GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26

Reference number: PROC-9177224

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Release date:: Tuesday 25 February 2025
Closing time:: Thursday 12 June 2025, at 02:00 PM (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Enquiry deadline:: Thursday 29 May 2025, at 02:00 PM (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Attention potential applicants

Please note an Addendum has been made to this PROC-9177224 Request for Tender (RFT). View the addendum under attachments for more information.

Summary

GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program (IVFP) is targeted at supporting Australian grains researchers connect with new partners by providing more opportunities for talented young international researchers to engage with talented early/mid-career Australian researchers.

This will be achieved by bringing international research talent to Australia on a sabbatical program to bolster grains-focussed national and regional research efforts targeted at predominantly GRDC prioritised pillars. The IVFP will facilitate improved connection of the best early and mid-career researchers in Australia and overseas to ensure enduring global scientific networks that promote the transfer of knowledge and technology for the benefit of the Australian grains industry.

Further, the GRDC IVFP would addresses a current gap available for Australian travel awards with the Fulbright program targeting researchers at a more junior level or senior level (Scholar Awards), and other programs targeting established researchers at a more senior level than the proposed GRDC IVFP.

Offer period

Offers will remain open for acceptance by the GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time.

Document contact and enquiries

Attention: Sarah Marchioro
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Email: tenders@grdc.com.au

Make all requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement in writing (email) prior to 2.00PM, 29 May 2025.

GRDC will publish all requests and responses to requests on the GRDC website under Questions and Answers at the bottom of this webpage.

Consortia response

GRDC will not accept Tenders from Consortia.

Lodgement of Tender

Submit your Tender response electronically through the Grains Investment Portal.

AusTender

https://www.tenders.gov.au/Advert/Show/1881c94b-0a57-41bd-8e89-7536819b1537

Description

GRDC has identified access to capacity in new/emerging research disciplines or access to capacity in scientific disciplines that have not historically been applied to Agricultural research as one mechanism through which to address perennial research problems and create greater value for grain growers. Further, it has recognised that the current and future research landscape requires fostering collaborative international engagement by providing enabling support to accelerate the delivery of research outputs in GRDC’s 2023-2028 RDE Strategic Plan through International Network-to-Network Collaborations involving multidisciplinary, complementary, and cross-cultural teams.

This investment seeks to partner emerging national and international research leaders from existing, new and/or traditionally non-grains focussed research disciplines with established Australian grains industry researchers to tackle intractable problems in GRDC’s strategic priority investment areas. The proposed investment program presents a broad open-call mechanism to drive further Australian grains industry access to new research capacity in GRDC’s strategic priority areas.

IVFP goals include:

1) Support for building research capacity towards activities that launch the international research network of networks (NoN) that will catalyse collaboration that results in an accelerated advancement of solution to R&D challenges after the award period and;

2) Foster a diverse and internationally competent Australian-based workforce trained in conducting and leading multiteam international collaboration that can be harnessed to address industry challenges targeted at the GRDC’s 2023-28 RD&E Strategic Plan to deliver benefit to Australian grower

The Proposal MUST be submitted by the Host Institution in Australia and not by the international visitor.

GRDC will award a maximum of 9 International Visiting Fellowships.

Outcome

From 2024/25, increased engagement and collaboration between early/mid-career Australian grains industry researchers and early/mid-career international research leaders (including from new research fields or research disciplines not historically engaged in grains research) leading to delivery of novel solutions to long-standing production constraints and new value creation opportunities for the Australian grains industry.

Outputs

Output 1. International Visiting Fellowship Program

International Visiting Fellowships Program: From January 2025, Australian researchers engaged in grains industry research are increasing collaboration with outstanding early/mid-career international researchers to deliver research outputs of greater value to Australia and international partners.

The IVFP is established to facilitate improved connection of the best early and mid-career researchers in Australia and overseas to leverage international R&D capability and promote the transfer of knowledge and technology for the benefit of the Australian grains industry. Under the IVFP, Australian research institutions will sponsor international visiting fellows (IVF’s). IVF’s will collaborate with researchers within the Australian host institution on grains-related research and visit researchers/industry at other institutions and within other regions during their Australian sabbatical. Opportunities to coordinate IVF sabbaticals with Australian-based international conferences will be explored.

Proposed Budget

GRDC will award a maximum of 9 International Visiting Fellowships with a budget of up to $100,000.00 per award.

Allowances for the budget are:

Return International Airfares: Up to $30,000.00 (Economy class airfares only)
Rent and Living Allowances: Up to $30,000.00

The ATO provides guidelines for the reasonable rates for accommodation and meals whilst travelling. This guide must be used when estimating accommodation and meal allowances.

Research and Engagement: Up to $40,000 (including regional travel program, research bench fees, consumables etc).

Proposed Contract & Term

GRDC will contract under the terms of the Visiting Fellowship Agreement.

The schedule(s) attached to the contract will detail the project details: the outcomes, outputs, milestones, budget, participating personnel and required intellectual property.

It is anticipated that any resultant contract in relation to this procurement will commence with a proposed term of 3 to 6 months.

Conditions for Participation

The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:

The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.
The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners.
The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.

Minimum Form and Content Requirements

The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:

Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.
Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.
Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ as part of Additional Minimum Form and Content Requirements
Statement of Compliance against the GRDC International Visiting Fellowship Agreement
GRDC Budget Template
Gannt Chart of timeline for Activities

Evaluation Criteria

In the table below are the Evaluation Criteria that the Tender Evaluation Team will use to assess the value for money of all Tenders.

No	Type	Weighting
	Technical – Qualitative evaluation criteria related to non-price factors such as methodology, project plan, track record, experience.
1	Personnel and Organisational Capability The area of collaborative research between the Visiting Fellow and host must have a connection to GRDC 2023-28 RD&E strategy. A. Host and Applicant must be able to demonstrate they are: i) Collaborative ii) Expert in their field iii) They have Freedom to Operate (FTO) with the tools they will be applying iv) Minimum 5 years since award of PhD or 6 years since award of Masters v) Have directly supervised at least one HDR (higher degree research) PhD or Masters students for a minimum of 3 years in their career (some may be current) vi) The timing of the visit must commence and be completed within the 2025-2026 financial year. B. The Host must also demonstrate: i) Have led or made a significant contribution to a GRDC project or other grains-focused research in the past 3 years. ii) Timeline of visiting fellow’s activities, including length of stay (minimum 3 months, up to 6 months) C. The applicant must demonstrate how the IVFs work aligns with GRDCs 5-year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to. D. The applicant will submit no more than 4 supporting documents which include: i) International Fellows CV ii) Gannt Chart outlining timeline of activities iii) Budget template iv) Letter of Support from international fellow’s home institution	100%
2	The applicant must have the support of the host and visiting fellow’s home institutions to undertake the IVF program in Australia, noting that: the host institution will be responsible for facilitating Visas, hosting the Visiting Fellow, facilitating collaborations/connections with other researchers and institutions and reporting back to GRDC at the end of the Fellow’s visit on the value provided to industry. the home institution will continue to employ the Visiting Fellow and pay the Visiting Fellow’s salary (unweighted).	N/A
3	Visa - The applicant must obtain a visa to undertake the IVF program in Australia.	N/A
2	Price - The tendered budget.	N/A
3	Risk - Risks inherent in the application including the degree of compliance with the draft contract and any actual or perceived conflict of interest.	N/A

Lodging a Tender

Attachments

Questions & Answers

Q1. I am interested in applying for the GRDC IVFP/Fulbright Australian Travel Awards at the senior level (Scholar Awards) and would appreciate any guidance on the application process. Could you please provide details on how this program works and the steps required to apply? I would appreciate any information regarding eligibility, timelines, and application requirements.

A1. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities Page for PROC-9177224 for information on how to apply. This includes information on Eligibility, Conditions for Participation, Minimum Form and Content Requirements and Evaluation Criteria, etc. Please note that GRDC is not responsible for the Fulbright Australian Travel Awards.

Q2. I am writing this email to request you information on how I can apply for GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26.

A2. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities Page for PROC-9177224 for information on how to apply. This includes information on Eligibility, Conditions for Participation, Minimum Form and Content Requirements and Evaluation Criteria, etc.

Q3. I recently came across the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26 (Reference number: PROC-9177224) on LinkedIn, through my Australian professor's profile.

I would like to inquire if I am eligible to submit an application for this fellowship. I have recently submitted my PhD thesis, which is currently under evaluation and awaiting the final visa.

A3. Please refer to Evaluation Criteria 1 on the tenders website which outlines the criteria which must be met to apply (GRDC Current Opportunities Page for PROC-9177224).

The host and applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are a minimum of 5 years post award of their PhD and You must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5-year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q4. I am enquiring about the GRDC international fellowship program

As the budget stands:

Return International Airfares: Up to $30,000.00 (Economy class airfares only)
Rent and Living Allowances: Up to $30,000.00

But I am wondering if it is possible to argue a case for converting airfare funds into rent and living allowance for a prospective candidate?

Because of the cost of living in Melbourne, and given the value of having a longer visiting fellow, doing such a conversion could be quite beneficial.

A4. If you meet the Conditions for Participation, GRDC will review a submitted application. You will need to ensure you submit a detailed budget using the GRDC Budget Template which clearly outlines the reasonable costs that will be required for the visiting fellow.

Q5. I am a PhD student in plant biology and it would be helpful to understand if I was eligible for the Visiting Program.

A5. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities – PROC-9177224- GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026 webpage for more information on this procurement. Evaluation Criteria 1 will outline the criteria which must be met to apply.

The host and applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are a minimum of 5 years post award of their PhD and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5 year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q6. I have recently been offered a visiting research placement and I would like to enquire whether my visiting research placement would be eligible for the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships?

A6. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities – PROC-9177224- GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026 webpage for more information on this procurement. Evaluation Criteria 1 will outline the criteria which must be met to apply.

Q7. I have reviewed the eligibility criteria, and I note the requirement for applicants to be at least five years post-award of their PhD. I would like to inquire whether highly experienced researchers with a Master’s degree track record of publications and collaborative projects could be considered for the program.

If a PhD is a strict requirement, I would also appreciate any guidance on alternative GRDC funding opportunities that might be suitable for someone with a visiting research placement.

A7. Please review the Current Opportunities webpage as you will find an addendum that has been applied to PROC-9177224 - GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026.

The addendum has altered some of the Evaluation 1 criteria and changes have been highlighted in red text. Masters qualified people may submit an application if they meet the eligibility requirements that have been made to the addendum.

Q8. I recently completed my PhD and am planning to apply for the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26. I wanted to confirm whether this opportunity is open to researchers from food security centres. Additionally, would it be possible to collaborate on an application with UQ/QAAFI? I would appreciate any guidance you can provide.

A8. Anyone can apply for the international fellowship however the host institute must be able to demonstrate how the international fellows work aligns with GRDCs 5-year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to. It is possible to collaborate with UQ/QAAFI.

Please refer to the evaluation criteria when considering your application.

Q9. The researcher wishing to apply is a talented early-career researcher specializing in crop root anatomy. He has worked with some of the top root anatomy research teams in the world over the years. The researcher completed his PhD approximately two years ago. Although he has been involved in PhD supervision, he has not been the primary supervisor. We would greatly appreciate it if you could provide any information on the flexibility of these application criteria.

A9. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities Page for PROC-9177224 for information on how to apply. This includes information on Eligibility, Conditions for Participation, Minimum Form and Content Requirements and Evaluation Criteria, etc. The host and applicant must be able to demonstrate how they meet the evaluation criteria and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5 year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q10. I recently came across the advertisement for the GRDC International Visiting Fellowship Program 2025/26. I would like to inquire about the eligibility criteria for this program. Specifically, I am interested to know whether international researchers, such as myself, are eligible to apply, or if the program is exclusively open to Australian researchers.

A10. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities – PROC-9177224- GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026 webpage for more information on this procurement. Evaluation Criteria 1 will outline the criteria which must be met to apply.

The host and applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are a minimum of 5 years post award of their PhD or 6 years since award of master’s and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5-year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q11. I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my keen interest in applying for the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26. I hold a Ph.D. in Agriculture (Plant Protection/Plant Pathology), awarded in 2013, and I am currently based in India.

I would be grateful if you could kindly confirm my eligibility for the program as an Indian national with a Ph.D. Additionally, I would appreciate any guidance or documents required for the application process, and the amount of the fellowship per month.

A11. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities – PROC-9177224- GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026 webpage for more information on this procurement. The Evaluation Criteria will outline the criteria which must be met to apply. This includes information on Eligibility, Conditions for Participation, Minimum Form and Content Requirements etc. The host and applicant must be able to demonstrate how they meet the evaluation criteria and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5 year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q12. I wanted to check with you what the eligibility for the above call is. I am nearly 16 years post PhD and currently a PI on a GRDC project that has just been funded and have long standing collaboration with some Australian universities.

A12. In response to your question anyone can apply for the international fellowship however the host and applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are a minimum of 5 years post award of their PhD and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDC's 5-year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to.

Q13. Can you advise if organisations / universities from overseas can apply for this of does it have to be an Australian based organisation that applies on behalf of an international university to bring in a researcher from overseas?

What are the amounts that can be requested and the scope of how the funds can be used - eg. flights, local accommodation while here researching, do they have to be researching something on a GRDC specific topic list? etc

I'm wondering if you can call me to talk through this.

A13. Please see the GRDC Current Opportunities – PROC-9177224- GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/2026 webpage for more information on this procurement.

The Proposal MUST be submitted by the Host Institution in Australia and not by the international visitor as outlined in the "Description" section of the Tender.

Anyone who meets the Conditions for Participation is welcome to apply for the international fellowship. However, the host and applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are a minimum of 5 years post award of their PhD and you must be able to demonstrate how your work is collaborative and aligns with GRDCs 5 year strategic plan and which focus area the work aligns to. The amounts that can be requested is clearly outlined in the "Proposed Budget" section.

We are unable to discuss over the phone as we aim to keep the procurement process transparent and fair to all, and as part of our commitment to this process, I shall de-identify your question and post the Q&A on our GRDC Current Opportunities page.