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Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines - PDF
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1 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines JULY 2014
2 Department of Finance (Governance and Resource Management) Copyright Notice Content Commonwealth of Australia 2014 ISBN: (printed) ISBN: (online) With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, any material protected by a trade mark, and where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence ( The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 3 AU licence. Use of the Coat of Arms The terms under which the Coat of Arms can be used are detailed on the following website: Content from this website should be attributed as the Department of Finance.
3 Foreword I am pleased to issue the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines under section 105C of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act Grants are widely used to achieve government policy objectives, involving the payment of billions of dollars each year to the non-government sector. Grants provide significant benefits to many Australians, through the Government working in partnership with individuals and organisations to deliver outcomes for the Australian public. The Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines establish the government s policy framework under which government entities undertake their own grants administration activities. These guidelines articulate the government s expectations for government entities involved in grants administration. The Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines establish the requirements and key principles that apply to all Commonwealth grants, whether one-off, low value grants or long-term, highvalue activities. Significantly, these guidelines provide flexibility for Ministers and government entities to develop and implement grants administration processes, in consultation with stakeholders that are best suited and proportional to the specific granting activities. The Government is committed to simplifying and improving grants processes both for government entities and grant recipients. The application of proportionality principles and appropriate risk management in grants administration, as reflected in these guidelines, is vital to ensuring that officials do not overburden grants applicants or recipients. In particular, these guidelines seek to reduce inappropriate and duplicative reporting and encourage the use of longer term grant agreements, where appropriate. I commend the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines to all those in the Australian Government involved in grants administration. Mathias Cormann Minister for Finance
4 Contents Contents 2 Part 1 Mandatory Requirements 5 1 Purpose 5 2 Objectives and Scope 6 3 Resource Management Framework 9 4 Grants-specific Processes and Requirements 11 5 Public Reporting 14 Part 2 Guidance on Key Principles 15 6 Key Principles for Grants Administration 15 7 Robust Planning and Design 16 8 Collaboration and Partnership 19 9 Proportionality An Outcomes Orientation Achieving Value with Relevant Money Governance and Accountability Probity and Transparency 34 Acronyms 38 Glossary 39
5 Part 1 Mandatory Requirements 1 Purpose 1.1 The Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines (CGRGs) are issued by the Finance Minister under section 105C of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). 1.2 The CGRGs establish the overarching Commonwealth grants policy framework and articulate the expectations for all non-corporate Commonwealth entities 1 in relation to grants administration. Under this overarching framework, non-corporate Commonwealth entities develop their own specific grants administration practices based on the mandatory requirements and principles of grants administration in the CGRGs. 1.3 The CGRGs contain a small number of requirements that apply to Ministers. 2 These include grants-specific decision-making and reporting requirements, in addition to the legislative requirements that apply where a Minister approves proposed expenditure. 1.4 The CGRGs are divided into two parts. Part 1 contains mandatory requirements. Part 2 further explains how entities should apply the seven principles of grants administration. Obligations that must be complied with are denoted by the use of the term must in the CGRGs. The use of the term should in the CGRGs denotes better practice. 1.5 The combination of mandatory requirements and better practice guidance in the CGRGs provides accountable authorities 3 and officials with the flexibility to design and administer granting activities (including grant programmes) to meet a range of government outcomes and to work together with stakeholders, such as industry, small business and the not-forprofit sector, to achieve government policy objectives. 1 Corporate Commonwealth entities are generally not subject to the CGRGs. However, the CGRGs apply to third parties, including members of advisory committees, non-government organisations and corporate Commonwealth entities, where they undertake grants administration on behalf of the Commonwealth. 2 Ministers include Parliamentary Secretaries, consistent with the Ministers of State Act Every Commonwealth entity has an accountable authority. See subsection 12(2) of the PGPA Act. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 5
6 2 Objectives and Scope Objectives of grants administration 2.1 The objective of grants administration is to promote proper use and management of public resources through collaboration with the non-government sector to achieve government policy outcomes. 2.2 This objective is supported by: a. the legislative, policy and reporting framework for grants administration set out in Part 1 of the CGRGs; b. the seven key principles for better practice grants administration, discussed in Part 2 of the CGRGs: robust planning and design; collaboration and partnership; proportionality; an outcomes orientation; achieving value with relevant money; governance and accountability; and probity and transparency; and c. the entity s specific grants administration practices. Scope of the CGRGs 2.3 For the purposes of the CGRGs, a grant is an arrangement for the provision of financial assistance by the Commonwealth or on behalf of the Commonwealth: a. under which relevant money 4 or other CRF money 5 is to be paid to a recipient 6 other than the Commonwealth; and b. which is intended to assist the recipient achieve its goals; and c. which is intended to help address one or more of the Australian Government s policy objectives 7 ; and d. under which the recipient may be required to act in accordance with specified terms or conditions. 2.4 Granting activities can take a variety of forms, including payments made: as a result of competitive or non-competitive selection processes; where particular criteria are satisfied; or on a one-off or ad hoc basis. 8 The CGRGs apply to all forms of granting activity. 2.5 For the purposes of the CGRGs the following financial arrangements are taken not to be grants: 9 a. the procurement of property or services by an entity, including the procurement of the delivery of a service by a third party on behalf of an entity, these arrangements are covered by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs); 10 b an act of grace payment approved under section 65 of the PGPA Act; c. a payment of compensation made under: i) an arrangement relating to defective administration; or 4 Relevant money is defined in section 8 of the PGPA Act. 5 Other CRF money is defined in section 105 of the PGPA Act. 6 Notional payments and receipts by entities within the meaning of section 76 of the PGPA Act are not grants. 7 In an accounting sense, a grant is a non-exchange transaction, as government does not directly receive approximately equal economic value directly in return. 8 A one-off or ad hoc grant generally does not involve planned selection processes, but is instead designed to meet a specific need, often due to urgency or other circumstances. These grants are generally not available to a range of applicants or on an ongoing basis. 9 A gift of public property is not a grant as described in the CGRGs. See section 66 of the PGPA Act. 10 The CPRs provides that, in addition to the acquisition of property or services by an entity for its own use, procurement also encompasses a situation where an entity is responsible for the procurement of property or services for other entities, or for third parties. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 6
7 ii) an arrangement relating to employment conditions; or iii) an arrangement established by legislation; 11 d. a payment to a person of a benefit or an entitlement established by legislation; e. a tax concession or offset; f. an investment or loan; 12 g. financial assistance provided to a State in accordance with section 96 of the Australian Constitution; h. a payment to a State or a Territory that is made for the purposes of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009; 13 i. a payment that is made for the purposes of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995; 14 j. a payment that is made for the purposes of the Schools Assistance Act 2008; 15 k. a payment that is made for the purposes of the Higher Education Support Act 2003; 16 and l. a payment of assistance for the purposes of Australia s international development assistance programme, which is treated by the Commonwealth as official development assistance Additional guidance on the range of financial arrangements referred to in paragraph 2.5 is available on the Finance website Grants administration encompasses all processes involved in granting activities, and includes: a. planning and design; b. selection and decision-making; c. the making of a grant; d. the management of grant agreements; e. the ongoing relationship with grants recipients; f. reporting; and g. review and evaluation. 11 A payment of compensation includes, but is not limited to: payments under the Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration; payments under section 73 (Payments in special circumstances) of the Public Service Act 1999; payments under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973; and settlements made in accordance with the Legal Services Directions Some forms of financial assistance provided by way of concessional loans may be subject to the CGRGs. 13 These payments include General Revenue Assistance, Other General Revenue Assistance, National Specific Purpose Payments, and National Partnership Payments. Other forms of financial assistance made to States and Territories may be subject to the CGRGs. For further information on the Federal Financial Relations Framework see 14 Other forms of financial assistance made to local government may be subject to the CGRGs. 15 Other forms of financial assistance made to educational institutions may be subject to the CGRGs. 16 ibid. 17 The Commonwealth has regard to the definition of official development assistance that the OECD has set out in its Development Assistance Committee Statistical Reporting Directives, available on the OECD s website. 18 See Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 7
8 2.8 The CGRGs apply to grants administration performed by: a. Ministers; b. accountable authorities; c. officials; and d. third parties who undertake grants administration on behalf of the Commonwealth. 19 Entity guidance 2.9 Several types of documents establish and support the overarching Commonwealth grants policy framework: a. the CGRGs; b. finance guidance, which provide more detailed better practice information on how to apply the resource management framework, including the grants policy framework; c. guidance documents developed by Finance or other entities, such as relevant Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) better practice guides; d. tools and templates issued by Finance to assist entities to implement the grants policy framework, such as the low-risk grant agreement template 20 ; and e. overarching whole-of-government documents that are relevant to grants administration. 19 Third parties, including advisory committees, non-government organisations and corporate Commonwealth entities, are required to adhere to applicable requirements of the CGRGs, where they undertake grants administration on behalf of the Commonwealth. Where a committee assesses applicants against particular criteria, or recommends supporting particular projects or distributing relevant money to particular applicants, committee or panel members should be treated as officials for the purposes of the CGRGs. 20 See the finance website for the low-risk grant agreement template at Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 8
9 3 Resource Management Framework 3.1 Ministers, accountable authorities and officials operate within an environment of legislation and government policy. Within this broad context, the resource management framework consists of the legislation, policy and guidance governing the management of public resources. 3.2 The resource management framework contains an overarching requirement that accountable authorities must govern entities in a way that promotes proper use and management of public resources. In managing the affairs of the entity, accountable authorities must comply with the Constitution, the PGPA Act, rules and any other relevant law. In addition, accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities must govern the entity in a way that is not inconsistent with the policies of the Australian Government Ministers must also comply with the relevant legislative requirements in the PGPA Act and the CGRGs. Officials must advise their Ministers on these requirements. 22 Key resource management legislative requirements 3.4 The PGPA Act and rules provide the overarching accountability framework for grants administration. Accountable authorities and officials must consider their obligations under the PGPA Act when undertaking grants administration. 23 Internal guidelines, operational guidance and grant guidelines must be consistent with these requirements, while including any additional entity specific processes Section 15 of the PGPA Act provides that an accountable authority must govern the affairs of the entity in a way that promotes proper use and management of public resources for which the accountable authority is responsible. When used in relation to the use or management of public resources proper means efficient, effective, economical and ethical. a. Section 15 is an overarching requirement applying to all aspects of an entity s resource management, including grants administration. b. Accountable authorities mainly discharge their responsibility under section 15 by ensuring that their entity has appropriate policies, procedures, guidelines and internal controls in place. Entities determine their specific practices and procedures for grants administration, proportionate to the activity and provided they are consistent with the resource management framework and CGRGs. c. Accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities are required to manage within the context of the Australian Government s policy framework. The CGRGs are the core policy of the Australian Government relating to grants administration. Other policies which may be relevant for grants administration are discussed later in the CGRGs. 3.6 Before entering into an arrangement 25 for the proposed commitment of relevant money there must be legal authority to support the arrangement. 21 See section 21 of the PGPA Act. 22 In addition to the requirements of the CGRGs, accountable authorities have a duty to keep their responsible Minister informed under section 19 of the PGPA Act. 23 Section 16 of the PGPA Act requires that the accountable authority of a Commonwealth entity must establish and maintain an appropriate system of risk oversight and management and an appropriate system of internal control for the entity. This includes by implementing measures directed at ensuring officials of the entity comply with finance law. 24 See for the most recent guidance. 25 Section 23(2) of the PGPA Act defines an arrangement and includes a contract, agreement, deed or understanding. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 9
10 3.7 The authority to enter into, vary or administer an arrangement can come from section 23 of the PGPA Act, section 32B of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (FFA Act) or other specific legislation. This authority may be delegated to officials to enable them to enter into, vary or administer an arrangement. 3.8 Where a commitment expenditure of relevant money relates to the ordinary services and functions of government 26, the authority to enter into, vary or administer an arrangement comes from section 23 of the PGPA Act. 3.9 Where the authority to enter into an arrangement is not contained in specific legislation and the arrangement does not relate to the ordinary services and functions of government, the authority to enter into the arrangement will need to come from section 32B of the FFA Act or through new or amended specific legislation. Section 32B provides the Commonwealth with the power to enter into, vary or administer an arrangement or a grant of financial assistance only if it is specified in Schedule 1AA or Schedule 1AB to the FMA Regulations. Schedule 1AA or Schedule 1AB may list a specific arrangement or grant of financial assistance, a class of arrangements or grants, or a programme under which an arrangement or grant is made In addition to the requirement for legal authority, accountable authorities and officials must also act in accordance with the PGPA Act and rules, including the CGRGs, in relation to the proposed expenditure of relevant money The PGPA rules require that where accountable authorities or officials approve a proposed commitment of relevant money, the approval must be recorded in writing as soon as practicable after the approval is given The PGPA Act and rules, including the CGRGs, include requirements that apply to Ministers. Officials must advise the relevant Minister on these requirements The PGPA Act requires that a Minister must not approve proposed expenditure of relevant money unless satisfied, after reasonable inquiries, that the expenditure would be a proper use of relevant money. 28 The terms of the approval must be recorded in writing as soon as practicable after the approval is given. Proper when used in relation to the use or management of public resources means efficient, effective, economical and ethical. 26 Ordinary services and functions of government means spending relating to the running costs of an entity, such as the payment of staff salaries or building rental. Generally, payments relating to the ordinary services and functions of government will come from departmental appropriations, however there can be situations where they are paid from administered appropriations. If you are unsure about whether an activity relates to the ordinary services or functions of government you should seek legal advice. 27 See rule 18 Approving commitments of relevant money. 28 See section 71 of the PGPA Act. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 10
11 4 Grants-specific Processes and Requirements 4.1 The grants policy framework is an important part of the resource management framework which provides for non-corporate Commonwealth entities to work together with the non-government sector to develop and deliver government policy outcomes. In addition to the requirements in the PGPA Act and rules, other grants-specific requirements apply to Ministers, accountable authorities and officials. Requirements for Accountable Authorities and Officials 4.2 Officials must establish and document whether a proposed activity is a grant prior to applying the CGRGs Accountable authorities and officials involved in grants administration must comply with government policies and legislation relevant to grants administration. 4.4 Officials must: a. develop grant guidelines for all new granting activities (including grant programmes), and revised guidelines where significant changes have been made to the current granting activity; 30 b. have regard to the seven key principles for grants administration; c. ensure that grant guidelines and related internal guidance are consistent with the CGRGs; and d. advise the relevant Minister on the relevant requirements of the PGPA Act and rules and the CGRGs, where a Minister is considering a proposed expenditure of relevant money for a grant. 4.5 Where an accountable authority or an official approves the proposed commitment of relevant money in relation to a grant, the accountable authority or official who approves it must record, in writing, the basis for the approval relative to the grant guidelines and key considerations of value with relevant money. 4.6 Officials must provide written advice to Ministers, where Ministers exercise the role of an approver. This advice must, at a minimum: a. explicitly state that the spending proposal being considered for approval is a grant ; b. provide information on the applicable requirements of the PGPA Act and rules and the CGRGs (particularly any ministerial reporting obligations), including the legal authority for the grant; c. outline the application and selection process, including the selection criteria, that were used to select potential grant recipients; and d. include the merits of the proposed grant or grants relative to the grant guidelines 31 and the key consideration of achieving value with relevant money Officials should consider the substantive purposes and characteristics of a financial arrangement to determine the nature of the financial arrangement. 30 Grant guidelines are required for all grants, including one-off or ad hoc grants. The format and complexity should be proportionate to the activity. A riskbased approach is in place for consideration of new or revised programme guidelines (including guidelines for granting activities). Officials involved in the development or revision of programme guidelines are required to complete a risk assessment of the granting activities and associated guidelines, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 This includes the requirement that a proposed grant be consistent with the policies of the Commonwealth, noting that these policies include the guidelines issued in respect to the relevant granting activity. In this context, the basis for recommending or rejecting each proposed grant should be set out in the assessment material for each grant and should reflect the particular merits of each project in terms of the grant guidelines (including assessment against the eligibility and assessment criteria). 32 It is better practice to include this information for any delegate exercising the role of an approver. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 11
12 4.7 While officials do not have to rank all grants when briefing ministers on the merits of a specific grant or group of grants, officials should, at a minimum, indicate: which grant applications fully meet the selection criteria; which applications partially meet the criteria; and which applications do not meet any of the criteria. Any specific recommendations regarding grant applications for approval can be in addition to this information. 4.8 Where a third party administers grants on behalf of the Commonwealth, the relevant accountable authority must ensure the arrangement is in writing and promotes the proper use and management of other CRF money. 33 In addition, the accountable authority must ensure the arrangement requires the third party to apply the CGRGs. 4.9 An overarching principle of the CGRGs is that accountable authorities and officials work together across government and with the non-government sector when undertaking grants administration. When determining what the acquittal or reporting requirements are, officials must have regard to information collected by Australian Government regulators and available to officials. Requirements for Ministers 4.10 Where a Minister approves proposed expenditure under section 71 of the PGPA Act, in relation to a grant or group of grants, the Minister must not approve the grant without first receiving written advice from officials on the merits of the proposed grant or group of grants. That advice must meet the requirements of the CGRGs (see paragraph 4.6) In addition, where the proposed expenditure of relevant money relates to a grant, the Minister who approves it must also record, in writing, the basis for the approval relative to the grant guidelines and key considerations of value with relevant money Ministers may approve grants within their own electorate. a. Where a Minister 34 (including a Parliamentary Secretary) approves a proposed grant in his/her own electorate, the Minister must write to the Finance Minister advising of the details. b. Where there is correspondence to the relevant grant recipient, a copy of this letter is sufficient, except in the circumstances outlined in paragraph 4.13(b). If there is no correspondence, Ministers must write to the Finance Minister advising of the decision as soon as practicable after it is made. c. There are two circumstances where grants awarded in a Minister s own electorate do not need to be reported. i. Senators do not need to report on grants they decide to award in their own state or territory; or ii. Where grants are awarded Australia-wide, state-wide, or across a region on the basis of a formula 35 by a Minister, and any of these grants falls in the relevant Minister s electorate, the Minister does not need to report to the Finance Minister Ministers may approve grants that are not recommended by the relevant officials. a. Ministers 36 (including Senators) must report annually to the Finance Minister on all instances where they have decided to approve a particular grant which the relevant 33 See rule 29 other CRF money. 34 Presiding officers of the Departments of the Parliament are not required to report to the Finance Minister. 35 For example, a targeted grants programme could provide that, subject to specific eligibility criteria being met, particular organisations across a region will be awarded a grant. 36 Presiding officers of the Departments of the Parliament are not required to report to the Finance Minister. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 12
13 official has recommended be rejected. The report must include a brief statement of reasons (i.e. the basis of the approval for each grant). The report must be provided to the Finance Minister by 31 March each year for the preceding calendar year. 37 b. If a decision relates to a Minister s own electorate (House of Representatives members only), the Minister must also include this information when writing to the Finance Minister in the context of the process outlined in paragraph Grant-connected policies 4.14 Grant-connected policies are whole-of-government policies of the Commonwealth for which grants have been identified as a means of assisting delivery. These policies have been explicitly approved by the Cabinet as applying to all Commonwealth grants. Additional guidance on the process to obtain approval for a grants-connected policy is available on the Finance website Many grant-connected policies are the responsibility of entities other than Finance. The policy entity is responsible for actively managing the policy, including providing advice on the application of the policy. 37 Additional guidance on the form of the report is available from the Finance website at 38 See Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 13
14 5 Public Reporting 5.1 Effective disclosure and reporting arrangements for grants administration is essential for reasons of transparency and public accountability. Reliable and timely information on grants awarded is a precondition for public and parliamentary confidence in the quality and integrity of grants administration. Web-based reporting requirements 5.2 Grant guidelines must be made publicly available (including on entity or whole-ofgovernment websites), except where there is a specific policy reason to not publicise the grant guidelines or grants are provided on a one-off or ad hoc basis. 5.3 An entity must publish, on its website, information on individual grants (as defined in paragraph 2.3) no later than fourteen working days after the grant agreement for the grant takes effect Entities must report all grants 40 awarded on their website. Once operational, entities must report on the whole-of-australian government register instead Officials must identify whether a grant agreement contains confidentiality provisions. 5.6 There may be circumstances where officials determine that public reporting of grants in accordance with the CGRGs is contrary to the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act), other statutory requirements, or the specific terms of a grant agreement. a. In these circumstances, the relevant officials must publish as much information as legally possible. For example, it may be possible to omit the name of the grant recipient and other personal information that may contravene the Privacy Act, but report other grant details. b. The reasons for not reporting fully must be documented by officials. c. Officials should also take all reasonable steps to ensure that future grant agreements contain provisions that do not prevent the disclosure of information. 5.7 Where officials assess that publishing grant information in accordance with the CGRGs could adversely affect the achievement of government policy outcomes, the responsible Minister may seek an exemption from the Finance Minister. The responsible Minister must write to the Finance Minister detailing the rationale for exemption. Officials should consult with Finance before commencing this process. 5.8 Information on individual grants must be retained on an entity s website for at least two financial years. Once operational, entities must retain grants information on the whole-of- Australian government register instead. Where it is not practicable to do so (for example, due to the exceptional volume of grants needing to be maintained on the website) entities must retain appropriate records, consistent with their accountability obligations, and ensure the records are available on request. 39 The date of effect will depend on the particular arrangement. It can be the date on which a grant agreement is signed or a specified starting date. Where there is no grant agreement entities must publish information on individual grants as soon as practicable. 40 This includes grant variations, where those variations involve additional payments of relevant money or significant extensions. 41 See the Finance website for further guidance on grants reporting at Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 14
15 Part 2 Guidance on Key Principles 6 Key Principles for Grants Administration 6.1 This part of the CGRGs sets out how to apply the key principles of grants administration. While the CGRGs contain a number of mandatory requirements, they provide flexibility in how accountable authorities and officials can work together with stakeholders to design and undertake granting activities; identify and engage with risk; and achieve government policy outcomes. 6.2 The seven key principles for grants administration that apply to all forms of granting activity 42 and all processes and phases of grants administration are: robust planning and design; collaboration and partnership; proportionality; an outcomes orientation; achieving value with relevant money; governance and accountability; and probity and transparency. 6.3 Accountable authorities and officials must put in place practices and procedures to ensure that grants administration is conducted in a manner that is consistent with these seven key principles. 43 Ensuring that the requirements of the CGRGs are well understood and effectively incorporated into the design and administration of any granting activity is important to ensure that the potential grant recipients best suited to undertake grant funded activities apply for and receive a grant. 6.4 The CGRGs provide the framework within which accountable authorities put in place internal controls and associated operational guidance related to grants administration within the specific entity. Accountable authorities are encouraged to use any Finance issued guidance 44 as the basis for their own internal controls, as this will reduce the risk of misinterpreting the requirements of the resource management framework and promote consistency across entities. 6.5 Officials should work together with key stakeholders, both within government and outside of government, through all phases of grants administration, such as the design and development of grant guidelines and application processes. 45 Officials should build productive relationships with grant applicants and recipients to collaboratively achieve government policy outcomes. 42 Examples include grant programmes as well as one-off or ad hoc grants, grants awarded through competitive, non-competitive and/or targeted selection processes. 43 See paragraph 4.3 and 4.4 of Part 1 of the CGRGs. 44 See the Finance website for guidance material at 45 Officials should balance this requirement for consultation against any issues that may arise in respect to probity, conflict of interest and the potential for competitive advantage. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 15
16 7 Robust Planning and Design 7.1 High quality planning underpins efficient, effective, economical and ethical grants administration. 7.2 Officials should work together with stakeholders to plan, design and undertake granting activities, particularly grants programmes. Potential grant recipients and beneficiaries will likely have valuable insights into how best to design and implement the proposed granting activity and will assist to ensure outcomes are appropriately aligned to public needs. 7.3 Grants administration processes should be proportional to the scale and risk profile of the granting activity. Officials should consider that granting activities affect not only the Commonwealth and grant recipients, but may also impact on other beneficiaries of a grant as well. 7.4 Officials should address all relevant planning issues before granting activities commence. These issues should be built into the design of any granting activities. The specific issues to be addressed will depend on the nature of the granting activities. A complex granting activity may, for example, require a different approach to a grant made on a one-off or ad hoc basis. 7.5 Officials should have regard to all relevant planning issues, including the need to: 46 establish a rationale for the granting activity, particularly what outcomes are expected and how these will be measured; define the operational objectives for the granting activity; communicate effectively with potential recipients and key stakeholders; undertake risk identification and engagement; design the granting activity to achieve value with relevant money; ensure that eligibility criteria reflect the policy intent; clearly identify decision makers and their roles; design the granting activity for accountability, probity and transparency; carefully consider the application and selection process to be used; establish performance and evaluation measures; select an appropriate funding strategy and grant agreement; consider taxation matters and seek advice where appropriate; consider the Australian Government s accounting treatment; develop appropriate documentation, such as grant guidelines and application information; consider legal and policy matters; and implement robust governance arrangements. 7.6 Risk is part of the environment in which government operates. Understanding, accepting and managing risk is part of everyday decision making within government. Accountable authorities have a duty to establish and maintain systems relating to risk and control Entities may identify other matters requiring consideration at the planning phase, depending on their specific circumstances. 47 See section 16 of the PGPA Act. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 16
17 They should develop a positive risk culture within their entities, supported by appropriate frameworks and processes. A key element of planning and designing a granting activity is to identify and engage with risk. Officials should be conscious of the risks of a granting activity, make informed decisions in managing these risks and identify and harness potential opportunities. 7.7 Officials should ensure that the party best placed to manage a specific risk is identified, the risks are assigned to that party, and that they manage those risks. Identifying the party best able to manage a risk and assigning that risk is an active process that should occur through all phases of grants administration. 7.8 Risk identification and engagement should be built into an entity s grants administration processes. Risk identification and engagement activities will vary depending on the entity, granting activity, grant, and grant recipient. Some risks can appropriately be mitigated or managed through the grant agreement, while other risks are better managed through other phases of grants administration, such as planning and design, the application and selection process and the ongoing relationship between officials and grant recipients. 7.9 Risk can be categorised a number of ways. The CGRGs use three broad categories: granting activity or grant programme risk; grantee risk; and project risk Risks involving the granting activity or grant programme relate to the planning, development and implementation of the granting activity by the relevant entity, such as: the nature of the granting activity (i.e. scope, complexity, uniqueness, quantum of funds, etc); design of the activity (i.e. a new or novel approach, having clearly defined outcomes, a unique allocation mechanism, timeframes, cost shifting, etc); entity capacity to administer the granting activity (i.e. resourcing, infrastructure requirements, staff experience and skills, etc); and implementation issues (i.e. communications with grant recipients and other stakeholders, clear accountabilities, ongoing grant administration, etc) Risks involving the grantee/recipient relate to the industry or sector, the grant recipient and the entity s relationship with the grant recipient, such as: the nature of a particular industry (i.e. emerging industries, highly volatile sectors, controversial providers, industry capacity and regulation, etc); the relationship between the parties to the grant agreement (i.e. contractual relationships, collaboration, stakeholder expectations, multiple funding bodies, etc); experience, capacity and past history of grant recipients; and accountability procedures (i.e. performance management, fraud, conflict of interest, double dipping, etc) Risks involving the project/task /services relate to the specific activities that are funded by the grant, such as: the nature of grant funded activities (i.e. scope and range of activities, number of activities, geographic coverage, location, beneficiaries involved, etc); stakeholder capabilities (i.e. governance and experience, co-funding arrangements, clear roles and responsibilities, competing outcomes, etc); project design (i.e. value and duration of specific projects, specific objectives, timeframe for projects, etc); and project standards (i.e. service standards, specific accountabilities, etc). Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 17
18 7.13 Officials should ensure that risk identification and engagement is supported by performance information, procedures and systems that continuously identify and treat emerging risks throughout the grants administration processes. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 18
19 8 Collaboration and Partnership 8.1 Accountable authorities have a duty to encourage officials to co-operate with others to achieve common objectives. 48 Officials should work collaboratively with stakeholders, including other government entities, grant recipients and beneficiaries. It is important to consider the needs and interests of grant recipients and beneficiaries. It should not be assumed that the same approach will suit all grants activities and circumstances. Through effective collaboration, shared understanding of expectations and positive working relationships, government policy outcomes can be achieved. 8.2 Officials are encouraged to seek input from potential grant applicants, beneficiaries, relevant industry and community sectors, and other key stakeholders when developing or modifying granting activities. Officials, working together with stakeholders, will: improve the design and delivery of granting activities; help identify and reduce fragmentation and unnecessary overlaps in granting activities; improve the responsiveness, flexibility and relevance of granting activities; reduce administration and compliance costs for potential applicants and government; aid in the development of appropriate outputs, outcomes, impact measures, accountability requirements, governance structures and grants documentation; and encourage potential grant applicants to understand their legal rights and obligations. 8.3 Consultation and co-operation with other stakeholders can help reduce fragmentation and unnecessary overlaps, improving outcomes for grant recipients, beneficiaries, the Commonwealth and other funding organisations. Officials should consider what interaction a particular granting activity may have on other government or non-government funded activities, particularly where there are similar policy outcomes. Granting activities could be funded by Commonwealth, state or territory and local government bodies, private trusts and foundations or national or state coordinating organisations. Officials should develop effective liaison with other funding organisations, particularly where policy responsibility or grants administration is shared between different entities or levels of government, or where an entity or third party is responsible for the grants administration of another entity. 8.4 Officials should seek to minimise red-tape and duplication. In particular, they should not seek information from grant applicants and/or grant recipients that is collected by other parts of the entity or other Commonwealth entities and is available to them. 8.5 Officials should choose methods that will promote open, transparent and equitable access to grants. Officials should ensure that publicly available grant opportunities are notified in ways that provide all potential grant applicants with reasonable opportunity to apply. 48 See section 17 of the PGPA Act. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 19
20 Careful consideration should be given to the use of appropriate and effective promotion, to increase awareness of grant opportunities in key target groups. Appropriate and effective promotion of grant opportunities can include print and broadcast media, news features and editorials, newsletters and direct mail, workshops or other special events, public launches or announcements, the internet, social media and the use of outposted officers. 8.6 It is important that officials develop clear, consistent and well-documented grant guidelines and other related documentation. Officials should consider that a single reference source for policy guidance and other documentation (for example, administrative procedures, eligibility and assessment criteria appraisal processes, monitoring requirements, evaluation strategies and standard forms) helps to ensure consistent and efficient grants administration. 8.7 Grant guidelines may consist of a suite of documents that relate to one or more granting activities, such as overarching guidelines, specific application or expression of interest documentation and/or documentation covering the ongoing operation of the grant. 8.8 Officials must ensure that any suite of documents that form the grant guidelines for any granting activity are consistent with the CGRGs. 49 Officials should ensure that the rules of granting activities are simply expressed, are clear in their intent and are effectively communicated to stakeholders. Officials should consider testing the clarity of grant guidelines with stakeholders prior to their release. Potential grant applicants need access to adequate information to enable them to submit a grant application. Application documentation should contain clear eligibility and assessment criteria to enable the selection of applications in a consistent, transparent and accountable manner. The design of the application form should assist applicants to provide information in respect of all selection criteria. Application forms and associated information should be easy to understand and provide all necessary information. Guidance should include contact points and details for further information, application forms and other information. Prompt action should be taken to update websites and other sources of public information following changes to granting activities (including grant programmes). Eligibility criteria should be straightforward, easily understood and effectively communicated to potential applicants. This helps avoid frustration and potential costs to applicants associated with developing and submitting applications that are not eligible or that have little chance of success. The information supplied with application forms should include: a statement of the granting activity objectives; the information required to assess the application; the appraisal criteria to be used when assessing applications for approval and their relative importance; and information about the approval process itself (including the closing date for applications and likely decision dates, if applicable; an outline of the selection process including who will be responsible for making the final recommendations and approval decisions; requirements to ensure the provision of performance information; a description of complaint handling, appeal, review and/or FOI mechanisms; and reporting and acquittal requirements). Officials should ensure that grant guidelines clearly inform potential grant recipients of terms and conditions that recipients will need to meet during the life of the grant, such as financial and performance reporting. The proposed grant agreement should be included with the grant guidelines so that grant applicants can consider this at the time that they are considering applying for a grant. 49 See paragraph 4.4 of Part 1 of the CGRGs. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 20
21 Timely appraisal avoids possible inequities and waste that may arise through unnecessary delay. 8.9 A well-designed grant agreement will help establish the basis for effective working relationships based on collaboration and respect between the grant recipient and the granting entity, and a shared understanding of objectives and expectations. Longer term grant agreements are conducive to improved partnerships between grant recipients and officials. Where appropriate, officials should consider longer term grant agreements. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 21
22 9 Proportionality 9.1 Proportionality in grants administration involves striking an appropriate balance between the complexity of a granting activity, including the ongoing requirements for the grant recipients, and managing the risks for beneficiaries and the Commonwealth. Accountable authorities have a duty in relation to requirements imposed on others and when imposing requirements on others must take into account the risks associated with the use or management of public resources and the effect of requirements imposed. 50 Officials should ensure that grant processes appropriately reflect the capabilities of grant recipients and accommodate the Australian Government s need for robust and accountable processes, consistent with the risks involved. Officials should apply the proportionality principle to suit the specific circumstances of their particular granting activities. 9.2 Granting activities vary widely in nature, scale and degree of complexity. Some granting activities may involve grant recipients, such as individuals, small business or the not-for-profit sector, while others involve large corporations, primary producers or whole industry sectors. Some potential grant recipients may have prior experience in applying for and delivering grants, while others may not. Some granting activities support the ongoing delivery of services, with grants provided to the same or similar organisations over a period of years. Other granting activities may support new policy, with the associated risks of doing something for the first time, due to social, business or strategic changes. Some granting activities provide short-term, one-off assistance to grant recipients, while others may be for a longer duration with multiple application rounds. Some granting activities require only a broad specification of purposes and relatively simple accountability requirements, while others may require tight specifications and complex accountability. 9.3 Officials should use the proportionality principle to inform the choice of the application and selection process, the grant agreement to be used and the reporting and acquittal requirements. Officials should tailor grant guidelines, application processes, grant agreements accountability, and reporting requirements based on the potential risks and specific circumstances. In doing this, officials should consider: an assessment of the capability of grant recipients; the policy outcomes being sought; the purpose, value and duration of a grant; the nature and type of deliverables; governance; accountability requirements; and the nature and level of the risks involved. Grant guidelines are required for all grants, including one-off or ad hoc grants. The format and complexity may vary, depending on the activity. 51 At a minimum, guidelines for one-off or ad hoc grants should include the purpose or description of the granting activity, the objectives, the selection process, any reporting and acquittal requirements and the proposed evaluation mechanisms. Grant agreements for a small-scale one-off grant should take the form of a simple letter of offer or exchange of letters. 50 See section 18 of the PGPA Act. 51 For example, if an entity provides a sponsorship grant, and this sponsorship doesn t fall within an existing grant programme, then officials may either develop overarching guidelines that would cover all sponsorships, or develop specific guidelines attached or incorporated into a brief to the decision-maker. These guidelines will greatly differ from those prepared for grant programmes, as the proportionality principle would suggest that they should be simpler and shorter. Effective from 1 July 2014 Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 22
Guidelines on Information and Advertising Campaigns by non-corporate Commonwealth entities Commonwealth of Australia 2014 ISBN: 978-1-925205-08-4 ISBN: 978-1-925205-07-7 (Online) With the exception of
Resource Management Guide No. 125. Commonwealth Entities Financial Statements Guide
Resource Management Guide No. 125 Commonwealth Entities Financial Statements Guide APRIL 2015 Commonwealth of Australia 2015 ISBN: 978-1-925205-12-1 (Online) With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat
Administration of Grants Better Practice Guide May 2002 Australian National Audit Office ISBN 642 80 630 6 Commonwealth of Australia 2002 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the