Dual Support Reform

The last Project Board meeting took place on 12 December 2005 and the project was wound up. The ongoing remaining issues will be taken forward by the re-constituted RA Convergence Group, reporting to the RA Programme Management Board.

The closing date for nominations for the re-constituted RO Consultation Group was 31 January. The selection process has been completed and all nominees have been issued with letters advising of the outcome. This group will provide an ongoing forum for discussion between Research Councils and Research Organisations on a range of research administration issues. ROCG will report to the RA Programme Management Board.

Reminder to Finance Officers – Universities and other Research Organisations 

A letter was issued to all Research Organisation Finance Officers on 21 October 2005 from Steve Visscher (Executive Director, BBSRC) as Chair of the RCUK DSR Project Board.  The letter was accompanied by a pro forma on which research organisations (ROs) were asked to detail the indirect and estate cost rates currently being used for applications to the Research Councils.  

A reminder letter was issued on 22 December 2005 to those Research Organisations who had not responded.  The deadline in the letter was 19 January 2006.  Finance Officers at these ROs are asked to ensure that the information is provided to David Harman, EPSRC (Chair Grants Convergence group) as soon as possible.  It is important that the Councils have a clear complete picture across the sector in order to update the financial modelling undertaken in 2004.  

Letters to Finance Directors

Letters were issued on 16 November 2005 to provide initial feedback to research organisations on FEC Research Applications and to draw attention to particular points that may need further consideration by applicants and administrators.

Letters were issued on 11 August to update research organisations on the progress of the project since the last update in March 2005, to reiterate some key messages and to address some perceived concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions on Full Economic Costs (FEC)

The set of frequently asked questions, drawn largely from the series of regional seminars held in autumn 2004, have now been republished to incorporate some minor amendments.

Peer Review Guidance for Full Economic Costing Proposals

The Research Councils have now published a generic guidance document (pdf) relating to Peer Review and Full Economic Costing (FEC) plus a set of FAQs (pdf). 

Regional Seminars June/July 2005:  Applying for grants under FEC

New Arrangments for funding Research Council Research Grants

Indirect and estates cost rates have been announced - to be used when applying to the Research Councils for grants for research projects on a full economic cost basis . They will apply from September 2005, and will be valid until February 2006. The rates were set by the Government's working group on dual support reform. Full details.

The Research Councils have now published a copy of the terms and conditions for FEC grants (pdf).

This is the finalised version and takes account of comments received from the community. The DSR project team would like to thank those who have contributed to the development of this document.

Most of the changes are FEC related, but the opportunity has been taken to make other minor amendments where appropriate.

Letters to Administration Departments

On behalf of the joint Research Council/AHRB Dual Support Reform Implementation project board, Steve Visscher sent letters in early March 2005 to the administration departments of universities (pdf) and other research organisations (pdf).

The letters update organisations on the progress of the joint project since the summary of requirements document was first published in September 2004. They include a copy of the draft research grant terms and conditions on which comments are sought prior to publication at the end of March 2005.

The letters also request the details of a key contact point at each organisation with whom the Councils/AHRB can work to assist applicants in the completion of FEC-based proposals.

Revised allocations - now £141M

A further letter (pdf) dated 25 February 2005, to Vice-Chancellors / Principals / Deans of higher education institutions (HEIs) has been sent by Ian Diamond on behalf of RCUK.

This letter informs each HEI of the revised payment they will receive to provide the extra support to existing Research Council grants, following revisions to the calculations and the addition of a further sum of £21M.

This does mean that there will be no further interim payments; future funds will be channelled through new FEC grants.

The spreadsheet (pdf) provides details of the allocations.

Revised Summary of Requirements

The Research Councils/AHRB published an initial summary of requirements in September 2004.  Following the Government's 6 January announcement (pdf) and further analysis, the Councils/AHRB have now (21 January 2005) published a revised summary of requirements including:

• summary of the main changes made to the September document (pdf 21kb)
• revised summary document (pdf 47kb)
• illustration of how the changes are likely to affect research proposal forms (pdf 47kb)

Allocation of £120M

On behalf of RCUK, Ian Diamond has sent a letter (pdf 32kb) dated 14 January 2005 to Vice-Chancellors/Principals/Deans of higher education institutions (HEIs).

This letter follows the announcement by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation, and Dr. Kim Howells, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education on 6 January 2005 regarding arrangements for Full Economic Costing of research grant proposals.

In addition to updating HEIs on progress in implementing changes to the way in which Research Councils and the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) will be funding research grants and research fellowships, the letter informs each HEI of the payment they will receive to provide the extra support to existing Research Council grants.

Background

Following the Government's announcement of reforms to the Dual Support system, the Research Councils/AHRB are to introduce new arrangements for research grants from September 2005.  The changes, to be made to fellowship and research grant policies, forms and processes, will allow the submission of grant applications under full economic costing principles from 1 September 2005.

Current application forms will be discontinued at the end of July 2005, with the new forms available from June, ready for submission from 1 September.  There will be a moratorium on applications during August while systems are switched over.

The Research Councils/AHRB have published a summary of their main requirements (pdf 100kb) for FEC-based proposals, including an illustration of how the changes are likely to affect research grant proposal forms (pdf 73kb).  Copies, with a covering letter, were sent to the administration departments of universities (pdf 42Kb) and other research organisations (pdf 33Kb) in September 2004. 

Further Information

A generic set of slides on the RC requirements (based on the seminars held in October) is available here (pdf 102.6Kb)

A copy of the presentation on Costing of Research Council Grants, given at the Universities Finance seminar (on 16 December 04) on the audit of TRAC is available here (pdf 85Kb)

• Background to the changes

• Research Councils/AHRB Dual Support Implementation Project

• Links to related sites

• FEC percentage announcement letter and statement (pdf)

More information, including emerging guidance documentation, can be found on the Research Councils' Research Administration Programme website.  Unregistered visitors can enter by clicking the “enter as a guest” button.

Contact:

Project Manager: Ann Durniat Tel: 01793 442159