Competitive, non-competitive and direct award procedures
The procedure determines how applications are compared and what to expect. Meeting the requirements may be enough in some cases; in others, it only gets you into a scored competition.
1. Competitive procedure
Applications are compared against published criteria. They're ranked by score and funds are awarded until the budget runs out. So meeting the minimums doesn't guarantee getting the grant.
It's best to prepare the report following the order of the criteria, provide evidence for each merit and estimate a cautious score. Don't assume a fact is proven if the rules require documenting it.
2. Non-competitive procedure
In some calls, applications meeting the requirements are served without ranking them by merit, often until funds run out or following a set order. The official text must explain the exact mechanism.
Speed can matter, but it never replaces a complete application. Check whether the order depends on the initial filing or on when the file is properly corrected.
3. Direct and named awards
Direct awards are used in cases set out by law. A named subsidy usually identifies the beneficiary within the public budget; it isn't an open call for anyone to apply.
These grants may appear on Civika for transparency. If a record identifies a specific entity and there's no general open deadline, it shouldn't be read as an opportunity available to the general public.
Checklist
- I've identified the procedure
- I know whether there'll be a scored comparison
- I've documented each criterion
- I know how applications are prioritized
- I don't mistake a named grant for an open call