Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Funding Opportunity Title	Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)
Activity Code	S10 Biomedical Research Support Shared Instrumentation Grants (NCRR)
Announcement Type	Reissue of PAR-10-082
Related Notices	November 17, 2011 - This PAR has been reissued as PAR-12-017. March 17, 2011 Notice of Correction for Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) - See NOT-RR-11-004.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	PAR-11-081
Companion FOA	None
Number of Applications	There is no limit on the number of applications an institution may submit provided the applications are for different types of equipment. See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestics Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.389
FOA Purpose	The NCRR Shared Instrument Grant (SIG) program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrumentation or an integrated system that costs at least $100,000. The maximum award is $600,000. Types of instruments supported include confocal and electron microscopes, biomedical imagers, mass spectrometers, DNA sequencers, biosensors, cell-sorters, X-ray diffraction systems, and NMR spectrometers among others.

Posted Date	December 16, 2010
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)	February 23, 2011
Letter of Intent Due Date	Not Applicable
Application Due Date(s)	March 23, 2011, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
AIDS Application Due Date(s)	Not Applicable
Scientific Merit Review	June-July, October-November, 2011
Advisory Council Review	October 2011, January 2012
Earliest Start Date(s)	April 1, 2012
Expiration Date	March 24, 2011
Due Dates for E.O. 12372	Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to continue the competitive National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program. The objective of the program is to make available to institutions expensive research instruments that can only be justified on a shared-use basis and for which meritorious NIH research projects in basic, translational or clinical areas are described. The SIG program provides funds to purchase or upgrade to a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrumentation or an integrated instrument system. An integrated instrument system is one in which the components, when used in conjunction with one another, perform a function that no single component could provide. The components must be dedicated to the system and not used independently. Increase in productivity or efficiency is not sufficient justification for an integrated system. Instruments must be for research purposes only. Foreign made equipment is allowable.

This program is designed to provide for the acquisition or updating of expensive shared-use instrumentation not generally available through other NIH mechanisms, such as the regular research project, program project, or center grant programs. Applications for research on advancing the design or for the development of new instrumentation are not appropriate for this FOA.

Types of instrumentation supported include, but are not limited to, nuclear magnetic resonance systems, electron and confocal microscopes, mass spectrometers, protein and DNA sequencers, biosensors, x-ray diffractometers and cell sorters. Applications for "stand alone" computer systems (supercomputers, computer clusters and storage systems) will only be considered if the instrument is solely dedicated to the research needs of a broad community of NIH-supported investigators.

The SIG program will not support requests for:

• the development of new instrumentation;
• general purpose equipment or purely instructional equipment;
• instruments used for clinical (billable) care;
• an instrument with a base cost of less than $100,000;
• multiple instruments bundled together to meet the $100,000 minimum;
• a series of complementary related instruments which share a common research focus;
• an assortment of instruments to furnish a research facility;
• software unless it is integral to the operation of a piece of equipment;
• institutional administrative management systems, clinical management systems;
• equipment for routine sustaining infrastructure: standard computer networks, autoclaves, hoods and equipment to upgrade animal facilities.

A list of appropriate equipment can be found at http://ncrr.nih.gov/research_funding/instruments/ .

For eligibility, a major user group of three or more investigators who are Principal Investigators on active NIH research grants with the following activity codes, P01, R01, U01, R35, R37, DPI and DP2 must be identified. Once this eligibility requirement has been met, additional users with other types of active NIH research grants (such as but not limited to R03, R21, R55, P30, P41, P50) mechanisms can be added as major or minor users. NIH training grants and contracts are not eligible. To demonstrate the clear need for the requested instrumentation, projects supported by NIH research grants should require at least 75 percent of the total usage time.

Major users can be individual researchers, or a group of investigators within the same department or from several departments at the applicant institution. NIH extramural awardees from other nearby institutions may also be included.

If the major user group does not require total usage of the instrument, access to the instrument should be made available to other users upon the advice of the internal advisory committee (see below). These users need not be NIH awardees, but priority should be given to NIH-supported scientists engaged in biomedical/behavioral research. To promote cost effectiveness, to encourage optimal sharing among individual investigators, research groups and departments, and to foster a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, the instrument should be integrated in a centralized core facility, whenever possible.

Each applicant institution must propose a Principal Investigator who can assume administrative/scientific oversight responsibility for the instrumentation requested. This person need not be an NIH grantee but must be affiliated with the applicant institution and registered on the eRA Commons. An internal advisory committee must be named to assist the Principal Investigator in administering the grant and overseeing the usage of the instrument. The membership of this committee should be broadly based and include members without conflicts of interest who can resolve disputes if they arise. The Principal Investigator and the advisory committee are responsible for the development of guidelines for:

• Maximum utilization of the instrument, including time allocation.
• A detailed plan for the day-to-day management and safe operation of the instrument.
• If appropriate, a plan to ensure that access to the instrument is limited to users whose projects have received approval by institutional human subjects, animal welfare or biosafety committees.
• A financial plan for the long term operation and maintenance of the instrument during the post award period.
• The relocation of the instrument within the institution if the major user group is significantly altered.
• The Principal Investigator also will be responsible for:
• Requesting no-cost extensions of the project period, if needed.
• Submitting a Final Progress Report, ninety days following the end of the project period, which describes the instrument purchased, a list of all users and a description of the value of the instrument to the investigators and to the institution as a whole.

See Section VIII. Other Information Required Federal Citations, for policies related to this announcement.

Funding Instrument	Grant
Application Types Allowed	New Resubmission The OER Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards	Although the financial plans of the NCRR provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. The NCRR intends to commit approximately $43 million in FY2012 to fund approximately 110 new awards.
Award Budget	Applications will be accepted that request a single, commercially available instrument or integrated system which costs at least $100,000. There is no upper limit on the cost of the instrument, but the maximum award is $600,000. Since the cost of the various instruments will vary, it is anticipated that the size of the award also will vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend on the funds available for the SIG program.
Award Project Period	Awards are made for one year and for direct cost of the instrument only.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Higher Education Institutions:

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

Under the general research support authority of Section 301(a) (3) of the Public Health Service Act, Shared Instrumentation Grant awards are made to public and non-profit domestic institutions only. These institutions include health professional schools, other academic institutions, hospitals, health departments, and research organizations. A Federal institution is defined by the NIH as a Cabinet-level department or independent agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government or any component organization of such a department or agency. Note that Federal institutions, foreign institutions, and for-profit institutions are not eligible to apply.

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

• Central Contractor Registration (CCR) must maintain an active registration, to be renewed at least annually
• Grants.gov
• eRA Commons

All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least four (4) weeks prior to the application due date.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

For eligibility, a major user group of three or more investigators who are Principal Investigators on active NIH research grants with the following activity codes, P01, R01, U01, R35, R37, DPI and DP2 must be identified. Once this eligibility requirement has been met, additional users with other types of active NIH research grants (such as but not limited to R03, R21, R55, P30, P41, P50) mechanisms can be added as major or minor users. NIH training grants and contracts are not eligible. To demonstrate the clear need for the requested instrumentation, projects supported by NIH research grants should require at least 75 percent of the total usage time.

Applications will be accepted that request funds to purchase or upgrade a single, commercially-available instrument or integrated instrument system which costs at least $100,000. There is no restriction on the number of applications an institution can submit to the SIG program each year provided the applications request different types of equipment. However, if two or more applications are submitted for similar equipment (for example, two 600 MHz NMR spectrometers) from the same institution, documentation from a high level institutional official must be provided stating that this is not an unintended duplication, but part of a campus wide institutional plan. A single application requesting more than one type of instrumentation (for example, a mass spectrometer and a confocal microscope or a new NMR and an upgrade to an existing NMR) will not be considered appropriate for this FOA and will not be reviewed.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.

Resubmissions: Applicants may submit a resubmission application, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing the previous peer review critique (Summary Statement). See new NIH policy on resubmission (amended) applications (NOT-OD-09-003, NOT-OD-09-016). For resubmissions submitted for the January 25, 2011 due date and after, the NIH will not accept a resubmission later than thirty-seven months after the date of receipt of the initial New application. See NOT-OD-10-140.

Determination of New Application Status: A new application is expected to be substantially different in content and scope with more significant differences than are normally encountered in a resubmitted application. For S10 applications, there must be a substantial change in more than one critical aspect of the application, which may include a change in the composition of major or minor users due to a change in instrumentation needs or NIH grant support, inclusion of new preliminary data for several users, specific documented changes in institutional commitment or changes in the administrative/management structure.

Renewals. Renewal applications are not permitted.

Number of PDs/PIs. Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed under the S10 mechanism.

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Not Applicable.

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for application submission. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

For this FOA, there is no overall page limit for the entire Instrumentation Plan.

However, there are specified page limitations for individual sections (see below).

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Research plan component is not required in this FOA. (Old Instructions) However, an Instrumentation Plan should be uploaded in Section 11, Other Attachments.

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) However, an Instrumentation Plan should be uploaded in Section 12, Other Attachments of the R&R Other Project Information form.

Resource Sharing Plan

Not Applicable.

Appendix

Appendices are not allowed in this FOA.

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Under the S10 mechanism, funding requests are limited to the purchase cost of the instrument only. Support for technical personnel, service contracts, extended warranties, and supplies are not allowable. Cost sharing towards purchase of the instrument is not required. If the amount of funds requested does not cover the total cost of the instrument, the application should describe the proposed source(s) of funding for the balance of the cost of the instrument. Documentation of the availability of the remainder of funding, signed by an appropriate institutional official, must be presented to NCRR prior to issuance of award.

The program does not provide facilities and administrative (F&A) costs or support for construction or alterations or renovations. Matching funds are not required. However, commitment of an appropriate level of institutional support to ensure the associated sustaining infrastructure is expected and should be described. Grants will be awarded for a period of one year and are not renewable. Supplemental applications will not be accepted.

Applicants proposing purchase of an instrument that the institution is planning to lease prior to award are urged to consult with their institutional sponsored projects office regarding applicable NIH policy prior to executing the leasing agreement. If the leasing agreement was executed more than one year prior to submission of the SIG application, the applicant must provide strong justification for the requested Federal funds. Further, the instrument must be considered state-of-the-art at the time of submission of the SIG application. Award adjustments may be necessary. Execution of a purchase order or agreement, making a down payment or other formal commitment to purchase the equipment prior to award must be in compliance with NIH policy regarding pre-award cost authority (see most current version of the NIH Grants Policy Statement). Non-compliance with this policy automatically eliminates an applicant from eligibility for an award.

Pre-award costs are allowable. All grantees may, at their own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs: 1) are necessary to conduct the project, and 2) would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award.

The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project. See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:
All PD/PIs must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review., NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Research Plan component is not required in this FOA. (Old Instructions) However, an Instrumentation Plan must be uploaded in Section 11, Other Attachments. (New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) However, an Instrumentation Plan should be uploaded in Section 12, Other Attachments of the R&R Other Project Information form. Below are special instructions for this FOA describing the information that must be included in the required components of the SF424. Incomplete and non-compliant applications will be withdrawn and will not be reviewed

11. Descriptive Title. Enter the name of the instrument requested in the title (for example, 600MHz NMR Spectrometer.

13. Proposed Project. Enter start date of 04/01/2012 and end date of 03/31/2013.

(Old Instructions) 16. Estimated Project Funding. Enter the total Federal funds for the requested instrument in line a. This will be the total cost since the award period for the SIG program is one year. If the cost of the instrument is more than $600,000, enter $600,000 on this line, since this is the maximum award under the SIG program. In line b, enter the total cost of the instrument from the quote. If lines a and b are not the same, explain the difference in section 11 Equipment in the Other Project Information component (see below). Enter zero for line c.

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 15. Estimated Project Funding. Enter the total Federal funds for the requested instrument in line a. This will be the total cost since the award period for the SIG program is one year. If the cost of the instrument is more than $600,000, enter $600,000 on this line, since this is the maximum award under the SIG program. In line c, enter the total cost of the instrument from the quote. If lines a and c are not the same, explain the difference in section 11 Equipment in the Other Project Information component (see below). Enter zero for line d

1. Are Human Subjects Involved? Check no.

2. Are Vertebrate Animals Used? Check no.

(Old Instructions) 6. Project Summary/Abstract.

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 7. Project Summary/Abstract.

The Project Summary/Abstract is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description of the proposed work when separated from the application. State the application’s broad, long-term objectives and specific aims, making reference to the health relatedness of the project. Describe concisely the research design and methods for achieving the stated goals. This section should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and, insofar as possible, should be understandable to a scientifically or technically literate reader.

The Project Summary/Abstract must be no longer than 30 lines of text.

(Old Instructions) 7. Project Narrative.

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 8. Project Narrative.

Using no more than two or three sentences, describe the relevance of this research to public health. In this section be succinct and use plain language that can be understood by a general, lay audience.

(Old Instructions) 8. Bibliography & References Cited:

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 9. Bibliography & References Cited: Each major user should list only those publications that demonstrate the user's expertise in using the requested instrumentation.

(Old Instructions) 9. Facilities & Other Resources.

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 10. Facilities & Other Resources. Not applicable. Do not include an attachment here.

(Old Instructions) 10. Equipment. Describe the instrument requested including manufacturer and model number. The model chosen should be justified by comparing its performance with other available instruments where appropriate. Specific features and any accessories should be justified, both in this section and in the description of research projects. Such accessories must be utilized by at least half of the users. Provide a detailed budget breakdown of the main equipment and accessories requested including tax and import duties, if applicable. An itemized quote, with appropriate discount from a vendor should be included. The quote must be scanned and combined in a single attachment with the equipment description as part of the line 10 upload. If human or infectious materials, which could create a potential biohazard, are to be analyzed, funds for accessory containment equipment for the instrument may be requested in the budget. In this case, a signed letter from the institutional biosafety committee stating that they have reviewed the proposed containment plan and that the plan adheres to documented biosafety regulations is required in the application. This letter must be scanned and uploaded in the Other Attachments (line 11).

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 11. Equipment. Describe the instrument requested including manufacturer and model number. The model chosen should be justified by comparing its performance with other available instruments where appropriate. Specific features and any accessories should be justified, both in this section and in the description of research projects. Such accessories must be utilized by at least half of the users. Provide a detailed budget breakdown of the main equipment and accessories requested including tax and import duties, if applicable. An itemized quote, with appropriate discount from a vendor should be included. The quote must be scanned and combined in a single attachment with the equipment description as part of the line 11 upload. If human or infectious materials, which could create a potential biohazard, are to be analyzed, funds for accessory containment equipment for the instrument may be requested in the budget. In this case, a signed letter from the institutional biosafety committee stating that they have reviewed the proposed containment plan and that the plan adheres to documented biosafety regulations is required in the application. This letter must be scanned and uploaded in the Other Attachments (line 12).

(Old Instructions) 11. Other Attachments

(New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) 12. Other Attachments

Instrumentation Plan (in lieu of Research Plan section):

Introduction: If you are submitting a resubmission (Cover Page Item 8) then you should include an Introduction describing the changes that have been made in response to comments in the previous review. This Introduction may not exceed three pages.

Organize the Instrumentation Plan in the specified order starting each section with the appropriate section heading (i.e. Justification of Need, Research Projects etc.). For this FOA, there is no overall page limit for the entire Instrumentation Plan. However, there are specified page limitations for individual sections (see below). The sections cannot exceed the page maximum including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts. Do not include links to Web sites for further information. Do not include animations.

A) Justification of Need (Page Limit: 6 Pages)

Describe the instrument requested. Inventory similar instruments existing at the applicant institution, neighboring research institutions, or otherwise accessible; describe why they are unavailable or inappropriate for the proposed research. Provide a clear justification why new or updated equipment, including accessories, are needed. Include specific documentation on the current usage and downtime of existing instruments and a realistic estimate of the projected usage for the requested instrument. Such documentation should be expressed as hours of use, setup time, etc., per day or week, not simply as percentage of available time. Be specific and quantitative; define available usage time.

B) Research Projects

• Major Users (Page Limit: 6 Pages Per User)

Give a brief description of the major users projects. Since the projects have been previously peer reviewed, the project descriptions should be concise and focus on the benefit of the instrument to the research objectives of each user. Sufficient technical detail (preliminary data and/or supplemental information) should be included to evaluate whether the instrument is appropriate, would be effectively employed, and would provide advantages over other methods. The need for special features and accessories must be justified. Individual projects that require a specific option or upgrade (e.g., a UV laser) should describe the specific studies that utilize this option. At least half of the users should need these options.

If there is a large number of major users, select a representative group (8-10) and describe their research projects. The research project descriptions should be informative and succinct. Although there is a page maximum of 6 pages per major user, three pages or less per major user is recommended.

• Minor Users (Page Limit: 6 Pages in total)

For minor users, only include a very brief summary of the research related to the need for the requested instrument.

C) Summary Table(s) (Page Limit: 6 Pages in total)

Use a table (format below) to list the names of the users from section B (last, first), the complete NIH grant numbers (5R01HL123451-01A2), brief titles of the projects and the estimated percentage of use. Make a separate table to indicate the users needs for the requested accessories.

D) Technical Expertise (Page Limit: Sections D plus E = 6 Pages Total)

Describe the technical expertise present at the institution to set up, run and maintain the instrument. Specify who will operate the instrument, train new users, ensure that it is operated safely and appropriately maintained.

E) Organizational / Management Plan

Describe the organizational plan to administer the grant. Include how the instrument will be utilized, how requests will be made, how time will be allocated among major and minor users and plans for attracting new users. List the names and titles of the members of the local advisory committee. Describe a plan for managing access to the instrument if users projects involve human subjects, animals or human of infectious materials.

Submit a specific financial plan for long-term operation and maintenance of the instrument. Explain how the costs to place the instrument in operational order as well as the maintenance, support personnel, and service costs associated with effective use of the instrument will be met.

F) Institutional Commitment (Page Limit: Sections F plus G = 6 Pages Total)

Describe the institutional infrastructure available to support the instrumentation. Provide documentation (e.g., separate letters signed by appropriate institutional officials) specifically describing the required institutional commitment (in dollars) in support of the proposed financial plan. Those letters must be named Letters of Support and uploaded as a separate file in the Other Attachments (Old Instructions line 11 ) (New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004 line 12).

G) Overall Benefit

Explain how the instrument will impact NIH funded research and contribute to the institution’s long- range biomedical research goals.

The entire Instrumentation Plan (Section A-G) must be saved as a single file (named Instrumentation Plan) and attached in the Other Attachments (Old Instructions: line 11; New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004 line 12). Although there is no overall page limit, applicants are reminded to be informative yet succinct.

• Letter of Support are not included in the page limitations. Letters from institutional officials (mentioned in section F, Institutional Commitment) and letters from the biosafety committee (Old Instructions: mentioned in Item 10, Equipment; New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004: mentioned in Item 11, Equipment) should be combined in a single file named Letters of Support and uploaded under (Old Instructions) Item 11; (New Instructions Per NOT-RR-11-004) Item 12, Other Attachments.
• Appendices are not allowed.

Include profiles for the Principal Investigator, the Major Users, and for the technical person(s) responsible for the maintenance and operation of the instrument. For the Major Users, select Other under Project Role. Then complete the Other Project Role Category by inserting Major User. For technical person(s), select Technician for Project Role field. Follow the instructions in the Application Guide for Additional Senior/Key Person Profile(s) if there are more than 8 major users.

NOTE: Current and Pending Support. Since Just-in-Time does not apply to the S10 mechanism this FOA requires current and pending support for the Principal Investigator, each major user and/or technician at the time of application submission. Follow the format provided in Other Support section of the Application Guide (Part III. Section 1.8. Other Support).

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

The mission of the NIH is to support science in pursuit of knowledge about the biology and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. As part of this mission, applications submitted to the NIH for grants or cooperative agreements to support biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate scientific review group(s) in accordance with NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/) using the review criteria stated below.

Overall Impact/Benefit. Reviewers will briefly summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the application; assess the potential benefit of the instrument requested for the overall research community and its potential impact on NIH-funded research; and provide comments on the overall need of the users which led to their final recommendation and level of enthusiasm.

Scored Review Criteria. Reviewers will consider each of the five review criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

• Justification of Need: Is the need for the instrument clearly and adequately justified? Is the equipment essential and appropriate?
• Technical Expertise: Does the institution have the technical expertise to make effective use of the requested equipment? How well qualified are the participating investigators or other assigned personnel to operate and maintain the instrument, conduct the projects, and evaluate the research results? How will new users be trained? How will biosafety procedures be implemented?
• Research Projects: Will research with the requested instrument advance the knowledge and understanding of the proposed projects? How will the research project of each major user be enhanced?
• Administration: Is the plan for the management and maintenance of the requested instrument appropriate? Is the membership of the advisory committee broadly based to oversee the use of the instrument for a wide range of biomedical investigators? How will research time be allocated among the projects? Are the sharing arrangements equitable? If needed, are the policies to manage human subject, animal or biohazardous materials projects adequate? Is the financial plan for longterm operation and maintenance of the instrument reasonable?
• Institutional Commitment: What is the evidence of institutional commitment for continued support of the utilization and maintenance of the instrument? Is there appropriate documentation (letters from institutional officials)?

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

• Biohazards: Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
• Resubmission Applications : Are the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group adequate? Are the improvements in the resubmission application appropriate?

Protections for Human Subjects

Reviewers will be instructed to bring any concern to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer..

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

Reviewers will be instructed to bring any concern to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Vertebrate Animals

Reviewers will be instructed to bring any concern to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Revisions

Not Applicable.

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Budget and Period of Support: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the appropriateness of the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research may be assessed by the reviewers.

Select Agent Research

Not Applicable.

Resource Sharing Plans

Not Applicable.

Budget and Period of Support

Not applicable.

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the Center for Scientific Review (assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons), in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review), will be discussed and assigned an overall impact/priority score.
• Will receive a written critique.

Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA . Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Research Resources Council (NARRC) . The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.
• Program balance among various types of instruments supported and geographic distribution of awards.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable.

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Ninety days following the end of the project period, a Final Progress Report is required that describes the instrument purchased, and a list of all users and description of the value of the instrument to the investigators and to the institution as a whole. The Final Progress Report instructions are available at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/biotech/btforms.asp.The Final Progress Report can be submitted electronically through the Closeout feature in the eRA Commons.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: [email protected]

eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: [email protected]

Marjorie A. Tingle, PhD
Shared Instrumentation Grant Program
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Telephone: 301-435-0772
Email: [email protected]

You should receive an assignment notification in your eRA Commons account within 2 weeks of your application’s submission due date.

Ms. Quadira Huff
Office of Grants Management
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Telephone: 301-435-0852
Email: [email protected]

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.