Research proposals will be assessed on the quality of the research and value for money in terms of the resources requested, including whether or not the funds requested are essential and adequate for the work and justified by the importance and scientific potential of the research. For more information on assessment criteria please see our guidance for peer reviewers.
UK Research and Innovation acknowledges that most researchers will have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the repercussions may continue to be felt long after the pandemic has ended. Applications should be based on the information available at the point of submission and, if applicable, the known application specific impacts of COVID-19 should be accounted for. Where known impacts have occurred, these should be highlighted in the application, including the assumptions or information at the point of submission.
There is no need to include contingency plans for any future potential impacts of COVID-19.
Reviewers have been asked within the instructions they receive to assume that changes that arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, post-submission, will be resolved and complications related to COVID-19 should not affect their scores.
Where an application is successful, any changes in circumstances that affect the proposal will be managed as a post-award issue.