National Homelessness Research Projects: Application Guidelines: 2009-10 Funding Round

Table of contents

Any personal information you provide is protected under the Privacy Act 1988. The information provided in your funding application will be used for the purpose of the National Homelessness Research Projects and may be considered as part of any future funding application or business dealings you may have with FaHCSIA. The department will not release any personal or business information to any individual or organisation unless required by privacy law or you provide consent.

Applications

Applications must be lodged at:

Tender Box
FaHCSIA/RFT 09/681 - National Homelessness Research Projects
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Module B Reception
Tuggeranong Office Park
Athllon Drive
Tuggeranong ACT  2900

by the Closing Date specified above.

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National Relay Service (NRS)

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the NRS to contact any of the Department's listed phone numbers. To access a 1800 FaHCSIA number NRS users should phone 1800 555 677 or visit the NRS Website.

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Section 2 - Selection Process

All Applicants are required to submit an application in the form of the application form and include all information requested on the form. A separate Application Form is required for each project proposal.

Following the application Closing Date, the Department will conduct an assessment of all applications.

To enable a comprehensive and accurate assessment of applications against the Selection Criteria, applicants must provide the information required in the format, and to the extent specified in the Application Guidelines and Application Form.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) will assess applicants for funding primarily on the basis of the information provided in the Application Form, including the Research Project Proposal template. FaHCSIA may use information about an applicant that is, or becomes known to FaHCSIA in the course of FaHCSIA's business, as well as any publicly available information.

Decisions on the parameters and methodology for assessment of applications will be final.

2.1 Principle

The overriding principle guiding the Selection Process is value in social service delivery (see Section 4 Glossary) to the Australian Government. The funding principles outlined in the National Homelessness Research Agenda 2009-2013 will also guide the selection process.

2.2 Process

The process will be an open competitive selection process.

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2.3 Stages in the Assessment Process

The following stages will be used in the assessment process:

Stage 1 - Receipt and registration of applications, initial screening for compliance;

Stage 2 - Assessment of applications against the Selection Criteria;

Stage 3 - Financial Viability Assessment;

Stage 4 - Selection of Preferred Applicant/s; and

Stage 5 - Negotiation of Agreement of Funding.

Stage 1 - Receipt and Registration of Applications, Initial Screening for Compliance

Following the receipt and registration of applications, there will be an initial screening of applications to ensure:

  • eligibility of organisations;
  • applicants comply with the terms and conditions detailed in the Application Guidelines and Application Form; and
  • complete information has been provided in the Application Form to enable a fully informed assessment to be made.

Stage 2 - Assessment of applications against selection criteria

Assessment Teams will assess applications primarily on the information provided in the Application Form and will consider the applicant's response to each Selection Criterion against a 6-point (0 to 5) scale (see Table below). During this process nominated referees may be contacted to support claims against the Selection Criteria.

FaHCSIA may use information about an applicant that is, or becomes known to FaHCSIA in the course of FaHCSIA's business, as well as any publicly available information.

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Table 1: Six-point rating scale for selection criteria
Rating Score
Excellent quality-excellent claims against the criterion, exceeds expectations, supporting information confirms consistent superior performance 5
Very good quality-very good claims against the criterion, meets all expectations to a high standard with complete and comprehensive supporting information 4
Good quality-good claims against the criterion, meets all expectations with convincing supporting information 3
Satisfactory quality-adequate claims against the criterion, mostly meets expectations, but may be lacking detail and/or supporting information 2
Marginal or poor quality-poor claims against the criterion, does not meet expectations, has deficient supporting information 1
Does not meet criterion at all 0

Stage 3 - Financial Viability Assessments

Applications will be subject to Financial Viability Assessments.

Note: The Department may not fund applicants that are assessed as high-risk in terms of Financial Viability.

Information required from applicants for the Financial Viability Assessment is gathered via the information requested in Part 4 of the Application Form for Homelessness Research Projects.

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Stage 4 - Selection of Preferred Applicants

Following assessment against the Selection Criteria, and consideration of the Financial Viability Assessment, the Department will prepare a list of preferred applicants which represents the best value for money.

Value for money is a comprehensive assessment that takes into account both cost represented by an assessment of price and an assessment of risks to the successful delivery of the project given the management approaches and experience of the applicant.

The assessment of price will be based on the completed application. The Department will undertake an assessment of price to evaluate the total cost to the Department of implementing and supporting each applicant's proposed research project.

The Department's decision relating to Successful Applicants will be finalised when the Minister or his/her Delegate indicate their acceptance of the final list of successful applicants.

Stage 5 - Entering into Funding Agreements

Successful applicants are then invited to enter into Funding Agreements with the Department. The Funding Agreement will contain the entire agreement between the parties. There is no binding agreement on any parties until the Funding Agreement is agreed to and signed by the Delegate and the applicant's Authorised Representative.

The Funding Agreement is the legal agreement between the Department and the service provider over the funding period. In managing funding provided, the service provider must comply with all the requirements of the Funding Agreement.

Funded service providers are responsible for ensuring that:

  • the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement are met;
  • service provision is effective, efficient, and appropriately targeted;
  • highest standards of duty of care are applied; and
  • services are operated in line with, and comply with the requirements as set out within all State and Territory and Commonwealth legislation and regulations.

Unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback on their application.

Any or none of the applications under this selection process may be accepted.

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Section 4 - Glossary

Applicant
Means an organisation that submits an application. Individuals are not eligible to apply for Homelessness Research Projects funding.

Application
Means the application for funding submitted by an applicant. The application must be filled out in accordance with the requirements in the Application Guidelines, on a prescribed Application Form and submitted by the Closing Date (see page 2).

Application Form
Means the Application Form made available to applicants to submit an application for funding. The application must be submitted in accordance with the instructions on Page 2.

Application Guidelines
Mean these Application Guidelines accessed by organisations interested in submitting an application for funding.

Application Pack
Means the material made available by the Department for applicants to help ensure applicants understand their requirements for submitting a completed Application Form by the closing date. The Application Pack consists of the Application Guidelines, Application Form and Funding Agreement. Other information may also be included on a program-by-program basis.

Application Period
Means the period for applicants to complete and submit their Application Forms. It commences from the time the Funding Round is advertised and Application Packs are made available and finishes on the Closing Date for submitting Applications. During this period the Department will only respond to requests for information that seek clarification of issues or material that allow them to better understand the requirements of the: National Homelessness Research Guidelines, Application Guidelines, Application Form and the Terms and Conditions - Standard Funding Agreement.

Closing Date

The Closing Date is that date beyond which applications will not be accepted. For details see Important Information on Page 2.

Commercial-In-Confidence
Means information in the Application Form that the applicant clearly identifies as confidential and is not information that is:

a) in the public domain; or

b) already known to the Department other than through an obligation of confidence.

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Consortium
FaHCSIA will only contract with individual providers. Applicants may determine that efficient or effective service delivery is best achieved through the use of a network of providers through a sub-contracting arrangement. This can be recorded in responses to the Selection Criteria. A successful provider who utilizes an authorised sub-contracting arrangement will be held liable for all obligations contained in the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement. This includes monitoring, management, financial performance, service outcomes, and specifically insurance coverage.

Decision Maker
The Minister or his/her delegate will approve all projects and successful applicants, with reference to a report on the Selection Process outcomes provided by the Department.

Department (the)
Means the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Funding Agreement
The Funding Agreement is the agreement that is signed by the Departmental Delegate and the Applicant's Authorised Representative. The Department's standard Funding Agreements are performance based, legally enforceable agreements between the Commonwealth and the funding recipients that set out the terms and conditions governing the funding. Funding Agreements are used where the Department is providing funding to another party to deliver services or undertake certain activities, on behalf of the Department, to the community.

Selection Criteria
Means the Selection Criteria for assessing applications as outlined in the National Homelessness Research Projects Application Guidelines

Selection Process
Means the process for the selection of funding recipients outlined in the Application Guidelines and the Application Form.

Successful Applicant
The Selection Process will result in a short list of preferred applicants. The short list will be forwarded to the Decision Maker for their consideration. Successful applicants will be advised of their success or otherwise. The decision by the Department regarding successful applicants is final.

Value in Social Services Delivery
Value in Social Services Delivery is the optimum combination of quality and cost with minimal risk to the Australian Government. The Department seeks best Value in Social Service Delivery. Best value does not mean monetary value alone or lowest cost. A funding proposal that represents best value for the program will:

  • meet the objectives of the department - such as strong and resilient communities,
  • meet the aims of the program,
  • meet community requirements, and
  • be delivered in an efficient and effective way.
Content Updated: 8 March 2013