Bidding process and assessment

Bidding process

Bids should be headed by a single, named project lead.

Bids should be submitted using the Small project form or Large project form on the Vitae website as appropriate to the project.

An independent advisory panel will evaluate the proposals and select preferred bidders.  The panel will consist of:

• One representative of the Vitae programme
• One representative of the Research Councils
• One representative from NESTA
• One representative from a UK Higher Education Institution
• Representatives from other innovative/innovation based organisations

Vitae staff will work with preferred bidders to agree contractual basis of funding in line with the Terms and conditions.

Assessment Criteria

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Innovation (how bold, new and exciting is the idea and vision for the project?)
2. Breadth of outcomes (will the outcomes have an effect for researchers in a wide range of institutions and disciplines?)
3. Depth of expected outcomes (how significant will the effect of the project be for researchers/researcher development?)
4. Capability (accepting that truly innovative projects are generally high risk and may not succeed even when implemented well, are the bidders suitably equipped to give the project its best chance of success?)
5. Value for money (do the outcomes justify the investment being asked?  does the project have additional funding secured from other sources or a likelihood of securing additional funding?)

Reporting

Reporting requirements for each project will be light touch, and will be agreed once preferred bidders have been identified.

All successful applicants will be required to submit a final report detailing the success of the project as against stated intended outcomes and impact within 6 weeks of the end of the award period.

Projects lasting more than 1 year will be required to submit an interim report.