What is the best way to do ablation studies for a deep learning paper?

What I need help with

I am preparing my first SERB Core Research Grant proposal. My research area is structural health monitoring using IoT sensors.

Specific questions:

1. What is the typical review timeline.how many months between submission and decision?
2. Is the budget justification section as important as the technical merit section?
3. Should I include international collaborators or is that a distraction for a first application?
4. What is the realistic success rate for first-time applicants?

I am applying as an Assistant Professor with 2 years of post-PhD experience and 6 publications.