Ndis partners in the community program

8.7What age group is covered by the ECEI?

0-6 years of age.

8.8How much funding is available for this program?

Please refer to the Pricing Response Schedules Attachments for information on available funding. Note ECEI Pricing Response Schedule will be made available no later than Close of Business Monday 8 August 2016.

8.9What is a lead organisation?

A lead organisation must be an incorporated body which is able to enter into the Grant Agreement.

If you submit a joint application, you must nominate a lead organisation for the application. The lead organisation for the program will, if your application is successful, sign the Grant Agreement, receive the funding and take legal responsibility for performing the activities and meeting the outcomes of the Grant Agreement. The other members would be proposed subcontractors and listed as such in the relevant area of the application form.

8.10What are the Terms and Conditions for this grant?

A copy of the Terms and Conditions for the NDIS Partners in the Community Program Grant Agreement is included in the Application Pack.

8.11The Partners in the Community Program documentation states that “Prices must be in Australian dollars (inclusive of GST)”. Are the grant amounts listed against each service area inclusive of GST?

The funding set out in the Pricing Response Schedule Attachments is the maximum available funding for delivery of LAC services exclusive of GST.

Applicants should complete the Pricing Response Schedule following the instructions provided. Furthermore, any Grant Agreement with a successful Applicant will appropriately reflect the arrangements as to GST.

8.12The Application Form asks organisations to confirm whether they have the following documents:

1. 
   Documented organisational and financial policies and procedures.
   
2. 
   Business plan and/or strategic plan.
   
3. 
   Risk management plan.
   

Will my organisation be ineligible if the organisation does not have these documents at the time of completing the Application Form?

No. However, it is expected that organisations will have these documents available within seven (7) days of being requested.

The documents may be used as part of the decision-making process to develop a broad understanding of the organisation’s corporate position and objectives.

9.Application Process

9.1When will I know the outcome of my application?

You will be notified of the outcome of your application at the end of the selection process. For probity reasons, to treat all applicants fairly and equally, it is not possible to give you information about the status of individual applications during the assessment process.

9.2If I am not able to submit my application by the due date, can I get an extension?

Any Application that is lodged after the Closing Time and Date may be rejected. If an Application is late or a request is made to approve a lodgement after the Closing Time and Date, a determination may be made that there were exceptional circumstances beyond the Applicant’s control resulting in an inability to meet the stipulated deadline.

Examples of exceptional circumstances could include, but may not be limited to:

• 
  natural disasters;
  
• 
  power outages affecting the ability of the Applicant to submit their Application by the stipulated deadline; or
  
• 
  death or disability of key personnel.
  

An Applicant who’s Application has been deemed to be a Late Application may propose other incidents of exceptional circumstances (other than those listed above). Any proposed incidents of exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please refer to section 5.6.3 of the Program Guidelines for further information

9.3Where should I go for further information?

Please email your enquiries to [e-mail] or for general enquiries call the Grants Hotline on 1800 625 136.

9.4What Feedback will be available for this funding round

Generic feedback will be offered on the strengths and weaknesses of applications at the Community Grants Hub website.

Otherwise, individual feedback will be provided to unsuccessful Applicants if such request is made in writing via email to [e-mail] within one month of notice of an unsuccessful Application.

9.5If I am proposing to use subcontractors, do the subcontractors need to complete a separate application form?

No. Only the lead organisation needs to complete an application form.

9.6What attachments do I need to include in my application?

A requirement for the funding round is that attachments specified in the Application Pack must be provided with your application, using the templates provided.

If you do not attach the documents specified in the Application Pack your application will not be assessed.

Attachments which are not asked for in the Application Pack will not be accepted or assessed.

9.7What information is required to be attached to the application form in relation to Financial Statements?

The Applicant is required to attach to their application form their organisation’s latest available financial information for the past two years (preferably for the 2015-16 and 2014-15 financial years) which may include: 

• 
  Statement of Financial Position / Balance Sheet
  
• 
  Statement of Financial Performance / Income Statement / Profit & Loss Statement
  
• 
  Statement of changes in equity
  
• 
  Cash flow statement
  
• 
  Notes to the financial statements
  
• 
  Audit reports (if available)
  

10.QUESTIONS ADDED 5/8/2016

10.1Can an organisation apply for Early Childhood Early Intervention funding if they are a Registered Provider of Supports under the NDIS?

Paragraph 4.1.1.4 of the Program Guidelines provides:

The Agency expects that neither an ECEI Partner nor a subcontractor which is a Registered Provider of Supports will deliver services to individual participants (0 – 6 year olds) in a Service Area in which the ECEI Partner is providing ECEI Services other than in exceptional circumstances and with the Agency's approval.