Effective In In Access to Funding

    ANAO Report No.11 2014–15 The Award of Grants under the Clean Technology Program 75  did not identify whether the application was eligible and complete for 27 applications 13 applications were approved, 12 were not approved and two were withdrawn following eligibility assessment;  were marked ineligible andor incomplete for 18 applications that proceeded to merit assessment 10 applications were approved and eight were not approved; and  were marked eligible and complete for three applications that were assessed as being ineligible.

3.8 These

errors occurred despite the department developing a procedure that each eligibility checklist be reviewed by a more senior official from AusIndustry’s State Office Network.

3.9 Following

the eligibility assessment process, the department’s procedures required that applicants be provided with written advice that their application was either: ineligible; incomplete; or eligible. Given the potential for applicants to revise andor resubmit applications at any time, it was important for accurate feedback to be provided in correspondence for ineligible and incomplete applications. In this respect, the applicant for each of the 61 applications assessed as ineligible received a letter advising them of the reasons why their application was ineligible. Approach taken to incomplete applications

3.10 Determining

whether additional information will be sought or accepted from applicants to assist in the assessment process should be based upon appropriate consideration that weighs any risks to maintaining equity and probity against the need to ensure funding decisions are appropriately informed. 87 While the department adopted an application process that allowed applicants to submit applications at any time, the customer guidelines for the programs identified that incomplete applications would not be assessed, noting: Your application is the sole source of information available to AusIndustry for the assessment of the eligibility and merit of your application. No further written or oral explanation, or further documentation, should be required. Before you submit an application, check to ensure all information is complete and accurate. An application that is incomplete will not be assessed. 87 ANAO Better Practice Guide, Implementing Better Practice Grants Administration, June 2010, p. 47. ANAO Report No.11 2014–15 The Award of Grants under the Clean Technology Program