Centre of Excellence Fund

Step 1: Check your eligibility

• Before you apply, please read the guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements.
• You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website.

Step 2: Prepare your application

• Applying for the Centre of Excellence Fund is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
• The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan ahead of the closing date. You can download a copy of the application form prior to commencing your application.
• Applicants must prepare a detailed business case in line with NSW Government Business Case Guidelines that includes a case for change, cost benefit analysis, financial analysis, commercial analysis, and management analysis. The complexity and the size of the business case should be proportional to the scope, value, and complexity of the project.
• A business case template is available on the Office of Sport’s website. Applicants are permitted to use their own format given it follows the same structure as the business case template.

Step 3:  Submit your application

• Complete the application by filling in each of the sections (including completing a business case and providing supporting documentation).
• Submit the application by the closing date/time of 1pm, Monday 5 December 2022.
• Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.
• Late applications and supporting documentation
• If for some unforeseen reason you are not able to lodge your application or supporting document(s) on time, you must contact infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au at the earliest possible time and within one hour of the closing date/time.
• Late applications and supporting document(s) can only be considered where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date/time and where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
• Any late supporting documentation received within five working days after the closing date/time may be taken into consideration for assessment by the Program Team.
• The final determination on whether a late application or supporting document(s) will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by a probity advisor.

The Office of Sport conducts a preliminary assessment of all applications ensuring that the: 

• Applicant organisation is an eligible applicant
• Project is in an eligible location
• Applicant has provided an ABN/ACN and/or Incorporation number and/or Indigenous Incorporation Number. 

The Office of Sport will undertake an eligibility check on all grant applications and make recommendations to the Grant Assessment Panel on ineligible projects. The Grant Assessment Panel will make a final determination on eligibility.

Criterion 1: Talent and development pathways (25%)

• Demonstrate how the project will improve existing or deliver new talent pathway outcomes (i.e., assisting in athlete progression from pre-elite to elite and supporting the holistic development of the pre-elite athlete and their effective case management).
• Demonstrate how the project will enhance or deliver new talent pathway outcomes for women and girls (i.e., dedicated female pathway programs improved through facility enhancements, welcoming environments, and programs).
• Demonstrate how the proposal will improve and/or support athlete welfare opportunities throughout talent and development pathways.
• Demonstrate how the project will create new and/or foster existing strategic partnership(s) to deliver talent and development pathway outcomes.
• Provide evidence of support from the relevant National / State Sporting Organisation(s).
• Describe how this project fits into your (and partner(s)) organisation’s strategic plan and supports growth.
• Describe how this project aligns to the objectives and focus of this Fund and broader Office of Sport strategies.

Criterion 2: Community engagement (25%)

• Demonstrate how the proposed Centre of Excellence will meet the needs of and be accessible to community users in the facility’s catchment area. Provide detail of community profile, demonstrated need, project urgency, key user groups and project beneficiaries.
• Provide evidence of how the increase in community engagement will be enhanced as part of this project.
• Demonstrate how the project will maximise facility utilisation and access opportunities for a range of community user groups. Attach a Facility Use Schedule that illustrates such use.
• Describe how the project will create new and/or foster existing strategic partnership(s) to deliver community engagement outcomes

Criterion 3: Exemplar facilities that are inclusive (20%)

• Provide evidence that the project is a new Centre of Excellence development or enhancement of an existing Centre of Excellence. Existing projects should clearly demonstrate how project delivery has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and/or where significant new and additional scope is to be delivered.
• Outline the proposed scope of works and include supporting documentation (e.g., facility brief and concept, schematic or detailed design plans).
• Describe the elements of the facility design and physical environment that will specifically cater to female users (pathway athletes and/or community users) and how these changes were informed through consultation or evidence.
• Demonstrate how the project will lead to additional participation and program content/scheduling for a range of user groups including women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (if applicable).
• Describe how the project delivers a functional, flexible, and future proof facility (i.e., multipurpose, and multi-use facility components).
• Demonstrate how the project has incorporated the design principles identified in the Fund guidelines (e.g., universal design principles and design for dignity).
• Demonstrate how the project will include environmentally sustainable and climate Centre of Excellence Fund | Program Guidelines – 2022 - 2023 (Round 2) 13 resilient materials, technologies, and practices.
• Explain how the project will include the Premier’s Priority - Greening our city and Greener public spaces.
• Explain any placed-based planning showing the location of the project, if it is accessible, convenient, and connected (Connecting with Country and Designing with Country for priority user groups).

Criterion 4: Value for money (15%)

• Provide a detailed budget including project capital costs and funding sources. The budget should clearly explain the project components that will be funded by the grant and the components to be funded by the applicant.
• Provide evidence of approval for committed funding co-contribution(s). All applications are expected to provide a minimum 50% financial co-contribution of the estimated total project cost. Applicants that cannot meet the 50% funding co-contribution expectation may apply for financial hardship through the application process.
• Provide evidence of the applicant’s capacity to fund and manage ongoing operations including routine and lifecycle maintenance costs.
• Provide evidence of robust itemised cost planning and include supporting documentation (e.g., cost estimates, revenue projections or co-contributions)

Criterion 5: Project deliverability and applicant capability (15%)

• Provide evidence of landowner(s) consent for the project.
• Demonstrate the capacity to deliver the project through robust strategies for procurement, project management and risk management.
• Outline any partnership model(s) (including asset management) that would be established or continued to deliver the project (e.g., joint use agreements).
• Provide evidence of the ability to commence project governance (e.g., establishment and operation of a project steering committee, or equivalent, to oversee the delivery of the project) and planning activities (e.g., activities associated with submitting a Development Application) within three months of the execution date of the funding agreement, and project construction will be completed within two years of commencing.
• Provide a detailed project plan that illustrates key project tasks and milestones and forecast delivery timeline.
• Demonstrate proven experience in delivering similar scale and type of project(s). This should consider the applicant’s proposed project management resources and any specialist external resources to be engaged to deliver the project.
• List any assumptions, constraints, risks, and dependencies in delivering the project.
• Demonstrate how the project will contribute to economic employment opportunities (estimated number of direct and indirect FTE and PTE positions) o Job creation during design and construction (e.g., design team, project managers, contractors and supply chain opportunities including materials and maintenance), and o Job creation during operation (e.g., facility managers and other economic benefits such as hosting future events that provide a visitor economy benefit).