NPRP RFP
NUCLEAR POLICY RESEARCH PROGRAMME (NPRP)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Research Areas
NPRP Research areas:
i)
International governance and legislative
frameworks,
ii)
Nuclear safety, security and safeguards,
iii)
Civil and international nuclear liability,
iv)
Public perception of nuclear energy and
v)
Human resource development
RFP number
Category
Open Date for White Paper
Close Date for White Paper
NRF2014NPR-NPRP001
Directed Call
27 Oct 2014
17 Nov 2014
Proposals must be submitted via NPRP’s RITA
Website (https://rita.nrf.gov.sg/NPR/default.aspx)
by 1200 hrs Singapore time (GMT+08:00) of the
stipulated date.
Online: 27 Jan 2015, 1200 hrs (noon)
Hard copy: 3 Feb 2015, 1200hrs (noon)
Nuclear Policy Research Programme Secretariat
c/o: Ministry of Trade and Industry (Ms Ng Yee
Theng)
100 High Street, #08-01, The Treasury
Singapore 179434
Email: ng_yee_theng@mti.gov.sg
Close Date for Full proposal submission
Contact
(For proposal submission)
Other instructions
For more information, please refer to
https://rita.nrf.gov.sg/
NPRP RFP
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: NUCLEAR POLICY RESEARCH PROGRAMME
Background
1.
The Nuclear Policy Research Programme (NPRP) is an initiative under the Nuclear Safety
Research and Education Programme (NSREP).
2.
The NPRP aims to build capabilities in nuclear policy research covering areas such as nuclear
safety and security, legislation and regulatory issues, as well as civil liability regimes. This will
complement the scientific and technical research conducted under the NSREP to develop a local pool
of expertise to support Singapore’s efforts to (i) understand regional nuclear developments and
assess their implications for Singapore, (ii) independently assess and respond to regional radiological
emergencies, (iii) establish relevant engagement platforms and participate in regional and
international fora and (iv) monitor the progress of nuclear energy technologies so as to keep our
options open for the future.
Scope of Grant Call
3.
The NPRP is launching a research grant call to:
a.
Build nuclear policy expertise in local research/ academic institutions, so that they can
be tapped on as a resource for policy analysis and international engagement.
b.
Strengthen our understanding of:
i. International and regional regulatory and legislative frameworks and the
associated human resource requirements;
ii. Civil liability in the event of a regional nuclear accident with trans-boundary impact
on Singapore;
iii. Public perception on nuclear energy with an aim to improve public
communications relating to areas like Emergency Preparedness and Response
(EPR); and
iv. Human resource development of nuclear safety experts so as to support continued
engagement global and regional partners to keep abreast of nuclear energy
developments.
c.
Support efforts to propose and assess frameworks, mechanisms and institutions for
strengthening regional cooperation on nuclear safety, security, safeguards and EPR.
4.
In addition to preparing research papers, successful respondents to the grant call will be
expected to organise local seminars and conferences, participate in overseas forums, engage
distinguished experts so as to facilitate exchanges among the nuclear policy research community,
and sustain future collaborations with overseas counterparts.
5.
With the above objectives, the NPRP has identified five research areas, namely (i)
international governance and legislative frameworks, (ii) nuclear safety, security and safeguards, (iii)
civil and international nuclear liability, (iv) public perception of nuclear energy and (v) human
resource development.
NPRP RFP
6.
Submitted proposals should cover one or more of the research questions/ research areas.
Proposals should also specify the associated manpower requirements (e.g. principal investigators
(PIs), full-time equivalent research fellows). Researchers will be expected to produce research
publications/ reports, and are also expected to build networks in the nuclear policy research field
(e.g. by engaging relevant experts for collaborations).
7.
The proposed duration for the research, including completion of the final reports and all
miscellaneous project activities, shall not exceed three (3) years, and shall be tied to specific KPIs
proposed. The proposed schedule must be realistic, allowing sufficient time for the preparation of
final report and for the review of results.
Eligibility and Funding Support
9.
This call is open to Singapore-based Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), Research Institutes
(RIs) and not-for-profit organisations.
10.
Proposals should not be receiving funding from or be currently considered for funding by
other Singapore public agencies.
11.
Funding awarded can be used to carry out research collaborations with researchers at key
regional/ internationally-renowned institutions, but cannot be used to support overseas research
activities. All funding awarded must be used to carry out the research activities in Singapore (i.e.
overseas research collaborators must be based in Singapore).
12.
Singapore-based IHLs, RIs and not-for-profit organisations will qualify for up to 100% funding
support of approved direct qualifying costs of a project. Only Singapore-based IHLs and not-forprofit entities will be allowed support for indirect costs. Indirect costs will be capped at 20% of
direct qualifying costs.
Assessment Criteria
13.
Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
a. Relevance of proposals to the identified five research areas / scope of grant call;
b. Benefits to Singapore in terms of capabilities to be built in the local research community
in nuclear policy research; and
c.
14.
Academic track record of the research team, i.e. whether proposed members have the
relevant expertise and complementary research strengths.
Proposals that:
a. Include collaborations with overseas nuclear experts; and/or
b. Demonstrate strong commitment to international collaborations that facilitate
knowledge transfer from policy institutions with expertise/ experience in nuclear energy
NPRP RFP
policy research will be assessed favourably. The details of such collaborations should be
indicated clearly in submitted proposals.
Application and Evaluation process
15.
The call for proposals has two stages: (i) White Paper stage; and (ii) Full Proposal stage.
(i) White Paper stage
16.
In response to the Request-for-Proposals (RFP), applicants, i.e. PIs, should first submit an
electronic application on the Research, Innovation and Technology Administration (RITA) system.
The PI is required to sign up for a RITA UserID if the PI does not already have one. At the White
Paper stage, it is not necessary for all Co-PIs and collaborators to sign up for a RITA UserID; only the
PI submitting the application needs to do so. Please refer to the “NRF - Researcher User Guide” that
is available at the grant call RITA site for more information.
17.
Applicants are required to (i) fill up the online RITA application, and (ii) attach the
completed White Paper using the Microsoft Word template provided in the RITA site, and the
required supporting documents. Separate submissions outside of RITA will not be considered.
18.
The White Paper should keep to a maximum of 5 pages in minimum size 12-point font with
reasonable margins, describing the research programme being proposed with the following
information:
a. Objectives of the proposed research programme. The proposals should cover at least one of
the five research areas described in the section “Scope of Grant Call” (see Pg 2 of Request
for Proposal));
b. Brief overview of the individual projects to be carried out (including how they relate to each
other and to the objectives of the programme);
c. Expected research outputs and outcomes, and proposed key performance indicators (KPIs)
for the programme (which should be linked to measuring progress towards the objectives of
the programme); and
d. Budget for the entire programme.
19.
CVs (2 pages per PI, Co-PI or collaborator in the format specified in the Application Form)
and references (up to 2 pages per White Paper) may be attached as supporting documents and will
not be counted towards the 5-page limit.
20.
The budget for the entire programme must be broken down into the following broad
categories, mainly: (a) expenditure on manpower (EOM); and (b) other operating expenditure (OOE),
with sub-categories for conferences/overseas working visits/meetings, and miscellaneous costs or
others. Please refer to Annex A for the list of supportable costs when proposing the project budget.
(ii) Full Proposal Stage
21.
Lead PIs of the shortlisted White Papers will be invited to submit Full Proposals via the
online RITA application form. The NPRP evaluation panel will then assess the Full Proposals and
select the proposals which will be awarded funding.
NPRP RFP
Submission Timelines
22.
White Papers must be submitted using the RITA White Paper application form. White Papers
must be lodged in the RITA system by the deadline for online submissions on 17 November 2014,
1200 hrs.
23.
PIs whose White Papers are shortlisted will be notified by end-December 2014. An email
notification will then be sent to shortlisted applicants for the submission of Full Proposals.
24.
At the Full Proposal stage, all applications must be endorsed online by the Director of
Research of the lead PI’s local host institution and lodged in the RITA system by 27 January 2015,
1200 hrs (noon). In addition, TWO hardcopies of the proposals must be submitted to the NPRP
secretariat by 3 February 2015, 1200 hrs (noon).
Result
25.
Successful Full Proposals which are accepted and approved by NPRP will be notified by 1st
quarter 2015, and work on these projects will commence thereafter.
NPRP RFP
Annex A: GUIDE ON PROJECT COST ITEMS
Type of expenses
Description
Expenditure on Manpower (EOM)-Related Expenses
Supportable?
PIs’ and co-PIs’ EOM
Yes.
EOM cost for other fulltime research staff
(excluding PIs and co-PIs)
Pro-rated salaries for
work done by related
researchers
Annual leave
Staff insurance
Visiting experts
Training
Staff recruitment and
related cost
Staff relocation cost
EOM includes salaries, CPF and fringe benefits
including medical, dental, contribution to welfare
fund, bonuses, incentive payments etc.
As part of overall compensation to employees
provided such costs are reasonable and are
incurred under formal established and consistently
applied policies of the local host institution. The
salaries offered to staff should be reasonable, in
line with local market benchmarks and comply
with the formal established pay scale of the local
host institution that is consistently applied
regardless of the source of funds. Overtime pay is
not supportable.
For researchers not fully committed to the project
but employed by the same public local host
institution, and who contribute a proportion of
their time towards the projects, pro-rated salaries
in line with local market benchmarks and in
compliance with the formal established pay scale
of the local host institution may be claimed.
Overtime pay is not supportable.
The number of days of leave accorded to staff must
be in accordance with the formal policies of the
local host institution that are consistently applied
regardless of the source of funds.
Not allowable unless they are incurred under an
established and consistently applied policy of the
host institution. Host institution may be requested
to certify that such payments are in accordance
with its established policy or on the same terms as
the other staff.
This refers to honoraria or salaries of overseas
experts invited to participate in the projects.
Funding for training of research personnel should
be restricted to personnel employed under the
project grant and for training that is of direct
benefit to, and specific to the research project.
Examples of such costs are advertisements and
recruitment agency costs.
Staff relocation, settling-in allowances, etc, are
allowable only for senior expatriates if the costs
are specifically provided for and approved in the
project grant.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes, if
participation of
visiting expert is
assessed to be
necessary.
Yes.
No.
No.
NPRP RFP
Type of expenses
Description
Other Operating Expenses (OOE)-Related Expenses
Supportable?
Local Conferences,
seminars and workshops
Yes.
Overseas working visits,
forums and meetings
Miscellaneous costs
Admin overheads costs
For conferences and workshops that are directly
relevant to the research area or necessary to
accomplish the project objectives for PIs, coinvestigators, collaborators, researchers and
research students funded under the project grant.
This can include anchoring or organising a
Distinguished Visitor Programme.
For short-term visits/meetings made by PIs, co-PIs,
collaborators, researchers and research students
or visiting experts funded under the project grant
for the purpose of carrying out research work
necessary to accomplish the projects’ objectives.
Travel components that are allowed include
roundtrip airfare up to the class of travel normally
entitled (by the home institution), moderate class
hotel accommodation for the duration of the
visit/meeting and daily subsistence and transport
allowance.
Forum/conference registration fees may also be
included.
Examples are postage and courier services,
publication page charges specifically required for
the project, local transport for meetings made by
PIs, co-PIs, collaborators, researchers and visiting
experts funded under the project grant for the
purpose of carrying out research work necessary to
accomplish the project objectives etc.
However, total miscellaneous costs should not
exceed $2,000 per year.
This includes:
 Utilities and telecommunications costs
 Refreshments and entertainment expenditure
 Lease / Rent
 Insurance
 General office consumables, e.g. stationery,
printing, photocopying
 Purchase of books, manuscripts, journals or
reports
 Transport costs
 Costs specifically related or justified for the
projects
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
However, total admin overheads cost should not
exceed $50,000 per year.
Outsourcing of activities
Outsourcing of research projects is not supportable
but subcontracting of non-research work (e.g., the
No.
NPRP RFP
Cost of capital works /
general infrastructure
development of tools for the research) is
supportable if justified.
This refers to general building and renovation costs
not necessary for the purpose of carrying out the
research.
No.