The Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program is a federal initiative administered jointly by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada. The NCE-Knowledge Mobilization Initiative is an initiative under the NCE Program.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Guide
Letter of Intent (LOI) Application Form
Letter of Intent (LOI) Excel Tables
Network Stakeholders Excel Table
The NCE Secretariat invites potential applicants to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Networks of Centres of Excellence Knowledge Mobilization Initiative competition.
This guide is to be used in conjunction with the NCE-KM Initiative Competition Guide.
The LOI provides an overview of the goals and objectives of the proposed network. All LOIs will be evaluated according to the five NCE-KM Initiative Review Criteria, as well as the goal and objectives of the NCE-KM Initiative, to determine which applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application.
The LOI should be submitted on behalf of the proposed network by an eligible academic researcher (i.e., "the applicant", who is normally a proposed Network co-Director) and by the Host Institution. The applicant and Host Institution must be eligible to receive funding from one of the three federal granting agencies. (Further details regarding applicant and host eligibility can be found in the Competition Guide.)
The LOI must clearly describe the challenge(s) the proposed network aims to address. It must be co-developed with the knowledge user co-applicant and other relevant partners and stakeholders from the private, public and/or not-for-profit sectors. The extent of partner- and stakeholder-integration will be assessed; partners must be aware that their level of involvement, in addition to their cash and/or in-kind commitments, is critical to the success of the network.
The deadline for the electronic submission of the LOI for the NCE-KM Initiative Competition is April 16, 2018. LOIs must be received by the NCE Secretariat by 4:30 p.m. the applicant's local time.
Applications must be submitted to the NCE on-line electronic application system as a single, searchable PDF file. Instructions for merging PDF documents can be found in Appendix B.
Print must be in black ink on a white background, of letter quality (minimum standard), with no more than six lines per inch. The type size for fonts measured in points (pts) must be no smaller than 12 pts. If measured in characters per inch (cpi), it must be no more than 10 cpi. Condensed type is unacceptable.
Page size is 8½ x 11 inches (21.5 cm x 28 cm), with margins of 3/4 of an inch (1.905 cm) (minimum) all around. Enter the title of the network at the top of every page and number the pages consecutively.
Graphs and illustrations may be included, but will count as part of the page limits set out below. Either single or double column presentation of text, graphs or illustrations is acceptable. Any extra material will be removed.
1. NCE-KM LOI Application Form (Fillable PDF Form):
The LOI Application Form is available on the NCE web site.
Section A: Summary Information
Complete and sign Section A of the LOI Application Form for the NCE-KM Initiative Competition. (Refer to Appendix A for the meaning of signatures.) The following information must be provided:
Names of Institutions and Representatives for
Signatures and contact information for:
2. Description of Proposed Network (Free Form):
Using the following headers, please provide details for each section while respecting the maximum page limit (Maximum 7 pages; 5 pages of free form + 1 page logic model + 1 page organization chart).
A. Expected Impacts and Added Value (Maximum 1 page)
Describe the goal of the proposed network. Include reference to the following under sub-headings:
B. Plan for Knowledge Mobilization (1 page logic model, 1 page description)
Provide a 1-page logic model that reflects the network's strategic plan. In addition, briefly describe the following in relation to the logic model:
C. Stakeholder Engagement (Maximum 1 page)
Referring to information provided in the Network Stakeholders table (Section 5), provide additional details such as:
Briefly describe the network's plan to engage additional stakeholders over the funding cycle.
D. Proposed Network Team (Maximum 1 page)
Provide an overview of the key players for the network. Describe how they:
Indicate the time commitments and planned contributions for each individual. There is no need to repeat information presented in Section C where there is overlap between the proposed network team and stakeholders; in such cases, provide complementary information only.
E. Management and Governance (1 page organizational chart, 1 page description)
Describe the proposed management and governance structures for the network, including a 1-page organizational chart. Describe how the co-leadership model will be implemented. Provide information about the nature and level of involvement of partners and stakeholders in the management and governance of the network, in particular with regard to strategic planning and the design and execution of network activities.
Briefly outline the administrative and operational structures of the proposed network, with regard to co ordination of activities, setting schedules, monitoring the network's progress towards its strategic goals, and allocation of resources.
If the network Host is to be an industry-led incorporated not-for-profit consortium, provide evidence that the organization has in place the required financial controls, policies, procedures and a history of funding academic research.
3. Explanation of Overlap (Maximum 1/2 page)
Where there is a potential for perceived overlap with currently or previously funded initiatives, describe the differences therein. Explain how the network will complement or build on the activities and achievements of the other initiatives, and highlight the network's added value.
4. Support Letters
A. Host Institution Letter (Maximum 1 page)
A letter, signed by the President or CEO (or delegate) of the institution that proposes to host the network administrative centre (i.e., the Host Institution), must be included. This letter should outline the anticipated support from the proposed Host Institution. Host Institutions play an important role in networks through both direct support of the administrative centre and, normally, participation in network governance through voting membership on the Board of Directors.
The signature on the letter should match the signature in Section A of the Application Form.
B. Letter from Knowledge User co-Director's Organization (Maximum 1 page)
A letter, signed by the President or CEO (or delegate) of the organization for which the Knowledge User co-Director works must be included. This letter should confirm the organization's support of the proposed network, specifically referencing the commitment of the co-Director's time (as an in-kind contribution) to the network.
C. Letters of Support from Primary Partners and/or Stakeholders (Up to 5 letters, 1 page maximum per letter)
Up to five Letters of Support from the primary non-academic stakeholders listed in Section A of the LOI Application Form may be included (if applicable).
Letters should:
5. Network Stakeholders (Table - Maximum 1 page)
In the table provided, please list the individuals and organizations that will be integral to the proposed network. Arrange the table by role (Knowledge producer, knowledge user, end beneficiary) and provide an estimate of their time commitment to the network.
6. Financial Overview (Excel Tables and Free Form) (Maximum 3 pages)
Table 1: Anticipated Expenditures (Excel table, Maximum 1 page)
Use Table 1 to indicate the anticipated expenditures of both NCE and non-NCE sources of funds (if applicable) for the proposed network (years one to four).
Please note: The NCE-KM Initiative funds knowledge mobilization activities and related networking activities (networking costs, network administration, etc.). NCE-KM funds may not be used for research-related expenses (see the NCE Program Guide for more information on eligible expenses).
Table 2: Anticipated Funding (Excel table, Maximum 1 page)
Use Table 2 to indicate the cash and in-kind funding committed from up to five non-NCE stakeholders listed in Section A, if applicable (years one to four).
Note: at the LOI stage of the competition, it is not expected that applicants be able to list all anticipated sources of funding.
Explanation of Expenditures and/or Funding (Free-form, 1 page maximum)
Use a maximum of one page to briefly describe the anticipated expenses and/or funding.
The deadline for the electronic submission of the LOI for the NCE-KM Network Competition is April 16, 2018. LOIs must be received by the NCE Secretariat by 4:30 p.m. the applicant's local time.
Applications must be submitted to the NCE on-line electronic application system as a single, searchable PDF file. Instructions for merging PDF documents can be found in Appendix B.
Tables, graphs and figures may be included within the page limits noted above. Any extra material will be removed.
The NCE-KM Competition Guide, NCE-KM LOI Application Form and NCE-KM LOI Excel Tables can be obtained at www.nce-rce.gc.ca.
For more information, please contact the NCE Program at:
Telephone: (613) 995-6010
E-mail: info@nce-rce.gc.ca
Each LOI must not exceed 20.5 pages and must be submitted in the following order.
NCE LOI Application Form (Fillable PDF Form) (2 pages)
Description of Proposed Network (Free Form) (7 pages maximum)
Expected Impacts and Added Value (1 page maximum)
Plan for Knowledge Mobilization (1 page logic model, 1 page description)
Stakeholder Engagement (1 page maximum)
Proposed Network Team (1 page maximum)
Management and Governance (1 page organizational chart,1 page description)
Explanation of Overlap (Free Form ) (½ page maximum)
Support Letters (7 pages maximum)
Host Institution Letter (1 page)
Letter from Knowledge User co-Director's Organization (1 page)
Letters of Support (1 page per letter, max of 5 letters)
Network Stakeholders Table (1 page maximum)
Financial Overview (Excel Tables and Free Form) (3 pages maximum)
Table 1: Anticipated Expenditures (Excel Table) (1 page)
Table 2: Anticipated Funding (Excel Table) (1 page)
Explanation of Expenditures and/or Funding (Free Form) (1 page)
What do the electronic or original signatures on the application mean?
For the Lead applicant
By signing and submitting my application, I (the Lead applicant):
For academic participants:
By accepting to participate in the Network, I (the academic participant) also agree to the above.
The signatures of the institutional authorities certify that:
The signatures of authorized officers of other supporting organizations certify that the organization:
For further information, see the Questions and Answers on the Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information at address NCE's Website.
Adobe Pro is required in order to merge PDF documents, which is available for download online on Adobe's website. Once Adobe Pro has been downloaded, various PDF documents can be merged into a single document.
The Application Form is a protected document, so you will need to follow the steps below in order to merge various PDF documents into one cohesive, searchable document.
1) Preferred method:
If you do not have the option to merge (which can happen depending on the software you are using, although it is fairly rare), you will have to complete the above steps then use one of the PDF merging websites below:
http://www.primopdf.com/ (recommended - free and easy to use)
http://foxyutils.com/mergepdf/
http://www.pdfmerge.com/
2) Alternate method:
From the LOI Form