NOW CLOSED*** Expressions of Interest ***NOW CLOSED

Background

Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL) was awarded a $10,000,000 Education Investment Fund grant in May 2009, with the grant to be paid to AAL from July 2011. AAL is currently negotiating the funding agreement for this grant with the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) and expects to sign such a funding agreement before 30th June 2010.

The funding agreement will include an investment plan which will provide details of the projects to be funded and the relationship of those projects to the advancement of Australia's national astronomy strategy.

AAL is seeking Expressions of Interest (EoI) which provide project proposals that will assist AAL develop this investment plan.

Available funding

AAL has $5,000,000 to allocate in each of 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years, and AAL can only seriously consider advancing EoIs whose requests fit within this funding limit and time interval. However, AAL will accept EoIs which do not fit within this funding limit or time interval for consideration should other funds become available.

Guidelines

EoI's should be less than five pages in length. If project plans and other materials exist these may be referenced. EIF funds may only be spent on creating or planning to create research infrastructure which will be useful to the Australian research community. Using the following headings, the EoI should describe:

• The proposed project - Including the project start and finish dates, who will be responsible for the project, what the project will create, and the science enabled by this creation.
• Project maturity - The level of maturity of the project, including any investment (financial or otherwise) in the project to-date.
• Project cost estimate - Including the basis of the cost estimate, uncertainty in the cost estimate, and risk mitigation if actual cost over-runs budget. Where the project is seeking only partial funding from AAL, confirm how the project will receive the rest of its funding.
• Partnerships - The firmness of any required partnerships (financial or otherwise) and an assessment of the risk of these partnership arrangements.
• Decadal Plan and AAL Roadmap - How the project would advance Australian astronomy in the context of the Decadal Plan and/or the AAL Roadmap.
• Scientific supporters - A listing of Australian-based scientists who believe this facility would promote their scientific research with a short sentence explaining their interest (this is not included within the 5 page limit).

Timeline

• 10th December 2009: Final day for submission of EoI (to mark.mcauley -at- astronomyaustralia.org.au).
• 21st December 2009: EoIs short-listed and feedback provided. (Selected EoIs advised on requirements for next stage.)
• 1st February 2010: Skeleton investment plan produced.
• 26th February 2010: Draft investment plan submitted to DIISR for approval.

Contact

Mark McAuley, Chief Operating Officer
T: 03 9214 8036
F: 03 9214 4396
E: mark.mcauley -at- astronomyaustralia.org.au
P: P.O. Box 2100 Hawthorn VIC 3122