Funding-Request for Information: Shared
Instrumentation Grant Program (S10); August 24, 2014
Notice
Number: NOT-OD-14-104
Key
Dates
Release Date: July 16, 2014
Response Date: August 24, 2014
Related
Announcements
None
Issued
by
Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of
Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP)
Purpose
The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs
(ORIP) is soliciting comments from the community on the Shared Instrumentation
Grant (SIG) Program (S10), to better achieve its goals, and in particular:
Background
The objective of the SIG S10 Program is to make
expensive research instruments available to NIH-supported investigators. Awards
of such costly sophisticated instruments can only be justified on a shared-use
basis for NIH-supported projects in basic, translational, or clinical areas of
biomedical/behavioral research. This unique NIH Program is administered
by ORIP for the benefit of grantees supported by all of the NIH institutes. The
SIG Program annually supports the purchase of approximately 100 instruments
that cost between $100,000 and $600,000 each.
S10 Program guidelines, such as page limits or
reporting requirements, have changed over time; however, the basic principle,
to provide funds to purchase instruments which are to be used on shared basis,
remains the same. The most recent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
for the SIG Program can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-073.html.
The SIG FOA describes the objectives of the Program,
and defines eligibility and other submission requirements. Funding is
restricted to purchase of instruments only; maintenance and operational costs
are not allowed. Eligibility is limited to non-profit, non-Federal
institutions. To ensure that the instrument is to be used on shared basis, a
Major User Group comprising a minimum of three investigators, each of which has
at least one NIH grant with the following activity codes: P01, R01, U01, R35,
R37, DP1 or DP2, is required. The NIH-supported investigators (with any
activity code) must use 75% of the instrument time and the Major User Group
must use at least 35% of the instrument time. Users supported by other agencies
are allowed, provided biomedical research is conducted with the instrument.
The SIG FOA dictates that awards are given to
purchase commercially available, state-of-the-art instruments to enhance
NIH-supported research. The restrictions imposed by the Program preclude the
following: development of new instrumentation, a general purpose equipment to
furnish a research facility, a series of complementary related instruments,
purely instructional equipment, administrative and clinical management systems,
and instruments used for clinical (billable) care.
The SIG FOA instructs that applicants provide
specific information about the requested instrument in the context of research
projects; this requirement includes comparing similar instruments from
different manufacturers, describing specific benefits of the novel technology
to research projects, and providing preliminary data in support of the request,
when feasible.
The SIG FOA asks the Program Director/Principal
Investigator (PD/PI) to name an Advisory Committee and work together with it to
plan for management of the instrument, priority setting and time allocation,
outreach to new users, training of users, and conflict resolution. In addition,
the PD/PI is required to present a detailed financial plan, balancing user fees
and operational costs, to ensure smooth and efficient operation of the
instrument.
An award is given to the PD/PI’s Institution. While
the PD/PI takes on the responsibility for administrative and scientific
oversight of the instrument, the Institution has to financially back the
operation and provide financial support towards extended warranty, service
contract, supplies, technical personnel, and facilities.
Information
Requested
This Request for Information (RFI) gives an
opportunity to S10 applicants, users of instruments, and others who have
interest in the Program to comment on the Program requirements and suggest
modifications to improve the service of the Program to the NIH research
community.
Specifically, ORIP solicits information on the SIG
Program’s outreach, how the Program benefits diverse areas of science, and
whether the Program facilitates access to current technologies and promotes
optimal operation and sharing of instruments, in a cost-effective way.
Responders are asked to comment on topics listed below and are free to address
any or all of them. Examples of possible considerations are included but
responses should not be limited to these examples:
1)
Budget: Current budget for an S10 award is $100,000
to $600,000. Changes in budget may affect the total number of S10 awards as the
total appropriation for the S10 Program is expected to remain unchanged. Considering this issue, comment on the budget limits and the
allowable budget allocation. Comment whether the budget limits restrict
access to some technologies or disadvantage some research fields. Address any
related issues.
2)
Eligibility Requirements: Comment on whether any
current eligibility requirements for Major and Minor user groups should be
changed to better achieve the objectives of the Program. Comment on any other
S10-specific rules for applying to the Program.
3)
Instrumentation: Comment on whether a sufficiently broad
spectrum of technologies is currently supported by the Program. Comment
whether restrictions imposed by the FOA on non-allowable instruments are
limiting. Comment on any other issues regarding instruments.
4)
Research Projects: Comment on whether the currently required
content of the narrative about the justification of need and the relevance of
the requested instrument to research projects is appropriate or whether it
should be amended. If so, give suggestions. Comment on whether sufficient
technical expertise in various emerging technologies is adequately present to
benefit projects. Comment on your experiences with using shared instruments and
on whether science is served well in such cases.
5)
Instrument Administration and Institutional Support: Comment on long-term plans for management of the instrument and
support of its operation, as required by the FOA. Comment on any other issues related
to the administration of instrument and its usage on shared basis.
6)
Any Other Comments related to the Shared
Instrumentation Program.
Response to this RFI is voluntary. All interested
parties are invited to respond. The responder should identify themselves in the
following categories (the responder can choose more than one category):
a. an S10 awardee;
b. a user of an S10 awarded instrument;
c. an S10 applicant but not an S10 awardee;
d. an S10 reviewer;
e. a manager of Core facility;
g. an NIH-funded investigator;
h. an employee of an instrumentation company;
f. none of the above, a member of a wider research community.
How
to Submit a Response
To ensure consideration all comments must be
submitted electronically at http://dpcpsi.nih.gov/orip/S10RFI by
August 24, 2014.
Responding to this request is voluntary.
Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be
included in your response. Responses will be compiled and shared with ORIP
staff and NIH working groups, as appropriate. In all cases when responses are
compiled or shared, any personal identifiers, such as Institutions or url addresses, will be removed.
ORIP will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its
discretion and will not provide comments to any responder's submission.
However, responses to the RFI may be reflected in future funding opportunity
announcements. The information provided will be analyzed and may appear in
reports.
This RFI is for information and planning purposes
only is for shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the
part of the Government.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Abraham Levy, Ph.D.
Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP)
Email: Abraham.Levy@nih.gov
Telephone: 301-435-0777
- See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-104.html#sthash.3VrKG1FG.dpuf
Link
to Full Announcement
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-104.html