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Research Management System (RMS)
Project Overview
Objective
The Research Management System (RMS) is being designed as an online system for fully electronic submission and management of proposals seeking Commonwealth research funding through the Australian Research Council (ARC). RMS will replace and incorporate the functions currently handled in several non-integrated ARC systems including the current proposal submission system, GAMS, and the internal ARC systems.
RMS will allow a proposal for funding to be managed throughout its lifecycle from initial draft proposal all the way through to final completion of a funded project for reporting purposes. This will enable the management of data in an effective and standard way, and ensure best funding practices are used by the ARC in managing Commonwealth funding for research.Scope
RMS is an integrated web based solution that will cover all areas of ARC program management and reporting. RMS will incorporate the whole lifecycle of proposals/projects including:
- Pre-submission
- creation of schemes by the ARC,
- draft proposals,
- Research/Administration Office management
- Submission and Selection
- submission of proposals,
- assignment and assessment of proposals,
- ARC selection advisory committee meetings,
- funding decisions and outcomes
- Post-award management
- project variations,
- project reporting including end of year, progress and final reports
- project outputs and outcomes.
Process
The solution is being developed using executable translatable UML and is being built at the ARC by an in-house team. The RMS team includes a project manager, developers, modellers, test coordinator, business analyst, technical writer, and others as required. As part of the development of RMS, all ARC processes are being reviewed and updated, including the standardisation of processes where possible to ensure that applicants and research offices use consistent functionality when dealing with ARC schemes.
Content
Some key features of RMS are summarised below:
- User Management - provides access control for RMS system functionality and secure personal and organisational access to specific proposals (draft and submitted) and projects.
- Scheme Management - supports setting up and maintaining funding requirements for schemes and scheme rounds including budget categories, participation types, selection criteria etc.
- Proposal Management - enables creation and submission of proposals by the Chief Investigator (CI) or representative, including auto population of existing data wherever possible to reduce workload and assist data quality, management of edit rights for all investigators on proposals, and Research Office review and submission of proposals.
- Proposal Assessment – Enables fully electronic review of proposals along with submission of assessment scores and comments.
- Meeting Management - allows efficient management of selection meeting processes.
- Project Management - enables ongoing management of project variations (both financial and research), payments and reporting.
Schedule
RMS is being released in three main phases:
- Phase 1 – implemented - the meeting management functionality is developed and in use during Selection Advisory Committee meetings.
- Phase 2 – implemented - pre-meeting and management functions including user management, scheme management, and proposal submission processes.
- Phase 3 – post award functions including approval, project management and reporting.
Contact the RMS Team
If you wish to contact the team click this link: RMS team.
RMS Trial
- A trial of RMS was conducted in late 2008.
- Feedback was received from the research sector with regard to the user management and proposal submission functionalities.
- All feedback was considered and changes scheduled for incorporation into RMS.
Information regarding the RMS trial is available at RMS Trial.
11/03/09
