Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA GM 15 003
Apply for RFA GM 15 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition Large Scale Collaborative Project Award Renewals (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 6, 2014 and posted on Jun 6, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 24, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Faith based or Community based Organizations Eligible Organizations Applicant institutions must have a currently active NIGMS supported large scale collaborative project award submitted in response to PAR 07 412.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Limited Competition Large Scale Collaborative Project Award Renewals (U54) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-GM-15-003) is a National Institutes of Health announcement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) that focuses narrowly on renewing a specific set of existing large-scale, multi-component collaborative projects. It is not an open call for new projects. Instead, it invites renewal applications only from institutions that already hold an active NIGMS-supported Large Scale Collaborative Project Award originally submitted under PAR-07-412 (Large Scale Collaborative Project Awards, R24/U54). In practical terms, this FOA was designed to allow a limited number of ongoing NIGMS-backed collaborations to compete for one additional period of support, rather than to create new U54 centers or consortia.
The awards supported under this renewal are cooperative agreements (U54), meaning NIH program staff typically have substantial involvement compared with standard research grants, and the projects are expected to be highly coordinated and team-driven. The scientific aim is to tackle critical, complex biological problems that align with the NIGMS mission. A core idea behind these awards is that the work should require genuine synergy: multiple independently funded investigators integrate their approaches so the collective output is greater than what any one lab could accomplish on its own. The renewal application is therefore expected to demonstrate that the collaboration is real, functional, and productive, and that integration across components is central rather than optional.
Eligibility is limited. Only applicant institutions with a currently active NIGMS-supported large scale collaborative project award submitted in response to PAR-07-412 are allowed to apply. The FOA explicitly states that NIGMS is not accepting new applications for large scale collaborative project awards under this announcement. The announcement applies specifically to awards whose NIGMS Phase II support began in fiscal year 2010. Projects that meet the criteria and are still in their first period of support can compete for one renewal, with the renewal period providing up to five additional years of funding.
What NIGMS is looking for in a renewal application goes beyond a standard progress report. The application needs to provide strong evidence that an integrated, high-performing team has been established and is operating effectively. Reviewers will be looking for excellent progress to date and clear indicators that the team is positioned to accomplish the final goals within the proposed additional funding period. A major emphasis is on outcomes that demonstrably required the collaborative structure, such as results, tools, datasets, methods, or conceptual advances that would not have been achievable through individual, uncoordinated efforts. The application should also lay out a compelling plan for the next phase, explaining what remains to be done, why it is feasible, and how the team will execute it.
A distinctive expectation in this FOA is planning for the end of NIGMS support. Renewal applicants are expected to show that they have thought seriously about sustainability or an orderly wind-down once the renewal ends. That might include transition plans for resources, data, or shared infrastructure; strategies for maintaining key collaborations without the U54 mechanism; or other approaches that demonstrate the project will not be left in limbo when the award concludes. In addition, the overall narrative should describe how the project has evolved over time, including both anticipated and unanticipated challenges encountered, how those challenges were addressed, where the effort stands at the time of renewal, and what the final phase will look like in concrete terms.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the FOA was posted on June 6, 2014, with an original and current closing date of September 24, 2014, and an archive date of October 25, 2014. NIGMS anticipated making about 2 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $10,000,000 and an award ceiling of $5,000,000. No cost sharing or matching was required. The activity category is health, and the CFDA listing is 93.859 (Biomedical Research and Research Training). While the eligibility section notes “Other Eligible Applicants†and references faith-based or community-based organizations, the controlling restriction is that the applicant institution must already hold the specific type of active NIGMS large scale collaborative project award tied to PAR-07-412, so the opportunity is effectively limited to that small cohort of existing awardees.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted continuation mechanism for a small number of established, high-investment collaborative programs. NIGMS uses it to decide which currently funded large-scale teams have demonstrated enough integration, progress, unique collaborative value, and a credible final-phase plan to justify up to five more years of support, with an explicit expectation that the team can complete the work and transition responsibly at the end of the renewal period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Limited Competition Large Scale Collaborative Project Award Renewals (U54) opportunity?
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-GM-15-003) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) announcement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It is specifically for renewal applications for a limited set of existing NIGMS-supported large-scale, multi-component collaborative projects.
Is this an open funding opportunity for new projects or new U54 centers?
No. This is not an open call for new projects. NIGMS is not accepting new applications for large scale collaborative project awards under this announcement. The FOA is narrowly focused on renewing certain existing awards.
Who is eligible to apply for this renewal FOA?
Eligibility is limited to applicant institutions that currently hold an active NIGMS-supported Large Scale Collaborative Project Award that was originally submitted in response to PAR-07-412 (Large Scale Collaborative Project Awards, R24/U54).
Are any applicants eligible beyond the existing PAR-07-412 awardees?
Practically, no. While the eligibility language references "Other Eligible Applicants" and mentions faith-based or community-based organizations, the controlling restriction is that the applicant institution must already have the specified active NIGMS award originally submitted under PAR-07-412.
Which specific cohort of awards does this renewal apply to?
The FOA applies specifically to awards whose NIGMS Phase II support began in fiscal year 2010 and that meet the stated criteria, including being active and within the first period of support at the time of competing for one renewal.
What NIH funding mechanism is used for these renewals?
The awards are cooperative agreements (U54). This means NIH program staff typically have substantial involvement compared with standard research grants, and the work is expected to be highly coordinated and team-driven.
What kinds of scientific projects is NIGMS trying to support through this renewal?
The renewal supports large-scale collaborative projects that tackle critical, complex biological problems aligned with the NIGMS mission. A central expectation is genuine synergy across multiple investigators and components, where the combined effort produces outcomes that would not be achievable by individual labs working independently.
What does NIGMS mean by "synergy" in this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes that multiple independently funded investigators must integrate their approaches so the collective output is greater than what any single lab could accomplish alone. Integration across components is expected to be central to the project, not optional.
What is the expected period of support for a renewal?
Projects that meet the criteria can compete for one renewal, and the renewal period can provide up to five additional years of funding.
How many awards did NIGMS anticipate making under this FOA?
NIGMS anticipated making about 2 awards under this announcement.
What was the estimated total funding amount and the award ceiling?
The estimated total funding amount was $10,000,000, and the award ceiling was $5,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 93.859 (Biomedical Research and Research Training).
What is the activity category for this FOA?
The activity category is health.
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The FOA was posted on June 6, 2014. The original and current closing date was September 24, 2014. The archive date was October 25, 2014.
What is NIGMS looking for in a renewal application besides a standard progress report?
NIGMS expects strong evidence that an integrated, high-performing team has been established and is operating effectively. Reviewers will look for excellent progress to date and clear indicators that the team is positioned to accomplish the final goals within the proposed additional funding period.
What types of outcomes are especially important for reviewers under this renewal?
A major emphasis is on outcomes that demonstrably required the collaborative structure. Examples described in the FOA include results, tools, datasets, methods, or conceptual advances that would not have been achievable through individual, uncoordinated efforts.
What should the renewal application include about the next phase of work?
The application should lay out a compelling plan for the next phase, explaining what remains to be done, why it is feasible, and how the team will execute the work during the proposed additional funding period.
Is there an expectation to plan for the end of NIGMS support?
Yes. A distinctive expectation of this FOA is that renewal applicants plan for the end of NIGMS support. The application should show serious consideration of sustainability or an orderly wind-down once the renewal ends.
What kinds of end-of-award plans does the FOA suggest?
The FOA suggests plans such as transitioning resources, data, or shared infrastructure; strategies for maintaining key collaborations without the U54 mechanism; or other approaches that demonstrate the project will not be left in limbo when the award concludes.
How should applicants describe the evolution of the project over time?
The overall narrative is expected to describe how the project has evolved, including anticipated and unanticipated challenges encountered, how those challenges were addressed, where the effort stands at the time of renewal, and what the final phase will look like in concrete terms.
What is the main purpose of this FOA in practical terms?
In practical terms, the FOA was designed to allow a limited number of ongoing NIGMS-backed collaborations to compete for one additional period of support, rather than to create new U54 centers or consortia.
How should this FOA be understood overall?
This FOA is best understood as a targeted continuation mechanism for a small number of established, high-investment collaborative programs. NIGMS uses it to decide which currently funded large-scale teams have demonstrated enough integration, progress, unique collaborative value, and a credible final-phase plan to justify up to five more years of support, with an explicit expectation of responsible transition at the end of the renewal period.
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