Finance and Contracts
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About the Central Commissioning Facility
Who are the appointed managing agents for the Central Commissioning Facility (CCF)?
The science-based company LGC manages the CCF for the NIHR from its premises in Twickenham, Middlesex under contract to the Department of Health. Its staff are appointed to a programme management team based within LGC’s Science & Technology division. We manage the following NIHR research programmes: i4i, Programme Grants for Applied Research and Research for Patient Benefit.
What else does the CCF manage for the NIHR?
We organise competitions, commissioning panels and monitor performance for the NIHR Faculty and Infrastructure including:
- Senior Investigators
- Biomedical Research Centres and Units
- Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs)
- Research Centres for Patient Safety and Service Quality
- Research Design Services
The NIHR Research Schools also report into NIHR CCF:
- NIHR School for Primary Care Research
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
As does the NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI).
Applying for NIHR funding through the CCF
How often are calls for research funding issued by the CCF?
The method of commissioning and the associated processes vary between programmes. Please check the calls for proposals under each programme for submission deadlines and guidance.
How secure is the database and web server used by the CCF?
The website consists of an extranet for submission of applications. All access to the system is protected by a SSL Certificate which authenticates the connection to the server and uses 128bit encryption for all communication.
Can confidentiality be assured after I submit my application?
All applications are treated in the strictest of confidence. For further information please refer to the following document: Confidentiality and disclosure: A guide for applicants, peer reviewers and commissioning panel members.
Advice
What is your advice on research governance, ethical approval and Full Economic Cost?
Research funded by NIHR has to comply with the Department of Health Research Governance Framework
The 2nd edition of the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care (RGFHSC) sets out the broad principle of good research governance. All research commissioned by NIHR must have appropriate ethical (see next question) or Home Office approval.
Research Support Services The NIHR supports quicker and more effective governance and investigators are encouraged to work with the NIHR Research Support Services.
How to apply for ethical approval?
IRAS (Integrated Research Application System) has replaced the NRES Application Form. IRAS can be accessed at: http://www.myresearchproject.org.uk/.
FEC or Full Economic Cost
The Department of Health supports the Government's desire to move the UK's research base to a long-term sustainable footing. Funding bodies supporting the full economic cost of projects should provide this sustainability. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should determine the Full Economic Cost (FEC) of their research using the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) methodology.
The level of FEC paid by CCF managed programmes varies by programme. Please contact the CCF for further details
For NHS organisations, 100% of directly incurred costs and the directly allocated costs not including the estate charges will be paid.