National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Jul 1, 2028 · 633 days left
- Award size
- $50K – $400K
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- City or town government, Small business, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Private college or university, School district, Tribal organization, County government, Public college or university, Larger business, Tribal government, State government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Special district (utility, fire, etc.), and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 464
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/fd0c942d-4760-41c1-b7c2-57c63b3c0a62 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/88010b25-37b5-4f09-aed6-fd623207f80a
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to build new research capacity and develop a sustainable research program by supporting the purchase of a single commercially available biomedical research instrument currently unavailable in the institution. Instruments funded through this program must be shared among the users to create new research opportunities, enable reproducible data generation, encourage collaborative research and training, and strengthen long-term research capabilities. The minimum award is $50,000. While there is no limit on the total cost of the instrument, the maximum award is $400,000.
Who can apply, from the official notice
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/Foreign Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Jun10
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Jun26
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Jun29
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Jul1
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
See how others wrote it
The agency posted this example. Read them for structure and level of detail. Don't copy their words: funders treat copied text as plagiarism, and requirements change from year to year, so follow the current notice.
- NIH research, career, fellowship and small-business grants (R01, R03, R15, R21, R21/R33, R41-R44, K01, K08, K23, F31, G11, U01)
Funded applications with reviewer comments
46 full funded applications and 49 reviewer summary statements (PDF), plus sample forms and letters · Link checked Oct 7, 2026
Who in Tennessee has won this program
107 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 1994. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $143.7M | 2016 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $63.8M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $51.7M spent that year | 2025 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | $45.7M | |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $43.7M | 2019 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $43M | 2020 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $39.5M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $38.1M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $37.5M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $33.3M | 2011 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $32.8M | 2007 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $32.8M | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Education
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Education passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 357 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Vermont & State Agricultural College | $4.4M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Yale Univ | $3.4M | 2023 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $2.8M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Washington University, the | $2.8M | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $2.6M | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Wisconsin System | $2.2M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Washington University | $2.1M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $2M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | The Johns Hopkins University | $2M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | $2M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Vumc | $1.9M spent that year | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $1.9M spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
Trans-NIH Research Support, also called “NIH-wide Research Support”
Program number 93.310 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant, training
How applications are judged
Funding decisions are based on scientific merit (42 CFR 52h) and program relevance. Scientific merit review encompasses: the peer review criteria detailed in the specific funding announcement, as well as the significance, approach, and innovation of the proposed research; the competency of the principal investigator; the adequacy of the resources and environment; the proposed budget and requested period of support; and, where applicable, the adequacy of the measures for protecting against adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the environment.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Research Infrastructure Programs, also called “Comparative Medicine, Instrumentation, Research Infrastructure”
Program number 93.351 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The major elements in evaluating proposals for scientific instruments include assessments of (1) the need for the instruments; (2) technical expertise in the requested technology; (3) advancements of research projects when the novel technology is available; (4) administration of the usage of the instrument and (5) institutional support for the long term maintenance and the usage of the instrument.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research, also called “National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases”
Program number 93.855 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific...
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Aging Research, also called “(Aging)”
Program number 93.866 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed...
Match
None required (federal program listing).