Recovery Act Limited Competition Core Facility Renovation, Repair, and Improvement (G20) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Recovery Act Limited Competition Core Facility Renovation, Repair, and Improvement (G20) opportunity?

It was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RR-09-007) run through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program focused on quickly modernizing shared research infrastructure by supporting renovation, repair, and targeted upgrades to core facilities that support Public Health Service (PHS) funded biomedical and behavioral research.

Which NIH organization administered this program?

The program was run through the NIH National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

What does "core facility" mean in this funding announcement?

In this context, a core facility is a centralized, shared resource that provides researchers with access to instruments, technologies, or specialized services. It also includes expert staff consultation to help investigators use those resources effectively.

What was the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The main goal was to strengthen institutional research capacity by improving shared research infrastructure, especially the physical spaces and general-purpose equipment that multiple research groups rely on.

What kinds of projects were supported under this FOA?

Projects focused on renovation, repair, and improvement of existing core facility space, along with certain equipment improvements that broadly enable shared research support. The emphasis was on rapid, near-term upgrades that improve core operations and benefit multiple users.

What types of facility work could be funded (Alteration and Renovation/AR)?

Funding could be used for alteration and renovation (AR) of existing core facility space, such as upgrading lab areas, reconfiguring layouts to improve workflow, improving utilities and environmental controls needed for core operations, and other facility improvements that directly strengthen shared research support.

Could funds be used to purchase equipment?

Yes. Applicants could request support to improve the core facility's general equipment or to purchase general equipment intended for use by specialized groups of researchers, as described in the opportunity information.

Was there an equipment cost limit or restriction?

Yes. Specialized equipment costing more than $100,000 was not allowable under this funding opportunity. Proposals therefore needed to focus on facility improvements and broadly enabling equipment rather than large, high-ticket, specialized instrument purchases.

Did the FOA support consolidating or centralizing core facilities?

Yes. If an institution had similar or duplicative core facilities across departments, the program allowed applicants to request funds to centralize those resources. The intent was to reduce redundancy, improve access and quality of service, and strengthen sustainability by pooling instruments, staff expertise, and facility space into a single core operation.

Why was speed and near-term impact emphasized?

This opportunity was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Recovery Act funding placed strong weight on speed and near-term impact, with awards expected to be spent expeditiously rather than over long timelines.

Were "green" or sustainable approaches encouraged?

Yes. Applicants were asked to consider green technologies and design approaches where feasible, aligning with federal priorities for energy efficiency and sustainability in publicly funded projects.

Did the program include job-related expectations?

Yes. A stated Recovery Act goal reflected in the opportunity was job impact, with awards expected to create and/or maintain American jobs.

What was the grant mechanism used for this opportunity?

The mechanism of support was the G20 grant mechanism.

What was the opportunity category and activity category?

The opportunity category was listed as "Other," and the funding activity category was Health and Recovery Act.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

How much total funding was estimated to be available?

The estimated total funding available across the program was approximately $300,000,000.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was oriented toward institutions and organizations rather than individuals. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education). Certain Native American tribal governments and organizations were also included, as noted in the opportunity information.

Were specific institution types explicitly included in the eligibility list?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly included categories often highlighted for targeted inclusion, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), regional organizations, and Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), as described in the source text.

What were the key dates for this opportunity?

The posting shows it was posted on March 5, 2009, created on March 11, 2009, with an original and current closing date of September 17, 2009, and an archive date of October 18, 2009.

What was the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number was 93.701 (Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support).

Where could applicants find the full announcement?

The full announcement was available via the NIH Grants Guide.

Where were technical access issues directed?

Technical access issues were routed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.

What kind of research did the supported core facilities need to serve?

The opportunity described core facilities that support Public Health Service (PHS) funded biomedical and behavioral research.

Was this opportunity a standing program or a time-limited initiative?

Based on the information provided, it was tied to Recovery Act funding and had specific 2009 open and close dates, indicating it functioned as a time-limited initiative rather than an open-ended program.