Application Guidelines

Eligibility

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grants Program has limited funds and competition for these funds is high. To be eligible for an AMMC Grant, projects should contribute to the AMMC research priorities. These research priorities demonstrate the need to focus on applied questions relevant to conservation management. Applicants must ensure that conservation managers will be able to use their research to minimise negative consequences of interactions between humans and marine mammals.

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grants Program is open to both public and private bodies and individuals. The Program is open to state government departments. Commonwealth bodies are eligible to apply for funding, however, under the 2009 Commonwealth Grant Guidelines, only Commonwealth bodies under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (CAC) Act 1997 are eligible to receive grant funds.

Students (including PhD candidates) are excluded from being a chief investigator on applications, however, can be listed as co-investigators.

Application Form

All applications should be submitted by hard copy and one electronic copy in Word using the downloadable Application Form. Electronic copies are to be forwarded to the address on the Application Form. Please do not forward scanned Word documents.

The submission, examination and evaluation of research applications is time consuming for applicants, referees and assessment committee members, but it is essential.

Please adhere to the format for each question as indicated in the Application Form and provide all applicable information.

Closing Date

Applications are to be submitted electronically by 29 January 2010.

Due to current legal uncertainty regarding the use of digital signatures, applicants need to print a copy of the Application Form and ensure it is signed by ALL Investigators on the project. Certifications must be delivered to the Coordinator AMMC no later than 5 February 2010. Applications without signed certifications will NOT be accepted for assessment.

Period of Funding

Funding for the 2010 round will be considered for periods between 1 and 3 years. It is important to note that commitments of funding for multiple years will limit future funds available for new projects. The AMMC will endeavour to ensure that no greater than 40% of funding in forward years is allocated against multi-year funding. It is anticipated that the grant scheme will have a total value of approximately $1,000,000 for the 2010/11 year.

The amount of funding awarded to individual projects is based on quality and is not limited to a specified amount. Funding to date has been awarded for one year projects and therefore the amounts awarded are smaller than what may be awarded for multi-year projects.

Examples of funds previously awarded are:
• 2007/08 - $785,578 to 11 projects with funding ranging from $25,900 to $177,750 per project
• 2008/9 – $782,495 to 14 projects with funding ranging from $19,250 to $120,805 per project

Completion of Budget Request

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grant application and supporting information must be completed as follows.

Costing

Costs should be based on current market values, expressed in whole Australian dollars, and should be inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST) where applicable. If costs are based on formal quotations please provide summary figures. Do not send quotation documents. Once a grant is approved it is not possible to provide any additional funds for that financial year, ie. for salary or equipment cost increases.

Proponents must demonstrate that the project does not solely rely on Australian government funding. Co-investment is looked upon favourably during the assessment process.

Ineligible Expenses

Funds will not be granted for

  • organisation overheads or administration fees
  • consulting fees or honoraria paid to the Chief Investigator in addition to normal salary
  • the hire of computer time on a computer within the applicant's own organisation, or
  • attendance and/or presentations at conferences or workshops

Justification

You must provide a detailed justification for all items requested together with accurate costs. Failure to provide sufficient justification will jeopardise the success of your grant application. Applicants must NOT simply provide a list of itemised costs. Your justification should demonstrate the relevance of all requested items to the scientific and operational scope of your project. Summarise why each person or equipment item is essential for the successful execution of your project.

For example, for travel and accommodation, summarise why the travel is necessary and provide the type or class of travel, number of nights of accommodation and associated living costs. For research and technical personnel costs, provide the basis of payment such as local industrial awards or professional salary scales. Funds for personnel must be fully justified in terms of the nominated person's expertise and experience and the role they will play in creating successful project outcomes. For major equipment items or consumables summarise how the items will be used.

Funds may be requested for payment of an external auditor to meet the requirements of clause 9 of the sample Funding Agreement. Detail any funds requested from, or committed by, any other source and indicate if the acquisition of any item is contingent on contributions from a third party.

Project Personnel

General

Applicants must be able to provide evidence of relevant research experience of a high order.

All investigators need to submit a CV (limited to one page only), outlining experience and history relevant to the proposal and the last five years of publications (B, B1 & C1, including grey literature).

Applicants may request Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grant funding to pay all or part of the salary of personnel involved in their research project, although funding will not be considered for personnel in receipt of a salary from government departments or instruments.

Salary will only be funded for that portion of time for which personnel are engaged in work for the particular project (eg. a technical officer spends 2 days a week engaged in work relating to the project in question, so funds for 40% of annual salary are sought).

Grants sought to fund a research/technical support position should show the official designation of the position and provide justification for the classification sought. Local practice is to be followed in respect of salary classifications and levels. Funds for part-time or short-term appointment may also be requested.

Salaries requested at consultancy rates must be clearly justified. If the person seeking a salary works for a University then the salary sought should be the salary received from the University. For each position requested the budget should show separately the actual salary of the position and the organisation's allowance for salary on-costs (worker's compensation insurance, payroll tax, leave loading, service allowances, etc).
A letter from the relevant organisation should be included with the application confirming the actual salary. Please note that salary on-costs will not be paid above the level determined by the Australian Research Council, approximately 28% of salary.

Salaries should be adjusted for inflation. The scheme does not automatically fund salary increases through promoti

Assistance

Personnel engaged in research/technical support roles are expected to provide more general services in furthering the project. Support positions can include data programming, data preparation, technical assistance and research assistance.

Organisational Support

The chief investigator must nominate an organisation to administer the grant and to provide basic support, such as suitably equipped accommodation and office services, workshop support, and adequate computer time. The nominated organisation must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN). Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grants are subject to the Goods & Services Tax (GST).

Each application must be endorsed by the designated head of an organisation, certifying that basic facilities are available and that the audit requirements of the grant contract can be fulfilled. The Chief Investigator does not need to be an employee of the organisation, but the organisation must take responsibility as the employer of any personnel whose salaries are provided by an Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grant. When it is not clear from the organisation's title or investigator's position, the relationship of the Chief Investigator to the endorsing organisation should be explained.

All organisations submitting an application may be assessed for financial viability on the basis of information provided with the applications. This process is used to minimise risk to the Commonwealth and is not used to measure the profitability of an organisation nor its potential for success in the employment and related services market.

Grants correspondence should be between the responsible officer of the organisation and the Australian Marine Mammal Centre Coordinator.

Sample Funding Agreement

Successful applicants will be required to sign a Funding Agreement. This agreement will cover the project budget, financial and performance reporting and acquittal, intellectual property, assets and data requirements.

A link to the Sample Funding Agreement is given to inform applicants of standard clauses.

Checklist

Some clauses particularly to note are:

  • Clause 1 Interpretation Approved Auditor
  • Clause 6 Organisations Contributions And Other Contributions
  • Clause 9.2(e) Reporting
  • Clause 12 Intellectual Property

Confidentiality

Applicant names and funding amounts will be announced for successful applications. This includes parties to successful applications of AMMC Grants.  The Department may publish, release or otherwise disclose the names of recipients of grants under this program, their region, the amount granted and the purpose for which the funds were granted. Information on individual grants will be published on the Department’s website immediately after the funding agreement takes effect.