BAG Access

Block Allocation Groups or BAGs are a mode of access whereby a group of users are awarded Diamond access which spans a 2 year period of four six-month allocation periods (APs), but can continue for longer. 

BAGs have proved to be a remarkably effective access route for groups of users who require regular access to Diamond instruments and wherever consortia of users can work together. A common situation would be where complete and useful datasets can be collected in minutes, but where facilities have to award whole shifts (8 hours) or days. Administration of BAGs takes place in the Diamond User Administration System (UAS).

BAGs can enable measurements to be made in a more timely and efficient manner. Awarding a BAG allows users to organise themselves and set their own priorities. Successful BAGs grow out of strong collaborations, sometimes between a number of different organisations.                              

Diamond is keen for BAGs to be formed wherever it can be shown to be appropriate. Indeed, where a consortium of users has a consistent track record of successful exploitation of Diamond, a BAG may be viewed as the default access mechanism.

BAG proposals should be considered the normal mode of access for MX and eBIC proposals.

All BAG proposals should be submitted online in UAS.

For a guide on how to review the BAG stages see here.

BAG Roles and Responsibilities - see below

As we are still working off the issues around BAG progression we provide the BAG submission guidance here.  

Please consult this document and align the stages of the BAG with your BAG progress in UAS - this will show you what to submit for AP35.

BAG progress guide

BAG Reports

BAG reports are submitted for every allocation period proposal stage, every 6 months, and a 18 month report is submitted for work done for the previous 3 APs period (continuing BAGs). The Peer Review Panels go through large numbers of proposals during their review and reports need to be succinct and provide concise information on what was achieved during the experimental period being reported on.

Participation in other Proposals

It is not usual for a member of a BAG to be on another proposal. Where the nature of the measurements is such that the two proposals are readily distinguishable this is permitted. If a member of a BAG submits a proposal for a measurement type that is already covered by the BAG a clear justification is required to explain why this work cannot be carried out under the BAG proposal.

Accepting new BAG Members

It is expected that, if an institution has regular access to a specific measurement type through a BAG, that BAG will welcome new members from their institute or institutions in close geographical regions.

Possible changes to BAG constitution

If a BAG is becoming too large, please propose a sensible division (i.e. one BAG per faculty) to Diamond and we will assist in forming two BAGs where one used to exist.

If a number of BAGs undertake similar research and are of a certain size and/or constitution the Peer Review Panel/Diamond may consider and advise on whether a merger is necessary.

During the two years of a BAG, it often becomes apparent that this mode of Diamond access is very useful to the members of the BAG and continuing proposals frequently become the norm. In order to enable continuous Diamond access for the BAG it is necessary to apply for the new BAG by the end of the third allocation period of the current one. The new proposal will be evaluated during the fourth AP of the current one. If awarded, beamtime for the new proposal will begin immediately after the end of the current one, leading to a continuous workflow (Figure 2).

 Figure 2: Steps in a Continuing BAG

This cycle can be continued ad infinitum, provided the peer review panel remain happy that the science being proposed is of high quality and the BAG are making good use of the access being awarded.