Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme Call for proposals for the development of disability awareness training for employers

Transcription

1 Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018 Call for proposals for the development of disability awareness training for employers Guidance Manual

2 1. The Grant Scheme Introduction The National Disability Authority (NDA) has been awarded funding in 2018 to provide a grant for an initiative to promote Disability Awareness. The 2018 grant will be awarded to support the development of training material for disability awareness in the specific context of employment. Under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities employers are recognised as a key element in supporting the employment of persons with disabilities. There is also a commitment within the National Disability Inclusion Strategy requiring all public bodies and government departments to provide disability awareness training for their staff. There have been various small scale training initiatives carried out over the years by both private and public sector employers. Many employers avail of awareness courses and these can be delivered by private companies, or in other cases by organisations that have a particular expertise in a specific area of disability. It is considered that it would be helpful to have a suite of materials developed covering various types of disability and focused on employment, including the role of employers, HR departments, line managers, colleagues etc. This document is a funding call for proposals to develop a suite of employer disability awareness-raising materials. One grant will be awarded in This grant scheme is intended to fund the design and development of training materials in Phase 1 in 2018, and where possible to pilot these. Subject to availability of funding in 2019, Phase 2 is to focus on delivery of this training pending satisfaction with the quality of Phase 1 outputs. The NDA requests that applicants set out proposed approaches to both Phase 1 and Phase 2. This is to be done in such a way that they can be progressed separately. The objectives of the grant scheme are to enable employers to: understand disability, understand how best to support people with disabilities in employment, consider HR and Equality issues, ensure disability-friendly/competent work-place, 2

3 consider stages such as recruitment, interviews, career progression, etc. Phase 1 should concentrate on developing practical training modules that can be delivered in a workplace and that can be adapted to suit the requirements of that workplace; in addition there should be consideration given to how training materials can be made available to the widest possible audience, both for the duration of the project and potential routes to sustaining delivery thereafter. The training should also encourage links between employers and disability organisations in their area, whereby a shared mutual understanding of challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities in employment could be developed. Phase 2 is to focus on delivery of this training, subject to funding being available in Under Phase 2 the materials would be disseminated by way of a number of pilots that cover different employer types and organisation size. The results of these pilots would then be evaluated and form the basis of a recommendation by the NDA on how best to deliver the training. 2. Overview of Proposals This Guidance Manual outlines the purpose of the call for proposals and the criteria for evaluating all eligible proposals received. The NDA will look favourably on proposals: That are innovative and cost effective and that aim to have a multiplier effect at a national level in order to promote disability awareness among employers That have a focus on transferability whereby the approach and deliverables can be used by other organisations as a model of good practice That demonstrate partnerships between organisations to promote disability awareness and build competence That demonstrate a capacity to deliver training materials by the end of 2018 That present proposals for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, ensuring that deliverables from Phase 1 can be used, even if Phase 2 does not proceed. 3. Applying for a Grant The application form for funding under the Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme is made up of 8 parts. The application form should contain as much information as possible. Please submit 3 hard copies of the application form and an electronic copy of the application form in MS Word or PDF format. 3

4 If you have supporting material that is relevant to the content of your proposal, please submit it as well. The closing date for proposals is 12pm (Midday) on Friday, 31 August Application forms should be submitted to: Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018, c/o National Disability Authority, 25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4. D04 E409 MS Word copies should be sent to: and marked Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018 in the subject line. It is very important to note that either the electronic version or the hard copy versions of the proposal MUST be received on time or else the proposal will not be accepted and will not be evaluated. The electronic copy MUST be sent as an MS Word or PDF attachment to an and NOT by any other method, or in any other format; otherwise it will not be evaluated. The table below outlines the key milestones in the application process: Stage: Date/Time: Call for proposals issued 9 August 2018 Deadline for Completed Proposals 12pm (Midday), Friday 31 August 2018 Evaluation of proposals 3-7, September 2018 Successful Applicants Notified 3-7, September

5 2. Application Form The application form is comprised of: Part 1: Applicant Details Content here should be brief and to the point. When providing a description of the partner organisations, please keep it brief. If a lead organisation has been nominated please provide full contact details for the main contact person in the lead organisation Part 2: Project Details The information provided here should include the following: Project Aim and Objectives what is the aim of the project, what will it cover, why it is needed Project Deliverables and expected outcomes what deliverables and expected outcomes will the project generate Demonstrate how the application provides added value Benefits what will be the benefits of the project, who will it benefit and how this will be measured Risks what risks could have negative impacts on the project and how they will be dealt with or minimised Information in support of your organisations capacity and experience running similar such projects. Part 3: Project Costs Please list separately each proposed activity that may be eligible for funding Please list a separate cost for each activity and ensure that the costs include VAT and are quoted in Euro only Please include with the application form any further details you feel are relevant to Part 3, Part 4: Disclosure of Information under Freedom of Information Act 2014 This MUST be completed in full or the proposal will be considered ineligible. Part 5: Compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation This MUST be completed in full or the proposal will be considered ineligible. 5

6 Part 6: Disclaimer This MUST be completed in full or the proposal will be considered ineligible. Part 7: Requirements of the Scheme This MUST be completed in full or the proposal will be considered ineligible. Part 8: Checklist A final opportunity to make sure everything is in order. 3. How Proposals will be deemed eligible Sufficient detail must be provided on the application form to facilitate evaluation. The NDA will receive the proposals, oversee the evaluation of eligible proposals and make final recommendations in relation to the award of funding. The NDA reserves reserve the right not to consider incomplete proposals. No proposal will be considered eligible unless it meets ALL the following mandatory requirements: Either the soft- or hard-copy of the proposal must be received on the date and by the time specified above The organisations must be a charity or a company registered in the Republic of Ireland The organisations must be based in the Republic of Ireland All costs must be set out in Euros The organisations must have completed Part 4 of the application form. The organisations must have completed Part 5 of the application form. The organisations must have completed Part 6 of the application form. The organisations must have completed Part 7 of the application form. All 3 hard copies of the proposal form must be signed and dated in all the stated places. The electronic copy of the proposal form must be signed and dated in all the stated places. If it is not technically possible to provide an electronic signature, please make this known to the NDA when submitting your proposal. 6

7 The electronic copy must be sent as an MS Word or PDF attachment to an and not by any other method, or in any other format Please take time to note all of these requirements. Failure to meet them will cause a proposal to either be delayed, or deemed ineligible. 4. How Proposals will be evaluated The NDA will arrange for all eligible proposals to be evaluated. Using the criteria set out below all eligible proposals will be given a ranking. The overall criteria are as follows: Quality Capacity Value for Money The proposed marking scheme is included in the Appendix. The number of proposals to be sent forward for final evaluation will be dependent on: The number of eligible proposals received; The quality of eligible proposals received The amount of money available to fund the Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018 The NDA will have regard to the following when evaluating proposals received under this scheme: 1. The extent to which the proposal can promote disability awareness among employers and promote the benefits of employing people with disabilities 2. The experience and track record of the applicant(s) in achieving and managing high quality deliverables and in providing the necessary resources. 3. The capacity of the proposal to create a multiplier effect with sustainable and lasting outputs. 4. The overall quality and innovative approach of the proposal, including a clear and well developed proposal which is clear on the potential impact on employers and how outcomes will be achieved. 5. The overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal and the extent to which it represents value for money 7

8 In order to have an opportunity to be recommended for funding proposals are required to achieve at least 50% of the available marks under each criterion. As part of the evaluation process for the proposals, the NDA may require organisations to clarify statements and/or to provide additional information or make a presentation based on what they propose to deliver or on particular elements of their proposal. Details of other sources of funding (public and/or private) that are currently available will be taken into consideration when final recommendations are being made. 5. Conditions of the Disability Awareness Grant Scheme Please note that the NDA will NOT fund the following items under the Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018: Proposals from public bodies Attendance at training courses Normal overheads e.g. heating, electricity, rent Fund raising activities Attendance at conferences Media advertisements Information materials profiling and promoting individual organisations Elements of a project already funded from other sources Projects which have already commenced, i.e. existing projects Any type of capital spending e.g. on buildings, vehicles, etc. Please note these conditions carefully. If you are not sure about this aspect of your proposal, please seek clarification before you submit it. Any organisation in receipt of a grant under this scheme must agree to the following conditions prior to any funding being issued, or else risk losing the grant: 1. Provide evidence of tax compliance in accordance with NDA s financial procedures 2. Provide the most up to date audited accounts as submitted to the Companies Registration Office where applicable. 3. Agree to acknowledge the contribution of the NDA in any project materials and, where require, adhere to NDA branding guidelines 8

9 4. Submit proposed project materials to the NDA for approval prior to publication/printing 5. Provide reports and financial accounts for audit as required by the NDA 6. Provide all written undertakings required before any grant is issued 7. Use the funding strictly for the purpose for which it is granted 8. Successful grant applicants are expected to run the project for which they were funded and to have spent their funding as required by the NDA. NDA approval is required to extend the deadline. 9. To agree to share and make available for use by other organisations any funded materials. Please note that the relevant financial information WILL NOT be required by the NDA unless your proposal has been recommended for funding as a result of the evaluation process set out above. The provision of this information will be a requirement for the final decision by the NDA on which projects receive funding. Funding will be paid out based on a schedule to be agreed between the NDA and the successful applicants. The final portion of funding will be paid out subject to an evaluation. The money can only be paid out to a company or charity registered in the Republic of Ireland. This registration must have been completed before the closing date for proposals has passed. 6. Project Evaluation The successful proposal will be subject to an evaluation on completion of Phase 1 and if relevant Phase 2. The NDA requires the successful grant applicants to agree to this. The NDA reserves the right to engage a third-party to carry out the evaluation(s). An evaluation may consist of some, or all, of the following: How objectives have been met Any additional/unanticipated objectives achieved Actual versus planned outputs and deliverables of the project Impact/success of project Method used to monitor/track project 9

10 Lessons learnt from project, any risks or slippage encountered and how they are being addressed Discounted rates received and value for money or cost saving strategies employed If the organisations, subject to the evaluation, carried out any surveys or formal evaluations themselves these should be included also Electronic copies of any promotional materials that were created using money granted are also required 6. Auditing of Spending Under the Grant Scheme The NDA will audit all successful grant applicants under the Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme The NDA will ask each organisation to send in details of expenditure under the grant scheme, as well as the invoices and proof of payments associated with the invoices. All expenditure must be receipted and accounted for. Original documentation will be required, which will be returned once the audit process is complete. Organisations will usually be given at least two weeks from the date of the request to send the NDA their response. The NDA will then examine this documentation for completeness and consistency of expenditure compared with the original project proposal that received grant funding. If there are any questions that need to be resolved, the NDA will contact the nominated contact person to seek further information. If an organisation is unable to resolve the questions satisfactorily, that organisation will be audited if it receives further grant funding from the NDA. If expenditure on a project by an organisation differs significantly to that which was contained in the original grant proposal and approved for funding, or if funding has been used in an unauthorised manner, this may have an adverse effect on how future proposals from that organisation will be assessed by NDA. The organisation in question may also be audited. 7. Query handling All queries on the application process should be sent to: 10

11 and marked for the attention of Edward Crean in the subject line. Alternatively you can call the NDA at

12 APPENDIX PROPOSAL EVALUATION MARKING SCHEME Dept of Justice and Equality Disability Awareness Raising Grant Scheme 2018 Names of organisations: Total amount of funding sought: Criterion Maximum mark possible Mark allocated 1. Quality: 2. Capacity: Relevance to the theme Sustainability Any added value Innovative approach to the project Likely impact on promoting disability awareness among employers Track record with similar projects Ability to deliver in the timeframe allowed 12

13 Capacity to disseminate and have a multiplier effect Joint project in place 3. Value for money: 40 All listed costs are eligible Link between costs and deliverables Total marks 100 A minimum score of 50 marks is required for the proposal to receive further consideration General comments on proposal: Signed: Date: 13