If a grant is rejected after work has begun, separate the funding decision from the supplier contract. Preserve the decision, review the reasons and calculate the company’s obligations before deciding whether to continue, cancel or seek clarification.
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Do not submit a new application immediately using a different title for the same work. The project’s actual history and the relevant conditions remain important.
Establish why the application was rejected
Read the official decision and any preceding queries. Distinguish missing evidence from an eligibility problem, unsupported activity, retrospective project or another reason. If the explanation is unclear, ask a precise question through the official channel.
Keep the original application and supporting documents. Editing the old file after rejection without preserving the submitted version makes it harder to understand what was assessed.
Rebuild the project chronology
- Quotation and contractual acceptance.
- Application submission.
- Deposits and other payments.
- Work commencement and deliverables completed.
- Agency questions and company responses.
- The decision and any subsequent clarification.
Use evidence such as portal records, contracts, messages and bank transactions. Mark uncertain dates as uncertain rather than choosing a favourable date from memory.
Example: submission came first, approval did not
A company submitted its application and then instructed a vendor to start before the outcome. The EDGE FAQ makes clear that proceeding after submission does not guarantee approval. The director now needs to assess the rejection and contractual costs, not assume submission itself created a right to reimbursement.
Review the supplier contract promptly
Check completed work, milestones, cancellation terms, refund provisions and continuing fees. Ask the supplier for a current statement of the project and amounts payable. Do not tell the supplier that a grant rejection automatically cancels the company’s contract.
If there is a dispute about promises, scope or termination, seek legal advice on the actual documents and correspondence. Preserve statements made during the sale, but distinguish a salesperson’s assurance from an official funding decision.
Calculate the options without grant income
Prepare the cost of continuing, scaling down where contractually possible, or ending the project. Include the benefit of work already delivered and any operational dependency. Removing an unapproved reimbursement from the cash forecast can change the decision.
Tell the accountant about the rejection and any earlier grant-related entry. The accounts should reflect the evidence and relevant standards, not retain a forecast solely because the company hopes to appeal.
Review a genuine new proposal on its own facts
If the company considers a different future activity, assess its actual scope, timing and eligibility under the current requirements. Previously incurred costs do not become new expenditure by changing the project name or invoice description.
Where clarification or reconsideration is available, follow the prescribed process and provide accurate evidence. Do not assume a right of appeal or a fixed response period without checking the decision and official guidance.
Should we reapply immediately?
First understand the rejection and whether the issue can properly be addressed. An unchanged or misleading resubmission is not a solution.
Can we still continue the project commercially?
Assess the contract, cash position and business value. The funding outcome is one part of that decision.
Related guidance
Read our guides to grant record keeping and accounting for government grants, or explore our business grant resources.
Help with the company’s grant records and contracts
Raffles Corporate Services can help organise supporting records and review the accounting implications of a proposed project. For advice about contractual obligations, we can arrange assistance through our associated law firms. Email [email protected] or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. Applications and claims must be submitted by the applicant company’s own authorised staff through the prescribed process; our support does not guarantee grant approval.