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National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services

Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Open

Key facts

Deadline
Due Jul 1, 2028 · 633 days left
Award size
$300K – $5M
Match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Private college or university, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), County government, School district, Tribal organization, State government, City or town government, Larger business, Tribal government, Small business, Public college or university, 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: 657

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

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More from National Institutes of Health

About this grant

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announces the restructured Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program that consolidates three existing shared-use instrumentation programs, i.e., the Shared Instrumentation Grant program, the High-End Instrumentation Grant program, and the Basic Instrumentation Grant program. The NOFO invites applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single state-of-the-art commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system. The instruments purchased through the SIG Program are required to be optimally shared among the users to ensure efficient and cost-effective research operations, enable rigorous and reproducible measurements, and encourage collaborative research and benefit broad research communities at large. The minimum award is $300,000. There is no cap on the total cost of the instrument; however, the maximum award is $5,000,000. Cost sharing is required for premium instruments or special use instruments.

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.

Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. 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
  2. Jun10
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
  3. Jun26
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
  4. Jun29
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. 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.

All sample proposals

Who in Tennessee has won this program

167 awards to Tennessee groups in 4 counties since 1977. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$143.7M2016
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$63.8M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$51.7M spent that year2025
Meharry Medical CollegeNashville, Davidson County$45.7M
St Jude Children's Research Hospital IncMemphis, Shelby County$43.7M2019
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$43M2020
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$39.5M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$38.1M2024
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$37.5M2021
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$33.3M2011
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$32.8M2007
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$32.8M2023

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. 490 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Vermont & State Agricultural College$4.4M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyYale Univ$3.4M2023
Meharry Medical CollegeNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$2.8M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyWashington University, the$2.8M2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$2.6M2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Wisconsin System$2.2M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyWashington University$2.1M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$2M2024
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyThe Johns Hopkins University$2M2026
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston$2M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleVumc$1.9M spent that year2024
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleVanderbilt University Medical Center$1.9M spent that year2025

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).

This program on SAM.gov

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).

This program on SAM.gov

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).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Biomedical Research and Research Training
Program number 93.859 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant

How applications are judged

All accepted applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate initial review group and by a national advisory council. The goal of NIGMS funding policies is to maximize the scientific impact of investments in investigator-initiated biomedical research to drive fundamental scientific discoveries that advance understanding of human health and disease. To address this goal, the Institute strives to support a broad portfolio of research grants of high scientific and technical merit, as determined by peer review, in its mission areas. However, in deciding to fund any application, NIGMS staff also considers other factors, including (consistent with applicable law): the breadth of the Institute�s research portfolio; approaches, and investigators; the total amount of funding available to the investigator; the priority of the research area for the Institute�s mission; Early-stage investigator status; At-risk investigator status?;? and whether the PI would have more than one NIGMS funded R01 (including multi-PI R01s). Because these factors are considered, NIGMS does not have a �payline� or strict cutoff in scores that it will fund. It is important to understand that even applications with outstanding scores might not be funded if the investigator already has substantial other support. Because NIGMS prioritizes funding for meritorious investigators who otherwise would not have support over providing additional grants to already well-funded...

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

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).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Vision Research, also called “NEI”
Program number 93.867 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant

How applications are judged

The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Technical merit of the proposed project; (2) Availability of funds; and (3) Relevance to program priorities.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

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