For any questions that are not listed below, please contact pvcresin@unsw.edu.au
As with the previous two rounds, the financial impacts of Covid-19 has reduced the budget for the 2022 round of the Research Infrastructure Scheme. For this reason, there will be no budget available for new Network Lab projects. Eligible existing and active Network Labs may apply for renewal of funding.
Additionally, your Faculty may run an internal EOI process during which they may stipulate a modification to the timeline or eligible items covered by the Scheme, to align with Faculty priorities. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, or have any questions at all, please contact your Faculty’s research office directly, or the PVC (Research Infrastructure) on pvcresin@unsw.edu.au.
It depends on whether your Faculty is running an internal EOI. This will be communicated to you by your Faculty. If unsure, please contact your Faculty’s research office directly, or the PVC (Research Infrastructure) on pvcresin@unsw.edu.au.
If you intend to submit a cross-Faculty application for the 2022 round, please contact your Faculty's research office, and copy in the PVCRI (pvcresin@unsw.edu.au) as soon as possible to discuss options.
No, projects are only considered as cross-Faculty/MWAC Infrastructure Projects if the requested funds are split over more than one Faculty and/or MWAC.
Success rates for the scheme are not available as they cannot be given accurately. Faculties might have different internal procedures, for example a call for EOI to select proposals for full applications, hence success rates are not representative.
For most Faculties, the deadline for submitting your application via our online portal is October 18, 2021. If your Faculty is running an EOI with a different timeline, please comply with their instructions.
The full list of key dates for the scheme together with guidelines, application forms, templates and other resources are available on the RIS website.
Yes, however exceptions apply under some circumstances*. For each individual item over $50,000 (excl. GST) three quotations obtained via Procurement's Request for Quote (RFQ) process is required. If your application is successful, you will still be able to choose the supplier you prefer regardless of potential cost savings, and you will not need to obtain a new quote, as quotes obtained via the RFQ process will be valid for 12 months.
Item under $50,000 (excl. GST) will only require 1 quote, an do not need to be obtained via the RFQ process**. Quotes are not required for items under $3,000 (excl. GST).
*Exceptions to this are general laboratory items listed in the UNSW Lab Equipment Panel. Items on this list have already gone through a negotiation process by Procurement, and will only require 1 quote (for items less than $350,000), and will not require an RFQ process**. Please refer to the UNSW Buying Guide for Lab/Workshop Supplies for more information.
**Although not required in under these circumstances, you can use the RFQ template to send a message to the supplier that you might be seeking other quotes (and increase your negotiation power) or to structure your request. However, if you prefer you can ask the supplier to submit their standard quote documentation (but you might not get some of the benefits outlined in the template.
You are strongly encouraged to use this template, as this will ensure suppliers are aware of the UNSW requirements that have to be met, and hence are able to set pricing accordingly. If awarded the funds, you might also be able to raise the Purchase Order based on this RFQ without the need for obtaining another quotation, since the RFQ template incorporates UNSW requirements and asks for a 12-month quotation validity.
Please refer to RFQ template linked on the RIS website for full instructions and exceptions.
You are encouraged to check that the infrastructure you are applying for does not already exist at UNSW. Information on the shared equipment available at UNSW, including a database to search for UNSW shared equipment, is available here.
As this database is currently still under development, the PVC (Research Infrastructure) is also reviewing applications for duplication.
If you have any specific concerns regarding duplication of infrastructure, please contact the PVCRI at pvcresin@unsw.edu.au
No, these types of projects are not intended to fund the establishment of a new lab or capital works. Network Labs aim to facilitate access to and use of already existing research equipment/infrastructure at UNSW by providing research support staff to operate this equipment/infrastructure, provide training, etc. As for any application under this scheme, there also has to be appropriate space already available to house the Network Lab. You cannot ask for space or building services works under this scheme.
Due to Covid-19, there will be no budget for new Network Lab applications for the 2022 round.
No, all applicants must be members of the academic staff of UNSW, and on the payroll of UNSW or have been formally appointed to UNSW according to established processes for Conjoint or Clinical appointments for Area Health Services or associated research institutions (refer to the guidelines for more details on eligibility criteria). However, if deemed of strategic value, collaborators external to UNSW can be mentioned in the application, for example under "strategic purpose of request" or "research programs/groups supported".
Yes, all funded Network Labs are expected to implement a cost recovery mechanism to at least partially recover their operating costs (e.g. visits by the service engineer, spare parts, maintenance, reagents). This might mean charging user fees in the form of hourly instrument charges or subscription fees etc. The PVC (Research Infrastructure) will help with setting up an appropriate mechanism for funded Labs. The intention is to keep cost recovery simple and non-onerous. The mechanism does not have to be fully refined at the application stage - the question on cost recovery mechanism in the application form simply aims to get the conversation started.
Since awards are announced late-November/Early December 2021, there will only be a narrow window between the announcement and the annual shutdown of the finance system. Realistically, it is not likely that a Purchase Order could be raised in 2021. Furthermore, the funds will only be released to successful applicants in January 2022.
Early release of funds may be considered only under certain circumstances. Please contact pvcresin@unsw.edu.au for more information.
Your first point of contact should be your Head of School/Centre and the General Manager or Infrastructure Manager of your faculty. Where new space allocation is involved, be aware that you will also require university-level approval.
All applications will require a site and services checklist to be signed off by the relevant authority in your School/Faculty/Unit: