Open Call: AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program

Background

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program goal is to invest in research, development and extension that improves the sustainability, productivity and competitiveness of the Australian thoroughbred industry.

To ensure the Program goal is achieved, AgriFutures Australia is currently seeking research proposals to address the investment priorities within the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program RD&E Plan 2022-2027.

AgriFutures Australia welcomes Preliminary Research Proposals, that address one or more of the strategies within the R&D objectives for the industry and outlined in the AgriFutures Australia Thoroughbred Horses 5-year RD&E Plan 2022-2027.

The areas of focus for this Open Call are:

  • Employment pathways in industry
    •  Develop pathways for industry to attract and retain a sustainable workforce.
  • Environmental sustainably
    • Develop data on baseline and best practice environmental management of carbon on thoroughbred farms
  • Technology
    • Develop technology and/or innovations to improve the sustainability, productivity and competitiveness of the Australian thoroughbred industry
  • Workplace health and safety
    • Gap analysis to determine opportunities to reduce the risks associated with workplace health and safety within the thoroughbred industry.
    • Develop recommendations for industry best practice approaches to workplace health and safety.
  • Thoroughbred welfare and safety
    • Develop solutions to improve the welfare and safety of thoroughbreds including addressing recommendations made by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG).

Download full Open Call document

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Open Call closes at 12pm (AEST) Wednesday 16 April 2025.

Timeline

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Activity
Date

Open Call – Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) applications open
Wednesday, 26 February 2025

End of period for questions or requests for information
5pm AEDT Wednesday, 19 March 2025

Open Call – applications close
12pm AEST Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Intended completion date of evaluation of respondents responses by Panel to progress to FRP submissions
Mid-May 2025

Open Call – Full Research Proposal (FRP) applications open
Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Open Call – FRP applications close
12pm AEST Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Intended completion date of evaluation of respondents responses
Mid-August 2025

Negotiations with respondents (if applicable)
August – October 2025

Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement
November 2025

Evaluation criteria

The following criteria will be used to assess your application and will have equal weighting applied:

  • How relevant is the project to the research priorities of AgriFutures Australia?
  • How relevant is the project to the research priorities of the Program?
  • How important do you think it is for AgriFutures Australia to invest in this research?
  • How much value do the benefits of this research provide to industry?
  • How important is this research to industry?
  • Was the industry consulted or were adequate industry letters of support required?
  • How important are the expected outcomes of this project to industry?
  • How important are the outputs/deliverables from this project to the industry?
  • The value for money for this project.
  • The project design – how conceptually sound and technically feasible is the project?
  • The potential for adoption in industry.
  • The potential for commercial pathways.
  • The value of any potential IP resulting from this project.
  • The capability of the Project Lead.
  • The experience of the Project Lead.
  • The capability of the Research Organisation.
  • The experience of the Research Organisation.

Proposals should clearly indicate the following:

  • The project benefits for the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry.
  • How the project outputs and outcomes will be communicated and extended to industry.
  • The objectives and outcomes of the proposed project and the link to the R&D objectives.
  • Who will be undertaking the majority of the work, including statistical analysis (it must be clear if new
  • staff and/or students are to be employed to undertake the work)
  • The plan for extension and adoption of research outcomes from the project activity work, i.e. beyond distribution of summaries, journal papers and conference presentations.
  • Where relevant, proposals should include collaboration with experts in the field, which may not be located in Australia.
  • The researcher’s understanding of past research in this field.

Researcher submission checklist

The researcher must complete the checklist prior to the submission being accepted:

  • If the project requires statistical analysis, has a qualified statistician been engaged to undertake project design and data analyses?
  • Is the Principal Investigator an early career researcher (less than five years since postgraduate study completion)?
  • Have you checked the FAQ section on the AgriFutures website?
  • Has the proposal been discussed with people in the Program industry?
  • Does the proposal identify if the work potentially relates to the Program objective?
  • Does the proposal clearly identify who will be undertaking the bulk of the work (might not necessarily be the Principal Investigator)?
  • Does the proposal clearly articulate what the applied outcome for industry will be? (even if it is a long-term applied project there should still be a focus on an applied outcome).
  • Does the proposal clearly outline what the potential process might be for identifying extension opportunities? (Excluding publications and opportunities for presenting the work at conferences).
  • Does the proposal take into consideration where the international expertise is in the area of research?
  • The Principal Investigator must comply with the application process within K2

Submitting a response

Applications for this Open Call for Research must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2.

If you had a previous account in Clarity, you can login using your Clarity username or email address and the initial password K2pass! You will be prompted to reset this initial password when you login. If at any time you forget your password, you can also reset it via a forgotten password link on the login page.

New users need to register for access to the K2 platform, please note the provision of login details may take up to two business days.

Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the account creation page below to access our new user or new company request forms.

Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open.

Respondent’s will be expected to provide:

  • A detailed project plan – including timelines, how the project will be conducted and how this will meet the requirements of the Open Call.
  • A detailed budget – attachments may be included.
  • Examples of similar work the respondent has completed.
  • Capability and relevant experience.

The resultant Contract is expected to commence November 2025.

It is expected that a contract will be awarded based on how well a respondent addresses the objectives of the open tender. Selection will be based on the evaluation criteria. A detailed response will be beneficial. There is the opportunity to include additional attachments if necessary with your application in K2.

 

How to make a submission
Applications for this Open Tender must be submitted online using the application in K2.

Click here to login to K2

Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the login page below to access our new user or new company request forms.

Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open.

Click here to access the K2 guides

If you require assistance, please contact

Terms of Reference

AgriFutures Australia uses standard form contracts and agreements for projects and research procured by AgriFutures Australia (please refer to https://www.agrifutures.com.au/contracts-and-agreements/). These contracts and agreements set out the terms on which AgriFutures Australia will engage successful applicants to carry out the project.

Applicants must be familiar with the Research Agreement before lodging Preliminary Research Proposals (PRPs), and are advised to seek legal advice on it before lodging a PRP.

The Research Agreement has been developed to reflect AgriFutures Australia’s statutory and other responsibilities in funding projects. AgriFutures Australia will generally not negotiate substantive amendments to any clauses of the Agreement unless:

It is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist that require amendment to the standard form; and

The applicant completes a statement of non-compliance for each of those clauses.

Applicants will be taken to have agreed to all clauses in the Research Agreement that are not referred to in a statement of non-compliance. The extent of any non-compliance will be a factor in AgriFutures Australia’s evaluation of the application.

If you require further information regarding these contracts and agreements please contact:

Caitlin Smith, Manager Levied Industries (Thoroughbred Horses) via .

Contact

Should you have any questions about the Open Call, please direct all enquires to Caitlin Smith, Program Manager (details below) prior to 5pm on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 (for questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email ).

The Program Manager will take questions via email or phone. Individual responses to questions relating to the Open Call will not be provided. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section, below.

Contact:

Caitlin Smith
Thoroughbred Horses Program Manager

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Open Call closes at 12pm (AEST) Wednesday 16 April 2025

Will Australian research organisations that wish to partner with international organisations be considered?

Applications involving more than one organisation to deliver the required research can be submitted, and they can be international organisations. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation will be the lead research organisation. Furthermore, AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.

Is this project open to non-Australian-based companies?

Yes it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable recommendations for Australian producers.

Can I talk to the Panel about my proposal?

Please do not contact Advisory Panel members to discuss your project proposal ideas or ask them about any of the specific priorities identified in the open call.

We do encourage you to contact other industry members for input on your proposal ideas so that they can align to the needs of industry. We also encourage you to list in your proposal who within industry you have spoken to.

Can you provide feedback on my proposal idea?

Unfortunately, AgriFutures and the Advisory Panel are unable to answer questions directly related to your proposal. We suggest that you examine the strategic plan to provide direction on the needs and priorities for industry and consult with other industry members to find out what is important for industry.

The Advisory Panel will consider all research proposals that are submitted.

Can I collaborate with other research providers or consultants?

Yes, you can submit a collaborative proposal. In fact, we encourage it because it can enhance research outcomes and commercialisation opportunities.

Will my proposal be considered if I do not have an industry partner?

All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need an industry partner or contribution to be considered.

We encourage you to read the Program’s RD&E Plan and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry.

My project idea does not seem to fit with the current RD&E priorities in the open call. Can I still submit a project?

There were a number of specific priorities identified in the open call, however we are encouraging applications that align with the focus areas listed above and the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program RD&E Plan. If your idea aligns with the Plan, then it is applicable to industry and will be considered in the assessment process.

It is important to identify the specific benefits that might arise from your research and the impact that this may have on industry.

What is the budget for this open call?

The AgriFutures  Thoroughbred Horses Program has an annual budget that is available for RD&E. This open call will consider and invest in multiple projects in line with the RD&E Plan to meet industry priorities.

In K2, there is a question relating to steering committees. Do you intend to use a steering committee for your project? If yes, who would be represented on the committee?

Steering committees provide useful guidance and feedback on projects. If your project is successful, AgriFutures Australia will help to develop a steering committee if one is needed.

We welcome any recommendations regarding who should be on the steering committee.

In the budget, is the contribution from the partner or University required?

If there is any in-kind or cash contributions that will be made to your project, these must also be shown in the budget.

Do I need to provide a CV of the each project member for the PRP, or they would be needed for FRP?

You do not need to provide a CV of all project members in the PRP. You are asked to provide the capability and experience of the research organisation in 250 words or less. Please name any additional people that will be involved in the project. If you are asked to submit a Full Research Proposal, the capabilities and experience of all project team members will be required.

Is there a preferred timeframe for research proposals for this Open Call

The Panel will assess projects on a case-by-case basis. AgriFutures welcomes project proposals of all lengths.

What is the budget for this open call?

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program has an annual budget for RD&E. This open call will consider and invest in multiple projects in line with the RD&E Plan to meet industry priorities. As per the RD&E Plan, the levy collects about $400,000 per annum from the industry. Combined with industry contributions and Australian Government funding, the Program has had approximately $1 million per annum to invest in recent years.

How many research projects will be contracted in this Open Call?

The number of research projects contracted for this Open Call will depend on the applications received and the budget.

Will there be an opportunity for researchers to consult with the Panel on their proposal?

The Advisory Panel cannot be contacted to provide advice on project proposal ideas. In the past, proposals that have reached the FRP stage have been invited to the Panel meeting to answer any questions the Advisory Panel may have about their proposal.

Do we require/or is it beneficial to have a university institution on the application?

All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need a university institution to be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation/s will be involved in the proposal. Furthermore, AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.

I have not previously been a Project Lead/Principal Investigator on a grant. Are there other requirements for the Project Lead/Principal Investigator to be eligible?

There are no specific eligibility requirements for the Project Lead. The capability and experience of the Project Lead will form part of the assessment of your application.

Are there any resources which list current projects funded by the Thoroughbred Horses program including their start and finish dates?

Ongoing projects funded by the Thoroughbred Horses program can be found here. This includes the project start and finish dates.

Does AgriFutures cover any overhead costs of research organisations?

All overhead or in-direct costs are to be included within the budget provided in the submitted proposal. Applicants should present the budget with all overhead costs and in-direct costs itemised.