We use this process to assess funding applications. It may differ between programs – for specific details, please refer to the program guidelines for the relevant program.
1. Expression of interest (EOI) eligibility/completeness assessment
When ARENA receives an EOI, we check it to ensure all necessary details are complete and attachments are provided.
We also check whether the EOI meets the eligibility requirements detailed in the relevant program guidelines.
We may seek further information from the applicant to clarify details or, in some cases, return the EOI without assessment if it is not sufficiently complete for the proposal to be assessed.
In some cases, ARENA also has the right to refuse to assess an application if it:
- has twice previously failed to pass the ARENA assessment process or
- does not, in our opinion, take into account any feedback from ARENA to the applicant that would have helped to improve the application.
ARENA has the ability to waive the expression of interest stage for particular proposals at its absolute discretion. Details for each program are outlined in the relevant program guidelines.
The expression of interest stage is not required under the Advancing Renewables Program for desktop studies and analysis or proposals seeking less than $500,000.
EOI merit assessment
We then assess the EOI against the merit criteria, which are provided in the relevant program guidelines.
If an EOI is seeking in excess of $500,000 of ARENA funding, the merit assessment will be undertaken by the ARENA Advisory Panel in its role as advisor to ARENA.
Applications that satisfy the merit criteria to a high standard may be invited to submit a full application.
2. Full application
If invited by ARENA to do so, applicants can prepare a full application.
It’s important not to proceed to this step until an applicant has been invited by ARENA.
With the exception of competitive programs, ARENA is available to help applicants prepare their full application. For all programs ARENA can answer any questions about the application process.
In some instances we may allocate a staff member to assist if the application involves larger or more complex proposals. This does not apply for competitive funding programs, such as the R&D Program or the Competitive Process within the Advancing Renewables Program.
Applicants submit their full application on ARENANet, our grants management system.
Eligibility/completeness assessment
Once ARENA has received the full application, we check it to ensure all necessary details are complete and attachments are provided.
We also check whether the application still meets the relevant eligibility requirements since the initial assessment at the expression of interest stage.
We may seek further information from the applicant to clarify details or, in some cases, return the application without assessment if it is not sufficiently complete for the proposal to be assessed.
In some cases, ARENA also has the right to refuse to assess an application if it does not, in our assessment, take into account any feedback from ARENA to the applicant that would have helped to improve the application.
Merit assessment
Then ARENA assesses the full application against the merit criteria, which are provided in the relevant program guidelines.
If an application is seeking in excess of $500,000 in ARENA funding, the merit assessment will be undertaken by the ARENA Advisory Panel in its role as advisor to ARENA.
Part of the merit assessment may involve ARENA:
- interviewing the applicant
- conducting due diligence by contacting state governments, other companies and organisations or other relevant individuals
- engaging expert technical and financial due diligence advisers for advice and/or modelling
- where an application involves funding from a state government, discussing the application with the relevant state government
- even if a full application satisfies the merit criteria to a high standard, ARENA still reserves the right to not support the proposal if it is similar to a project that has been previously funded or that ARENA is intending to fund, or if it does not align with ARENA’s General Funding Strategy and Investment Plan.
3. ARENA offer/negotiation process
If a full application satisfies the merit criteria to a high standard, ARENA then decides whether to offer funding support for the proposal.
Depending on the amount of funding being sought, either ARENA’s Board or CEO is responsible for funding approvals.
Even if a full application satisfies the merit criteria to a high standard, ARENA still reserves the right to not support the proposal if it does not align with ARENA’s General Funding Strategy and Investment Plan.
Once the decision is made, ARENA notifies applicants of the outcome in writing, including reasons. ARENA may offer feedback on the reasons for the decision.
Successful applicants typically have 60 days to negotiate a funding agreement with ARENA.