Place to Grow: agri-food innovation initiative — strategic solutions instructions

Guidance for Completing a Strategic Solutions Pre-proposal

Applicants to Strategic Solutions need to ensure their Pre-Proposal provides a clear overview of their proposed project and its structure. Guidance for completion of Sections 2 and 3 (Project Partner Information and Project Information) is provided below.

Section 2: Project Partner Information

In this section applicant(s) must describe why the project involves project partners(s). Ensure the following is addressed in the description:

• The need that they will fill;
• Total contribution from project partner(s); and
• Impact of partner(s) involvement in the project.

Important: The program guidelines require the Lead entity and their project partners to have an Arm's Length relationship from one another. Therefore, partner to partner billing is ineligible. Although project vendors/suppliers may be critical to a project, they cannot be considered formal project partners.

Section 3: Project Information

The information provided in Section 3 will provide an important overview of the project.

1. Review the Outcomes for each of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership) priority areas and identify which of the priority area(s) the project directly supports. Describe how outcomes for the proposed project align with all relevant the Partnership outcomes.
2. Review the Project Examples, and select the type(s) of key activities from the list provided.
3. Describe the Project, by addressing the following questions:
   • What is the issue, need and/or opportunity the project is addressing?
   • What will the project be undertaking (clearly identify the scope of the project)?
   • How will the project address the identified issue, need and/or opportunity?
4. Describe the Project Outcomes and Sector Benefits anticipated as a result of the project
5. Innovation is a critical component of Strategic Solutions programming. In this section of the Pre-Proposal describe:
   • The project's level of innovation using the Innovation Criteria outlined in the program guidelines. (Applicant(s) must provide creditable, non-biased evidence to demonstrate the project's level of innovation such as letters of support or relevant peer reviewed research).
   • How the knowledge and/or results gained from the project would be shared with the sector.
6. Describe the Capacity of the Lead Applicant and Project partner(s) (if applicable) to successfully complete the proposed project. The description included should address:
   • Resources, skills and/or expertise
   • Financial, managerial and/or organizational capacity
   • Relevant experience of successfully completing similar projects.
7. The "Project Costs" you provide in the table, will indicate the funding required to complete the project. Review the list of Eligible and Ineligible costs in the program guidelines before completing the table.
   • Identify the following information for each column of the table:
     • Project Activity: List the project activities (Project activity examples: project management, pilot technology, develop protocols, knowledge transfer etc.).
     • Cost Type: Describe the cost type for each project activity listed (Descriptions could include: goods, materials, third party service cost, etc.).
     • Complete the April 2020-March 2021, April 2021-March 2022, and April 2022-December 2022 columns, as applicable.
   • *Note applicants are expected to itemize costs in Canadian dollars.
8. This last table requires applicants to identify the sources of funding for the project, both confirmed and pending. The information provided in the table will indicate where you expect the project funding to come from.
   • Identify the following information in the table:
     • Requested funding from this program (this should only include the amount of project funding you are requesting through this program)
     • Lead entity contribution
     • Project partner contribution
     • Other government funding (Note applicants can only access one funding source under the Partnership for a single project)
     • Other Specify (Identify any other source(s) of funding being provided for the project)
9. Applicant(s) must provide a strong rationale for the Cost-Share Percentage being requested. Applicant(s) that demonstrate leverage from other sources (i.e. project partners) will receive additional merit consideration during the assessment phase.
10. Describe the scalability of the project, by addressing the following questions:
    • Can the project scope, budget and/or duration be adjusted? (If yes, how? If no, why not?)
    • What are the factors that may affect scalability? (e.g. seasonality, level of impact etc.)