Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 112

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 112

The Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program (PAR-20-112) is an NIH funding opportunity that helps groups of NIH-funded investigators buy or upgrade advanced research instrumentation needed to conduct animal-based experiments across any NIH-supported area of biomedical research. The core idea is shared access: the application is expected to be driven by a team of investigators who already hold NIH funding and who can demonstrate that a coordinated set of instruments will materially strengthen ongoing, animal-related research programs. The program is focused on enabling high-quality, modern animal research by improving local instrumentation capacity, rather than funding new research projects or standalone studies.

A central requirement is that requests must be for a cluster of instruments rather than a single instrument. NIH allows applicants to propose commercially available instruments that are assembled into a specialized, integrated system or organized as a set of instruments that collectively support a clearly defined, thematic research area using animals or animal-related materials. The program places added emphasis on clusters that are uniquely configured to make innovative work possible, especially systems that could support novel approaches or potentially transformative investigations. The scope is broad with respect to species and model systems: the FOA supports state-of-the-art technologies for NIH-funded research using any vertebrate or invertebrate animal species.

There are clear cost rules for the instrument cluster. At least one item in the requested cluster must have a purchase price of at least $50,000 after all applicable discounts. In addition, no single instrument within the cluster may cost less than $20,000 after discounts, which effectively keeps the program focused on higher-end shared equipment rather than smaller accessories or low-cost devices. While there is no stated maximum total price requirement for the proposed instrumentation package, the maximum award amount is capped at $750,000. The funding instrument is a grant under the NIH S10 mechanism, and clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; other tribal organizations (not federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity is explicitly limited to domestic applicants and domestic components. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the activity category is Health, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with the program is 93.351. The original closing date shown in the source information is 2020-06-01, which indicates this specific posting is dated and applicants should verify the current status and any reissued or active FOAs on NIH/Grants.gov before planning a submission.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-02-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 20 112

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