20 January 2026

Question: Is DFAT able to share an indicative agreement?

Answer: Yes. DFAT can provide an indicative grant agreement. The final agreement will remain subject to negotiation. Interested bidders may request a copy by emailing PacificEduPartnerships@dfat.gov.au.

Question: Can DFAT share any expectations around any overheads (from DFAT) and cash and in-kind (from partners)?

Answer: DFAT anticipates committing up to AUD 22 million of its own funds to the program. A portion of these funds is expected to be allocated to DFAT management costs, including an independent evaluation, with costs anticipated to be less than AUD 500,000. Partner contributions (financial or in-kind) to the program and achieving its outcomes would be in addition to DFAT funds and assessed accordingly as part of the published selection criteria.

Question: Does DFAT require a budget by the 6 March 2026 grant submission deadline and if so, is there a template to be completed for that budget?

Answer: A full budget is not required for the 6 March 2026 submission and there is no budget template. Applicants should outline a credible proposal that fits within DFAT's financial contribution and any proposed co‑contribution. Further detail on co‑funding or other resourcing may be included in the optional annex. A detailed budget will be developed during the design stage with the selected partner.

5 February 2026

Question: The Pacific Research Program Phase Two is now listed as a five-year investment (PRP II, 2022-2027), where previously it was a four-year program. Can you confirm the tender is still open and the timelines have not changed?

Answer: The Pacific Research Program Phase II remains a 4-year program. This has been corrected on the webpage. The competitive grant process for the Pacific Higher Education Partnerships Investment remains open until Friday 6 March 2026, 17:00 AEDT, and the anticipated program timelines remain unchanged.

Question: The grant is not available on GrantConnect at present. Can you please explain this?

Answer: DFAT Aid Grants are not required to be advertised on GrantConnect. As DFAT Aid grants awarded in the support of Overseas Development Assistance (Contributions) are exempt by the CGRPs.

Question: Do we need to identify our design expert at this stage? If yes, does DFAT have a list of preferred design experts?

Answer: You do not need to nominate a design expert at this stage, the full program design will be developed after selection. DFAT does not require selection from a preferred list. However, DFAT can provide guidance to support the selection of suitable expertise during the design phase if needed.

Question: Do we need to identify our Team Leader at this stage?

Answer: No. The documents do not require applicants to nominate a Team Leader at the proposal stage. The Invitation allows applicants to provide optional annexes such as biographies of up to five proposed key staff.

Question: Is there a set management fee awarded to the successful university/consortia?

Answer: Applicants must propose activities and budgets within the maximum envelope of AUD 22 million over four years (excluding co‑financing). Final funding arrangements will be negotiated after selection.

Question: Are cash contributions required?

Answer: Partner contributions (financial or in-kind) to the program will be assessed accordingly as part of the published selection criteria (value for money).

Question: Are LoS and certifications considered to be two separate documents?

Answer: Yes. They are separate documents. Consortium applicants must provide a letter outlining the proposed roles of each partner, the relationship between consortium members, and their intent to collaborate (the 'LoS'). The Organisation's Certification is a separate, mandatory signed declaration that must be submitted for each consortium partner.

Question: Can you confirm that the consortium letter does not count towards the page limits specified in sections 3.2 and 3.3?

Answer: Correct. Letters describing the consortium member's mandate, their proposed role, and their intent to collaborate do not count towards the page limits specified in Sections 3.2 and 3.3.

Question: What is the page limit for the consortium letter? Could you share a template for the consortium letter?

Answer: There is no specific page limit and no prescribed template for the consortium letter. Applicants may use their own format, provided the letter clearly outlines the organisation's mandate, proposed role, and intent to collaborate.

Question: Can you confirm that the 7‑page limit stipulated in Section 3.3 (response to cross‑cutting issues, risk and design) is in addition to the 20‑page maximum response to the selection criteria?

Answer: Yes. The 7‑page limit for Section 3.3 is separate from, and in addition to, the 20‑page maximum for responding to the selection criteria in Section 3.2.

13 February 2026

Question: Can DFAT confirm that the objective of the investment is to fund a lead organisation or consortium to design and deliver a coordinated, multi-year program comprising multiple aligned initiatives that collectively strengthen research capability across Pacific higher education systems, rather than a single standalone project?

Answer: Yes. The investment is intended to fund a single lead organisation or consortium to design and implement a coordinated, multi year program consistent with the proposed program goal and outcomes we have articulated in the documentation. We would envisage that multiple aligned initiatives, projects or activities would be required to deliver on these outcomes.