1Grant Guidelines for ParentsNext

GRANT GUIDELINES
FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FACILITATORS 2016–2020

1Grant Guidelines for ParentsNext

Commonwealth of Australia 2016
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GENERAL INFORMATION AND INDICATIVE TIMELINE

Date / Key Event
13 October 2016 / ReleaseoftheseGrantGuidelineson360Pro.
21October 2016 / Entrepreneurship FacilitatorsInformation Session (webinar).
Mid October 2016 / Release of Draft Funding Agreement.
27October 2016 / Lastdayfor requeststotheDepartmentof Employmentfor further informationregardingEntrepreneurship Facilitators.
5.00pm(Canberratime) on
3 November 2016 / Closing dateandtimefor Applications for fundingunderthese
GrantGuidelines.
1 December 2016 / AnnouncementofoutcomesforEntrepreneurship Facilitators.
December 2016 / Funding Agreements entered into with successful Applicants.
December 2016 / Commencement of Entrepreneurship Facilitators.

DEPARTMENT Contact Details

QuestionsabouttheseGrantGuidelinescanbedirectedtothe Employment ServicesPurchasingHotline:

  • Phone—1300733514 (MondaytoFriday,9.00amto5.00pmCanberratime,excludingACTand national publicholidays)
  • Email—theEmployment ServicesPurchasingHotline()

All requestsfor informationmustbesubmittedto theHotlinepriorto5.00pm(Canberra time) on

27October 2016.

TheDepartmentmaypublish responsestoquestionsor requestsforclarificationontheseGrant Guidelines onthe EmploymentServicesProcurementInformation website(

TheDepartmentwill conductan information session viaa webinaron 21 October 2016.Registrationforthewebinar canbe completed using theonline booking form( copy of the webinar presentation will be made available on the Employment Services Procurement Information website( this session.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1About these Grant Guidelines

1.1Purpose of the Grant Guidelines

CHAPTER 2About Entrepreneurship Facilitators

2.1Introduction

2.2Scope

2.3Locations and Coverage

2.4Target Audience

2.5Engagement and Marketing Strategy and the Services

2.6Deliverables

2.7Funding

2.8Evaluation

CHAPTER 3Selection Criteria and Required Information

3.1Responding to the Selection Criteria

3.2Selection Criteria

CHAPTER 4Eligibility to Apply

4.1Applications from Individuals

4.2Applications from Organisations

4.3Foreign Companies

4.4Group Applicants and Subcontractors

4.5Organisations not Eligible to Apply

CHAPTER 5The Department’s Assessment Process

5.1Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

5.2Probity

5.3Assessment Process

5.4Financial Viability and other Checks

CHAPTER 6Legal and Other Matters

6.1Privacy

6.2Discrimination

6.3Working with Children and Other Vulnerable Groups

6.4Freedom of Information

6.5Other Matters

6.6The Department’s Rights and Liabilities

CHAPTER 7How to Lodge an Application

7.1Conditions of Lodgement

7.2Closing Date and Time

7.3360Pro

APPENDIX AGlossary

APPENDIX BCommunication Protocol

APPENDIX CDraft Funding Agreement

APPENDIX DApplication Checklist

APPENDIX EMaps

Grant Guidelines for Entrepreneurship Facilitators1

CHAPTER 1About theseGrant Guidelines

1.1Purpose of the Grant Guidelines

TheDepartmentofEmployment(theDepartment)is seekingApplications from individuals and non-government organisationsfor funding to deliver Entrepreneurship Facilitator Servicesfrom December 2016.

This documentoutlinestherequirementsforApplicants includingthe process for submitting Applications, timelinesandconditionsoffunding.

This documentshouldbe consideredtogetherwithotherinformationaboutEntrepreneurship Facilitatorsonthe Employment ServicesProcurement Information website (

Anyadditional informationis provided for backgroundpurposesonly. Potential Applicants must completetheirApplicationbased onthe requirementsoutlined intheseGrantGuidelines.

Inthis document,unlessacontraryintentionoccurs,all capitalisedterms havethemeaninggivento themin the listof definitions in Appendix AGlossary.

In the event of anyinconsistency between these GrantGuidelines and the DraftFundingAgreement, the DraftFundingAgreement takes precedence.

CHAPTER 2About Entrepreneurship Facilitators

2.1Introduction

TheAustralianGovernmentis committedto encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment among young people. These are powerful options for overcoming unemployment, however, only a small number of jobseekers pursue this pathway. Research shows that many young job seekers have business ideas, but lack the capacity and support to develop these ideas into a successful business. They are often confronted by barriers such as lack of training and access to finance, lack of business networks and an inability to explore and select sustainable business ideas.

Inthe2016–17Federal Budget, theAustralian Government provided funding to support Entrepreneurship Facilitators—one measure of the broader Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment package.

The objectives of Entrepreneurship Facilitators are to:

  • promote entrepreneurship and self-employment to young people in identified regions
  • encourage young people to develop new business ideas
  • assist potential young entrepreneurs in accessing assistance to support and establish their own business
  • provide linkages into existing programs including New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)

An Entrepreneurship Facilitator will be appointed in each of three identified locations—Cairns (QLD), Hunter (NSW) including Newcastle, and Launceston and North-East Tasmania.

2.2Scope

TheDepartmentinvitesApplications to deliver Entrepreneurship Facilitator Servicesthat will assist young people in their region to develop their ideas into successful businesses.

Applicantsare encouraged to be innovative and should outline the Servicesthey propose to deliver in their Application. Applicants may apply to deliver Services in one, two or all three of the identified locations.

In particular, Applicants should outline theirexperience, expertise and achievements in:

  • providing business advice (individuals with personal experience as an entrepreneur or small business operator are highly desirable)
  • building rapport with clients to gain an understanding of their needs and provide appropriate support
  • engaging with the community, and
  • developing and maintaining networks with relevant organisations.

Withoutseeking tolimit ideas,this mayincludeinnovativeapproaches to:

  • encouraging clients to think about starting their own business
  • promotingtheServicesto clients through various channels such as workshops, presentations, social media posts, jobs fairs and local community meetings
  • linking with organisations relevant to entrepreneurship and smallbusiness
  • providing mentoring support, or assisting clients to access local mentors, business partners, office space, equipment and ongoing business training, and
  • working closely with government and non-government services including in relation to regional grant funding, financial services, training institutions with business courses, accelerator and incubator services, youth organisations and employment service providers.

2.3Locations and Coverage

Entrepreneurship Facilitators will be appointed in three locations:

  • Cairns (QLD)
  • Hunter (NSW) including Newcastle, and
  • Launcestonand North-East Tasmania.

These areas have been selected based on locations with very high youth unemployment (over 15 per cent) and a lower uptake of youth self-employment.

Entrepreneurship Facilitators will be required to deliver theServicesin and around the location(s) for which they have been selected.Please refer to Appendix E.

2.4Target Audience

The priority target audience isyoung Australians aged 18–24, including, those not in education, employment or training. Facilitators must actively seek out and assist this priority target audience.

However, Entrepreneurship Facilitators will be required to work with people of all ages and backgrounds including Indigenous people, redundant workers, refugees and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diversebackgrounds.

2.5Engagement and Marketing Strategy and the Services

Engagement and Marketing Strategy

Entrepreneurship Facilitatorswill be required to provide an Engagement and Marketing Strategy to be submitted and approved by the Departmentby no later than 31 January 2017. The Engagement and Marketing Strategy must address promotional activities and services that Applicants intend to deliver and how the Entrepreneurship Facilitator will undertake the Services. This Strategy will be for the period up to 30 June 2017 and must be updated and approved by the Department annually thereafter.

Applicants should note that it is expected that information provided in their responses to the selection criteria willcontribute to their initial Engagement and Marketing Strategy.

The Services

The Services should include, but are not limited to:

  1. engagement with clients—providing individualised and tailored information and advice to clients about business start-up,including:
  • facilitating interactive engagements to provide information and advice addressing clients individual needs about starting and running their own business
  • providing ongoing mentoring assistance and advice, directly or through a mentor network, and
  • referring clients to appropriate services.
  1. community engagement—marketing, providing information and advice about entrepreneurship and starting a business to clients in the region,including:
  • direct marketing to youth organisations
  • social media, and
  • promotional activities.
  1. linking with organisations relevant to entrepreneurship orstarting a business—providing a connection between services and to support clients’ access to these services where it would be beneficial to starting their business, including:
  • understanding what services, particularly local services, are relevant to clients
  • knowing what Australian state and territory governmentand non-government funding is available and assisting with application processes, and
  • developing contacts with organisations such as accelerator and incubator Services, youth organisations, employment services providers and New Enterprise Incentive Scheme providers.

2.6Deliverables

2.6.1Milestone Reporting

Entrepreneurship Facilitatorswill need to be able to demonstrate how they have delivered Services, in quarterly milestone reports.

The provision of satisfactory milestone reports over the contract period will form abasis forpayments.

Quarterly milestone reports will include the following:

  1. a summary of progress and achievements in implementing the Services contained in the Engagement and Marketing Strategy
  2. any other Servicesthe Entrepreneurship Facilitator would like to draw to the Department’s attention, and
  3. three ‘success stories’—these could include individual client achievements, outcome of a group activity and newly established relationships with support groups.

All Milestone Reporting will be reviewed and approved quarterly by the Department.

2.6.2Updates to the Engagement and Marketing Strategy

The annual update to the Engagement and Marketing Strategy will include a summary of promotional activities and services the Entrepreneurship Facilitator will deliver and how the Services will be delivered in the upcoming financial year. The provision of satisfactory annual updates will also be a basis for payments.

2.6.3Key Performance Indicators

Each Entrepreneurship Facilitator’s performance will be assessed against the delivery of all Services outlined in their Funding Agreement and demonstrated in each milestone report.

2.6.4Financial Statements

Entrepreneurship Facilitatorswill be required to provide a preliminary written acquittal of funds to the Department prior to the final quarter of the financial year and anaudited statement of income and expenditure in respect of the funding within 20 business days of the end of the financial year.

2.7Funding

Funding is available to engage one Entrepreneurship Facilitator to deliver Servicesin each of the identified locations for the period December 2016 to 30 June 2020.

Payment under the Funding Agreement will be made as a combination of an upfront payment and quarterlyinstalments. The first payment will be made as soon as possible after the Funding Agreement is signed. Entrepreneurship Facilitatorswill need to submit a tax invoice to the Department to claim each instalment.

Applicants must complete a proposed Budget as part of their Application, utilising the Initiative Budget form. Funding must be expended only for the purposes indicated in the approved Budget.

Table 1: Funding and Reporting(all payment amounts are GST exclusive)

Milestone / Payment Amount / MilestoneDue
Signed Funding Agreement
(note,incorporates payment for Engagement and Marketing Strategy for 2016-17)
Provision of an Engagement and Marketing Strategy (approved by the Department) / $155,000
N/A / On execution of the Funding Agreement by
December 2016
January 2017
Provision of Milestone Report 1, to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / March 2017
Provision of Milestone Report 2, to the Department's satisfaction, and
Provision of an updatedEngagement and Marketing Strategy(approved by the Department) / $47,000
$48,000 / June 2017
July 2017
Provision of Milestone Report 3 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / September 2017
Provision of Milestone Report 4 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / December 2017
Provision of Milestone Report 5 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / March 2018
Provision of Milestone Report 6 to the Department’s satisfaction, and
Provision ofupdatedEngagement and Marketing Strategy (approved by the Department) / $47,000
$48,000 / June 2018
July 2018
Provision of Milestone Report 7 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / September 2018
Provision of Milestone Report 8 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / December 2018
Provision of Milestone Report 9 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / March 2019
Provision of Milestone Report 10 to the Department’s satisfaction
Provision of updatedEngagement and Marketing Strategy(approved by the Department) / $47,000
$48,000 / June 2019
July 2019
Provision of Milestone Report 11 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / September 2019
Provision of Milestone Report 12 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / December 2019
Provision of Milestone Report 13 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / March 2020
Provision of Milestone Report 14 to the Department’s satisfaction / $47,000 / June 2020
Total / $957,000

2.8Evaluation

The Departmentwillevaluate theEntrepreneurship Facilitatorsmeasure todeterminewhether the objectives of the measure have been achieved. TheDepartmentwillworkinpartnershipwithEntrepreneurship Facilitatorsto capturerelevant qualitativeand quantitativedata for this purpose.

CHAPTER 3Selection Criteria andRequired Information

This chaptersets outtheselectioncriteria againstwhichtheDepartmentwill assess Applications.

As partof theirApplication, ApplicantsmustdeclareintheFinancial andCredentialsInformation Formanyother fundingtheyarecurrentlyreceiving,or expecttoreceiveduringthe fundingperiod.

3.1Responding to the Selection Criteria

Applicants are required to respond to the selection criteria and provide all other information required by completing the relevant sections in 360Pro, and uploading the following forms provided as ‘Supporting Documents’ in 360Pro:

  • Selection Criteria
  • Referee Report
  • Initiative Budget
  • Financial andCredentialsInformationForm,andanyrequested documents, and
  • Applicants Declaration.

Applicants that propose to deliver Services in more than one location mustcomplete a separate section in 360Pro for each location.

3.2SelectionCriteria

Criterion 1

Proposal to deliverEntrepreneurship Facilitator Services

Response Character Limit: 8000

Weighting: 30 per cent

  • How do you intend to deliver the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services? This includes:
  • engaging with clients
  • informing and advising clients
  • engaging with the community to encourage self-employment
  • How will you market Entrepreneurship Facilitator Servicesin the community?
  • How does your experience and previous successes demonstrate your ability to deliver this Service?
  • How you intend to spend the budget (utilising the Initiative Budget Form) and will provide value for money?

Responses that include innovative ways to use technologies, social media or other options that appeal to and attract young people will be highly regarded.

Criterion 2

Demonstrated knowledge of and or achievements as an entrepreneur or small business person

Response Character Limit: 8000

Weighting: 30 per cent

You should demonstrate knowledge and, where applicable, achievements in:

  • establishing small businesses
  • development and assessment of business plans
  • identification of small business support services, including financial support
  • providing sound business advice and/or access to suitable mentors, and
  • understanding a range of client needs.

Responses which demonstrate your experience in providing (or having the capability to provide) information and advice about entrepreneurship will be highly regarded.

Responses that demonstrateinnovative approaches in relation to young people will be highly regarded.

Criterion 3

Demonstrated knowledge of local and surrounding areas and the capacity to leverage community partnerships and resources to supportclients.

Response Character Limit: 8000

Weighting: 30 per cent

Demonstrate your knowledge of the region, including:

  • labour market and small business knowledge
  • understanding of the issues facing young people
  • how you would partner with other organisations or networks to support your clients, and
  • how you would link with governmentprograms, financial and insurance services and training institutions.

Criterion 4

Describe what ‘success’ would look like in the relevant location, where an Entrepreneurship Facilitator has delivered alltheir Services.

Response Character Limit: 2000

Weighting: 10 per cent

Tell us how your delivery of Entrepreneurship FacilitatorServiceswill enhance:

  • existing Services
  • establish new support Services, and
  • employment outcomes for clients.

3.2.1Referees

Applicants mustprovideone, or uptotwo,written referee reports.Referees mustbeableto verify theApplicant’sApplicationclaims.

ThroughouttheApplication assessmentprocess,Departmental staff willseektoconfirmtheclaims madebyApplicantsintheirresponsestothe selectioncriteria. Thiswill includeensuringthat Applicantshavestrongconnections torelevantorganisationsthatwillsupportthedeliveryofEntrepreneurship FacilitatorServices.

The Department may contact any party, even if that party has not been nominated by an Applicant to confirm claims made in an Application.

Current employees of the Department cannot be a referee for anApplicant.

CHAPTER 4Eligibility to Apply

4.1Applications from Individuals

Individuals are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).

4.2Applications from Organisations

Non-government organisations (including current employment service providers) can apply. Organisations must nominate ONE person(a Nominated Person) who will undertake the full-time role of the Entrepreneurship Facilitator in that location.

4.3Foreign Companies

The Department will only accept an Application from a foreign company if it is registered under Part5B.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

4.4Group Applicants and Subcontractors

Group Applicants (i.e. a group of legal entities such as a consortium or joint venture) and organisations that propose subcontractor arrangements are noteligible to apply.

4.5Organisationsnot Eligible toApply

The Australian Government and state and territory governments, agencies, employees or agentsare not eligible to apply.

CHAPTER 5TheDepartment’s Assessment Process

This chapter outlines the Department’s assessment process for Applications submitted under these Grants Guidelines.

5.1Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

The Entrepreneurship Facilitatorsgrantsprocess is governed by the CommonwealthGrants Rules and Guidelines issued by the Minister for Finance under section 105C of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013(PGPA Act).

5.2Probity

The Departmentwill ensure that theEntrepreneurship Facilitatorsgrants process is fair and transparent, is subject to appropriate scrutiny, and all requirements published by the Department, including these Grant Guidelines, are followed.

The Department has appointed Maddocks as the external Probity Adviserto advise on the probityand integrity of the process. Persons with any concern about the probityor integrity of the Entrepreneurship Facilitatorsgrants process can raise their concerns with the Department’s internal legal adviser, LukedeJong (). Where appropriate, complaints will be referred to the external Probity Adviser.

5.3Assessment Process

Stage1—ReceiptofApplications

Each Applicationwillbedownloaded from 360Proaftertheclosingdateandtime, andwill be checkedtoensurethat:

  • the Applicationincludesallinformationrequired, aslistedin theApplicationChecklist atAppendixDoftheseGrantGuidelines, and
  • the ApplicanthassubmittedthecorrectApplicationform, containing completed information, includingresponsestotheselectioncriteria.

Note:IncompleteApplications, ineligibleor clearlynon-competitive Applicationsmaybeexcluded from considerationatanytimeduringtheassessment process. Alternatively, theDepartmentmay considersuchApplicationsandseekclarificationfromtheApplicantor anythirdparty.

Stage 2A—Assessment of Applications

All eligibleApplications willbeassessed againsttheselectioncriteria.

The Department will shortlist Applicants.

Shortlisted Applicants will be required to participate in an interview. These interviews will be scheduled for 10–16 November 2016. Applicants must be available for an interview during this period or they may be excluded from this grant process.

Stage 2B—Financial Viability Assessment

TheDepartmentwillconsider theApplicantsfinancial viability andthecredentials ofkeypersonnel.

Stage 3—Final Decisions

TheDeputySecretaryoftheDepartmentwillconsiderthe recommendationsof senior Department managers and makethefinal decisions. Applicants willbeadvisedbyemailoftheoutcome oftheir Application.

5.4Financial Viability and other Checks

TheDepartmentmayperformsecurity, probityandfinancial investigationsasitdetermines necessaryin relationtoany Applicant, itsemployees, officers,partners,associates, or relatedentities.TheDepartmentmayexcludeanApplication fromfurtherconsiderationifthe Applicantdoesnotprovide, atitscost,all reasonableassistanceto theDepartmentinthis regard.

5.4.1Financial Viability

Applicants mustsubmita completedFinancial andCredentialsInformationFormandprovidethe mostrelevantinformationtoprovetheirfinancialviability.The objectiveofthe financial viabilityprocessis toassesswhethertheApplicant is financially viable to provide the Entrepreneurship FacilitatorServicesspecified in the Application.