Running investment processes
Negotiated

As part of the move towards a more 'Stable Funding Environment' we have introduced negotiated processes to help best allocate our investment funds. (Read more about the 'Stable Funding Environment' initiative in our library.)

This allows us to negotiate directly with researchers who have an established track record with us to determine the scope of a new research contract that builds on an existing one.

Who is eligible?

Research teams with a long-term, substantial Foundation? research contract (at least six years in duration and $1 million in value) are eligible to renew this contract through negotiation.

What are the steps?

1. Invitation

We send letters to those with eligible contracts, inviting them to negotiate a new contract. From receiving the letter, organisations have two weeks to accept or decline the invitation to negotiate.

2. Terms sheet

For organisations that agree to negotiate, we mutually develop a terms sheet. This sets out the process the negotiation will take and the broad scope of the research.

It also agrees the membership of the panel who will complete the quality assurance process.

3. Proposal

The research organisation then develops a full proposal based on the scope agreed in the terms sheet.

4. Quality Assurance

The agreed panel then does the necessary quality assurance checks. This typically takes three days and the Foundation and the research organisation split the costs.

5. Negotiation

Representatives from the Foundation and the research organisation negotiate and agree the final scope, length, number of full-time-equivalent staff and key researchers for the new contract.

6. Approval and contracting

The resulting proposal is then submitted to the Foundation investment committee for approval.
Once approved, contracting is completed and the research contract begins.

Still have questions? See our frequently asked questions for negotiated processes