Regional Water Quality Program:
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A proposal to undertake large scale intervention on a property to reduce sediment and heal the landscape falls more under the regional program or the innovation round?
The distinction between the two grant programs is that the regional program is focused on approaches that have been proven to work and hence projects need to demonstrate the expected pollutant/s savings that will be achieved. The innovation round provides funding for new ideas/approaches that have the potential to achieve water quality improvements under one or more of the four thematic areas identified in the grant round. A project that involves traditional land restoration approaches would be more suited to the relevant regional program.
What would be GBRF's appetite towards individual graziers submitting an application to undertake works to reduce sediment and also measure carbon emissions?
The current funding is focussed on water quality improvement. In either case, the proposal would need to clearly demonstrate the potential water quality benefits associated with the proposed approach. Where there are co-benefits associated with a project (e.g. conservation outcomes or carbon benefits), that will strengthen the proposal and will be looked on favourably, but the focus of the project will still need to be on improving water quality. Please also note the minimum project size (in terms of budget) associated with each grant round.
Would GBRF prefer that a lead organisation submit a single EOI including different components and the other partners subcontract to that lead organisation or each organisation submits a separate EOI for their component of the project?
The regional program is designed such that individual delivery providers will implement individual water quality improvement projects/components as part of the overarching regional program. As set out in the EOI guidelines, once the initial EOIs have been received, the Regional Program Manager/Partnership Coordinator, together with GBRF, will work to bring the proposals together into a single program, including looking to align projects and/or identify synergies between different components/activities as part of the design process.
Where different activities are intimately linked and one activity is reliant on the other activities also being undertaken, these activities should be submitted as part of a single project proposal, as they will need to be assessed as a whole. However, where activities could operate in support of one another, but also have the capacity to be undertaken in isolation, it is preferable that these be submitted as standalone projects to allow each to be assessed on its own merits. Such an approach is likely to also increase the chance of a project being successful, with the potential for the project to still be adapted (where necessary) to best fit with other successful projects, and with the overall program design. Ultimately though it is a matter for individual applicants to determine what approach will give them the best chance of success.
Are the grants for the Water Quality Program philanthropic in nature, or will the contracts for successful applicants result in material benefit for the foundation?
The principal objective of the Water Quality Program is to achieve significant improvement in the quality of the water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. The grants under the program are philanthropic in nature as they will be exclusively used to contribute towards this overarching objective.
Can you confirm the exact boundary of the Lower Herbert sub catchment for the current open call of the water quality program?
There is no a geographic boundary but rather a focus to reduce particular pollutants. The “Lower Herbert” open call aims to reduce dissolved inorganic nitrogen across the Herbert while the upcoming “Upper Herbert” call will be focused at reducing sediments.
Can EOIs relate to on-ground approaches aside from those identified in the final scenario by the Alluvium report?
Yes. The Alluvium report does not determine what is eligible or not. The solutions identified were simply a guide for GBRF to decide where the funding would go. Therefore, GBRF will consider applications with other options or solutions.
Are the local project delivery providers able to be part of the Program Steering committee?
No. The steering committee will be a small tight group with representatives from the foundation, the program manager and partnership coordinator. We expect that the partnership coordinator, through the partnership forum as well as other means, will establish mechanisms for local input to the planning and implementation of the program.
Will the regional program manager and partnership coordinator positions be full time positions located in the region?
The RFP notes that applicants for the program manager and partnership coordinator roles must be located in, or able to locate staff in, the region for the duration of the program. It is not a mandatory requirement to have a permanent presence in the region for an applicant to be eligible to apply for these positions. However, GBRF’s strong preference is that the entity undertaking the role/s does have a local presence. Proposals should set out how the team will be structured, where team members will be based, and (where not based in the region) the proposed working arrangements. It is not a requirement that the roles be undertaken full time, but again GBRF will assess any proposal having regard to the extent to which the proposed arrangements can be expected to deliver the desired outcomes for the program.
Can a consortium of delivery providers bid on the entire amount of money available in a region?
Separate applications are required with respect to the program manager/partnership coordinator roles (under the RFP process) and the on-ground delivery providers (under the EOI process). As part of the EOI process, it is open to applicants to determine how they best want to structure their proposals, and whether they want to submit a single EOI that includes multiple partners and activities.
We note that the program has been structured to allow for individual projects and organisations, who may not be part of a large consortium, to participate and still be competitive. The intention is also that each activity be assessed independently, with a subsequent design phase to identify how the full range of potential projects could best work together.
While it is possible for a large group to put together a series of projects in one EOI, GBRF would prefer to see standalone projects that can be individually assessed on their merit, with a view to integrating projects during the design phase.
If a consortium delivers an entire regional program how does this affect the governance model (i.e. program manager role, steering committee, etc.)?
GBRF will assess both the proposals related to program manager/partnership coordinator roles and the EOIs related to the delivery providers prior to making a decision on the appointment of the program manager/partnership coordinator. GBRF’s preference is to adopt the governance model set out in the guidelines. However, if the mixture of suitable proposals does not support this governance model then GBRF will at that time consider what other options are available that can deliver the best program outcomes.
When is the Upper Herbert water quality program likely to be released?
We are targeting a release of the call for proposals related to the Upper Herbert program by end of March 2020. The program will focus on fine sediment.
Can a researcher submit a proposal testing the efficacy of a technique that reduces nutrient leaching into GBR?
The water quality regional program is about delivering on ground activities not a research program. Where there is a research element intrinsically linked to the on-ground activities being delivered, then obviously that would be embedded as part of the project.
Note the innovation and systems change round, which is currently open until the 21st February, allows for smaller projects of minimum $100 K to present less proven methods for addressing water quality.
Does the RFP for appointing the Program Manager and Partnership Coordinator have a minimum of $500,000?
No, there is no minimum amount that must apply to the program manager and partnership coordinator roles. The minimum of $500,000 applies to on-ground projects/delivery providers.
Can an activity that reduces DIN export, that is not formally recognised in the P2R calculator (not changing from one practice class to another), still be included?
Yes. GBRF is primarily interested in ensuring that the investment will achieve real water quality improvement on ground and provide a proponent can demonstrate that the approach will achieve this outcome then the approach will be considered for funding. As a separate but important matter, GBRF would work with the proponent and the P2R modelling team to find a way to get any water quality improvements reflected in the P2R modelling framework.
What level of support can proponents expect from GBRF regarding stakeholder management, communications and community engagement and should submissions include costings for such activities?
On ground delivery providers will receive support from the regional partnership coordinator with identifying and engaging with stakeholders, as well as with communications, including through the partnership forum. Where a project requires specific engagement or communication with different stakeholders, any costs associated with that should be included within the project design.
Can the regional program manager or partnership coordinator positions be job-shared, For example with two half-time people filling the role?
Yes. GBRF has separated these positions for the reasons explained in section 5 of the RFP regarding project roles and scope of work. However, GBRF is open to proposals from a single entity with a single individual who's leading both roles or two individuals sharing the roles. Proposals will be assessed on their merit, having regarded to the strength of the proposed approach in delivering the required services, as well as the cost.
To assist in this submission, can we expect some feedback from the previous submission prior to the closure of this round?
Yes, GBRF is working towards proving feedback to previous EOIs by the 15 February 2020. However, at this stage we cannot be sure whether that timeframe will be met.
How much emphasis will be placed on monitoring to improve data on the cost effectiveness of solutions?
GBRF is certainly interested in improving the data available on the cost effectiveness of the projects that we are funding. All programs will be underpinned by a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to collect relevant data to inform assessments related to the effectiveness and impact of the investment.
Is there a definition of an active cane block which would qualify to then be changed conservation use?
There is no standard definition that GBRF has adopted and it is open to an applicant to present its own approach and the supporting rational. In terms of options though, we do note that the Reef protection regulations for new or expanded cropping include rules around historic land use. In addition the Reef Credits method related to fertiliser application uses a baseline period of the 7 years immediately prior to project start date.
Why is the target load reduction for the Lower Burdekin 48t DIN if the Alluvium report lists the change in the Burdekin from D to B equating to a reduction of 26.7t DIN and Irrigation C to B Level 2 to 47.5t of DIN and these two added together adds to 74.2t DIN?
From the 26.7t of DIN attributed to the D to B change for the Lower Burdekin, 26.1 are due to the reduction that would occur by the D to C change that would be required to comply with Reef regulations in Cane. As per the grant agreement, the Reef Trust Partnership is not to fund activities that take farmers to be compliant with Reef regulations only. But it can fund activities that take farmers above C. Therefore, the target pollutant load reductions is proportional to what can be achieved by taking farmers from C to B both in management practices and irrigation practices, which equates to 48t DIN.
Will applicants for on-ground water quality projects for the Mackay Whitsunday region be contacted prior to the Innovation application closing date?
They will be contacted on Friday 21st February.
Is the section on ‘acceptance test’ under the consultancy agreement applicable to the Regional Program Manager and Partnership Coordinator?
A: No. GBRF uses a standard consultancy agreement template, however, only the relevant definitions and clauses will be referred in the Terms of Reference.