers.
However, if, in the opinion of the ARC, any researcher nominated in a Proposal as a LCI or PI has caused or has significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under any current or previous funding agreement with the ARC, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend for approval any or all Proposals involving that researcher.
- NCGP Objectives
The ARC is an Australian Government statutory authority established under the ARC Act. The primary functions of the ARC, as specified by the ARC Act, are to make recommendations regarding the funding of research programs, to administer funding to support research programs, and to provide policy advice related to research.
By the operation of a range of funding schemes under the NCGP, the ARC aims to:
- Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects
The objectives of the Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects scheme are to support programs of research, or programs that support the conduct of programs of research, undertaken by one or more of the Eligible Organisations which:
The ARC is particularly interested in supporting activities in areas of demonstrable national importance.
- Fundamental principles and requirements
Ethics and Research Practices
Non-duplication
- The ARC will not provide financial assistance to meet the costs of a project to the extent that those costs have been, or are likely to be, met by Commonwealth funding obtained from another source (including other ARC funding). The ARC reserves the right to determine if a Proposal includes such costs and to deem a notional amount for such costs.
- Where a significant portion of the costs for a proposed project has been, or is likely to be, funded by the Commonwealth from other sources (including other ARC sources), the ARC may decide to recommend that the Proposal not be funded at all. In other cases, the ARC may decide to recommend a reduced amount of funding for the proposed project.
Conflict of Interest
- All parties involved in or associated with Proposals and ARC-funded research projects are required to disclose to the ARC affiliations with or financial involvement in any organisation which has, or is likely to have, a direct interest in the subject matter or outputs of the project. Such parties are required to disclose to the ARC at the time of submission of Proposals, or in reporting on ARC-funded research projects, any conflict of interest which has the potential to influence, or appear to influence, their research and activities, publications and media reports, or requests for funding.
Acknowledging ARC support
- The Funding Agreement requires that any ARC contribution to research and other activities funded by the ARC be appropriately acknowledged. When, at any time during or after completion of a project, the researcher or any other party publishes or produces material such as books, articles, newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the research project, the Administering Organisation must ensure (wherever possible) that the ARC’s contribution and support of the project is acknowledged in a prominent place and in an appropriate form. This acknowledgement should include the mention of the ARC as a funding body. Similar efforts should be made to acknowledge ARC support when participating in television and radio programs, and when interviewed by the print media.
  - Changes from last year
A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007 (the 2007 Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects Funding Rules). Significant changes from the 2006 Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects Funding Rules include:
The list of changes above is not comprehensive – a number of minor formatting, style and other changes have also been made. Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and draft Funding Agreement before a Proposal is submitted to the ARC.
- Funding
- Level of funding
All amounts referred to in these Funding Rules are to be read as exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (if any), unless expressly stated otherwise.
The minimum level of funding which will be provided by the ARC for a project is $10,000 per annum. Applicants must make a request of at least $10,000 per annum.
Generally, the maximum level of ARC funding for a Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects project is $120,000 per annum. In exceptional circumstances, the ARC is prepared to consider higher funding levels where an outstanding case is made, for example where there is clear evidence of a very high level of commitment by, and very significant cash contributions from, the Administering, Collaborating and/or Partner Organisation(s).
The ARC reserves the right to recommend the levels of funding allocated to a project at levels which may differ from those requested in the Proposal.
- Duration of funding
Funding for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects Proposals may be awarded for 1 to 3 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
The ARC may recommend funding for a project for a duration different from that requested in the Proposal.
- Types of research supported
The following project costs may be supported under Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects:
- Areas of investigation/work not supported
Financial assistance will not be provided to projects which, in the opinion of the ARC, are more appropriately funded from other ARC or Commonwealth Government funding sources.
Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects does not support:
- Restrictions on budget items
Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects supports only costs which directly support a project. The ARC may in its absolute discretion determine whether any project costs meet this requirement.
Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects has restrictions on the following budget items:
- Number of Proposals and funded projects
- Organisational types, roles and eligibility
- Eligible Organisations
A Proposal may be submitted only by an Eligible Organisation. Appendix 2 specifies Eligible Organisations for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects.
- Collaborating Organisations
A Proposal may identify one or more Collaborating Organisations to be involved in the proposed projects.
- Partner Organisations
- Roles and eligibility for researchers
- Researcher roles and eligibility
Roles that may be undertaken by researchers under Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects are:
The first-named LCI on a Proposal will be considered the ‘Project Leader’ of the project.
A researcher nominated in a Proposal as a LCI or PI must take significant intellectual responsibility for the proposed project, its conception, and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The researcher must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role.
To be eligible to be a LCI, a person must meet the following criteria:
- Eligibility criteria for Partner Investigators
- Cross-scheme issues
- Application process
- Eligibility rulings
Eligibility rulings do not apply to Proposals for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects.
- Proposals
A Proposal should be submitted as a mature research plan ready for implementation. The Proposal must contain all the information necessary for its assessment without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation, unless requested by the ARC or its College of Experts.
All details in the Proposal must be current at the time of submission.
In submitting a Proposal, the Administering Organisation and the LCI and the PIs nominated in the Proposal are consenting to the Proposal’s being assessed under the ARC’s peer assessment procedures and agree to the release of the Proposal to third parties for assessment purposes.
- Certification
Proposals must be certified by the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer. If a Proposal does not contain the relevant certification the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
- Submission of Proposals
Format
- All documents must be written in English and must comply strictly with the format and submission requirements. If a Proposal fails to meet any format and content requirements, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
- All pages of additional text should be in black type, use a single column and 12-point font size on white A4 paper, be printed on one side only and unbound, with at least 2 cm margins on each side. References may be reproduced in 10-point font size.
- The pages of the Proposal should be numbered consecutively starting from page one.
How to complete and submit a Proposal
- Research Offices should submit Proposals to the ARC via email (using Microsoft Word) and forward a signed paper copy of the Proposal in duplicate which must, aside from the requested signatures on the certification page(s), identically match the contents of the Proposal form submitted by email.
- All paper copy Proposals must be signed by the Administering Organisation’s President, Chief Executive Officer or similar officer who has the power to make and vary contracts on behalf of the Administering Organisation.
- Paper versions of Proposals should be sent:
Number of copies
- In addition to the electronic copy, a paper version of the Proposal must be submitted along with four identical copies of the paper version of the Proposal. The paper versions must be clipped, not stapled.
Closing time for Proposals
- The paper versions of the Proposal for Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects must be received by the ARC, and the electronic Proposal form must be submitted, by 5:00 pm (AEST) Friday, 29 September 2006. Proposals may be withdrawn but additions, deletions and modifications will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC. Subject to this subsection, Proposals received after 5:00 pm (AEST) Friday, 29 September 2006 will not be accepted. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, and only in exceptional circumstances, accept late Proposals.
  - Selection and approval process
  - Selection criteria
All Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects Proposals which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using the following criteria:
- Assessment and selection procedure
Assessment and Selection Process
- Assessment of Proposals is undertaken by the ARC, which has the right to make decisions and recommendations solely on the basis of its expertise, and which may:
- The ARC College of Experts may assist with the assessment of Proposals. The ARC has procedures for managing organisational and personal conflicts of interest experienced by members of the College of Experts, members of other ARC Committees, ARC members, and other assessors, and for enabling individuals to withdraw from the assessment process for particular Proposals where any actual or perceived conflict may exist.
- The ARC reserves the right to negotiate amendments to a Proposal where it believes the Proposal or project outcomes will be improved by such changes. An Administering Organisation is not obliged to accept amendments, but the ARC may decline to recommend funding assistance, notwithstanding whether or not amendments are made.
Exclusion of Proposals
- The ARC will not recommend for approval, and the Minister will not approve for funding, any Proposal that fails to satisfy the “eligibility criteria” set out in these Funding Rules, including:
- The ARC may in its absolute discretion decide not to recommend for approval a Proposal if:
Assessment
- In addition to assessment by the ARC, a Proposal may at the ARC’s absolute discretion be assessed by external assessors. Assessors may be drawn from a range of organisations to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest. Proposals will be assessed against the selection criteria set out in these Funding Rules and the reports by the assessors may include written comment.
- The ARC reserves the right to make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments or solely on the assessment of the ARC.
- Administering Organisations may name any person or persons whom they do not wish to assess a Proposal. Detailed written justification must be submitted through the Administering Organisation’s Research Office in a separate letter which must not accompany the Proposal. The letter must be received by the ARC by the closing time for Proposals, 5:00 pm (AEST) Friday, 29 September 2006, and be sent to:
  - Offer of funding
Administering Organisations whose Proposals are approved will be:
- Appeals process
Appeals will be considered only against administrative process issues and not, for example, against committee recommendations or assessor ratings and comments.
Appeals must be addressed to:
- Administration of funding
- Funding Agreement
All parties involved in a Proposal should familiarise themselves with the draft Funding Agreement, but only the Administering Organisation and the ARC will be parties to this agreement. Parties involved in a funded project must accept the terms of the Funding Agreement and the Administering Organisation must sign the Funding Agreement before the ARC will commence payments.
Projects must commence as required by the Funding Agreement. Failure to do so may result in termination of the Funding Agreement.
Varying the Funding Agreement
Varying the Funding Approval
- Requests to vary the Funding Approval must be forwarded in writing by the Administering Organisation’s Research Office to the ARC.
- The Funding Approval may be varied by varying the amount of financial assistance, the duration of financial assistance, the name of the person leading the research project and/or the name of the organisation receiving financial assistance.
- The Minister may vary the Funding Approval where:
  - Reports
Administering Organisations are required to submit reports to the ARC concerning funded projects, in the format and by the due dates detailed in the Funding Agreement.
- Other matters
- Applicable law
The ARC is required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
- Confidentiality
The ARC will treat information contained in a Proposal as confidential. However, the ARC may disclose information contained in a Proposal, or otherwise provided to the ARC, to the extent that the information:
Where information contained in a Proposal is made available to third parties for evaluation or assessment purposes the ARC will require the third parties to maintain the confidentiality of the material.
- Project description
In making public information about a Proposal which has been approved for funding, the ARC may use a project description, including title and summary, which may differ from that provided in the Proposal.
- Intellectual property
The ARC does not claim ownership of any intellectual property in a Proposal or which is created or developed from the conduct of a project funded under Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects.
However, all Proposals become the property of the ARC on submission. Administering Organisations submit their Proposals on the basis that the ARC may copy, modify and otherwise deal with information contained in a Proposal (and allow any external assessor or other third party to do the same) for any purpose related to:
If a Proposal contains information belonging to a third party, the Administering Organisation must ensure that it has in place all necessary consents to allow the ARC to deal with that information in accordance with these Funding Rules, prior to the Administering Organisation’s submitting its Proposal.
- Incomplete or misleading information
It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information to the Commonwealth.
If the ARC considers that a Proposal is incomplete, inaccurate or contains false or misleading information, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval. If an Administering Organisation and/or researcher nominated in a Proposal as a LCI or PI provides the ARC incomplete, false or misleading information in relation to either the Proposal for, or reporting of progress of, a project the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval or terminate the project if funded and require the Administering Organisation to repay some or all of the funding.
If the ARC believes that omissions, or inclusion of false or misleading information, are intentional, or if there is evidence of malpractice, the ARC may refer the matter for investigation with a view to prosecution under Commonwealth criminal law. The Commonwealth is committed to protecting its revenue, expenditure and property from any attempt by members of the public, contractors, sub-contractors, agents, intermediaries or its own employees, to gain financial or other benefits by deceit.
Examples of malpractice include, but are not restricted to:
- Insurance and liabilities

Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007

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