Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 113

NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10) - FAQs

1) What is the NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10)?

The NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10; clinical trial not allowed) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity that helps groups of NIH-supported investigators gain access to major, high-end research equipment. It funds the purchase or upgrade of a single expensive, specialized, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system intended for shared use.

2) What is the main goal of this program?

The core goal is shared access to high-cost, specialized research instrumentation that is essential to ongoing and near-term biomedical or behavioral research. NIH expects the instrument to be broadly used by multiple NIH-supported investigators, with clear plans for management and sustained shared operation.

3) Is this funding meant for one lab or multiple investigators?

This opportunity is built around shared use. The application is expected to come from a team of investigators (not just a single lab) who can demonstrate that the instrument will serve multiple NIH-supported research projects.

4) What types of instruments does the program support?

The program supports major, high-end, specialized, commercially available instruments or integrated systems. Examples explicitly mentioned include X-ray diffractometers, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, DNA and protein sequencers, biosensors, electron and light microscopes, cell sorters, and biomedical imaging systems.

5) Does the program fund custom-built or experimental instrumentation?

The emphasis is on commercially available instruments or integrated instrumentation systems, which generally points toward proven, established platforms rather than speculative or fully custom builds.

6) Can the grant be used to purchase more than one instrument?

Based on the opportunity description, the funding is intended for the purchase or upgrade of a single instrument or an integrated instrumentation system.

7) What is the minimum and maximum award amount?

The minimum award is $50,000 in direct costs, and the maximum award is $600,000 in direct costs.

8) Is there a maximum purchase price for the instrument?

The instrument itself does not have a stated maximum purchase price in the description. However, NIH will not provide more than $600,000 in direct costs through this mechanism, so applicants typically need to plan around that cap if the total cost is higher.

9) What if the instrument costs more than $600,000?

The description notes that NIH will not provide more than $600,000 in direct costs under this program. If the total cost exceeds the cap, applicants typically plan to cover the remainder through other resources (for example, institutional cost sharing or other non-SIG resources), if allowed by program rules and consistent with their institution's policies.

10) Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?

No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the application cannot propose a clinical trial as part of the work supported by this instrument acquisition.

11) Who runs this grant program?

The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

12) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number provided is PAR-20-113.

13) What NIH funding categories or CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to NIH health funding activity categories and lists CFDA numbers 93.351 and 93.859.

14) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

A broad range of US-based organizations are eligible, including (as listed) state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities.

15) Are minority-serving institutions and similar entities included in eligibility?

Yes. The description explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

16) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The description lists eligible federal agencies among the eligible applicant types.

17) Are faith-based, community-based, or regional organizations eligible?

Yes. The description includes faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations among eligible applicant types.

18) Are US territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The description includes US territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.

19) Are foreign (non-US) organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-US) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.

20) Can a US organization apply if part of the project involves a non-US component?

No. Non-domestic components of US organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity.

21) What does "shared use" mean in the context of this program?

Shared use means the instrument is expected to serve multiple investigators who already have NIH support, with clear evidence that it will be broadly used, well managed, and essential to active and near-term research. The application is expected to reflect a group or team approach rather than a single-investigator purchase.

22) Does the program support equipment that accelerates biomedical or behavioral research?

Yes. The description emphasizes instruments that are essential to ongoing and near-term biomedical or behavioral research and that can accelerate productivity across multiple NIH-supported projects when centrally shared.

23) What is the closing date and when was this opportunity created?

The source information lists an original closing date of 2020-06-01 and a creation date of 2020-02-18. The description also notes that even if that specific due date has passed, the summary reflects the program's purpose and key constraints.

24) What is NIH specifically investing in through this program?

NIH is investing in shared, high-cost instrumentation that serves multiple NIH-funded investigators, within a direct-cost request range of $50,000 to $600,000, under rules that exclude clinical trials and disallow foreign applicants or foreign components.