WA Local Capability Fund - Standards Compliance Round

WA Local Capability Fund – Standards Compliance Round

  • This round of funding is specifically designed to support eligible Western Australian SMEs with the costs of engaging external expertise to implement and obtain third-party certification of one or more of the eligible national or international standards
  • The maximum grant amount is $20,000, with 50% co-contribution required
  • Applications are open until September 4th, 2025 or until funding is fully allocated

The objective of the Local Capability Fund is to provide SMEs in Western Australia with financial support to enhance their capacity, capability and competitiveness in supplying major projects and markets, both in Australia and overseas.

Key Requirements

To be eligible, expenditure must:

  • Be incurred by you within the project period.
  • Meet the eligible expenditure guidelines below.
  • Be at least $10,000 in total.

What is eligible for funding?

The Standards Compliance Round provides funding support to Western Australian small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engaging external expertise to carry out the implementation and third-party certification of the following national and international standards:

  • ISO 9001 – Quality management standards to help work more efficiently and reduce product failures;
  • ISO 14001 – Environmental management standard to help reduce environmental impacts, reduce waste and be more sustainable;
  • ISO 45001 – Health and safety standards to help reduce accidents in the workplace;
  • ISO 27001 – IT security standards to help keep sensitive information secure;
  • ISO 50001 – Energy management standards to help reduce energy consumption;
  • AS/NZS 5131 – Steel industry compliance standards to help improve the integrity of structural steelwork; and
  • ISO 13485:2016 – Medical devices – Quality management systems – requirements for regulatory purposes

Assistance under this round will be provided for the costs of engaging external expertise/consultants for the purpose of implementation and certification of the eligible standard(s).

Note: Only costs associated with first-time certification of a standard are eligible under this round.

1) Implementation:

  • Assessment of current systems and practices
  • Review of existing procedures
  • Gap analysis
  • Development of manuals, procedures, and related documentation
  • Staff training related to the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the management system

2) Certification:

  • Registration and certification fees
  • Audit fees for initial certification only (surveillance audits or re-certification costs are not eligible).
  • All certification activities must be completed and paid for within the financial year.
  • Travel, accommodation, and meals for the certification auditor

Note: A condition of this round is that a copy of the certification certificate must be provided to the Department as evidence of completion before any grant funding is paid.

What companies are eligible for funding?

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

  • Be operating in a trade-exposed industry (or an industry that faces competition from other national or international SMEs);
  • Be registered for GST for at least 12 months prior to application submission date;
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN);
  • Be a for-profit organisation or business, or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating as a commercial enterprise;
  • Have its principal place of business in Western Australia;
  • Have been operating for at least 3 years in Western Australia at the time of submitting an application for funding; and
  • Employ less than 200 people.

Previous LCF recipients may apply if:

  • They have complied with all requirements of prior FAAs, including submitting all required reports (i.e., no overdue reports).
  • They have received no more than $200,000 in LCF grant funding over the past five years (excluding funding from the $10 million COVID-19 LCF Rounds in 2020-21).
  • All previously awarded funding has been claimed

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

This is a non-competitive grant process, eligible project proposals that are deemed by the department to be of sufficient quality will receive funding.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a specialist government grants consultant, such as Avant Group to assist with eligibility checks and collation of relevant documentation.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documentation and provide tailored support to strengthen your grant submission.

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.