The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) Emergency Funds—Repairs Program seeks to support the repair of essential equipment found within Core and Shared Instrumentation Facilities on the CU Boulder campus. The Program has limited funds to be awarded to provide assistance towards the repair of key instrumentation.

Repairing and maintaining instrumentation is a critical component of CU Boulder’s Core Facilities. For this award, the supported equipment should be beneficial to and frequently utilized by the broader community. Applicants seeking emergency financial assistance for instrument repair must explain why support cannot be solely obtained through other internal or external funding channels. 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include CU Boulder core facility directors/managers, faculty or staff. Only one application is allowed per core.

View Eligible Core Facilities

Budget

The Emergency Funds—Repairs program will fund up to $10,000 or 50% of the total repair cost, whichever is less. The program will remain active until all available funds are distributed or the end of FY24, whichever comes first. 

Requirements

  1. Applicants must be a Core Facility director, manager, or staff member.
  2. A single award may be used to support a project that involves more than one Core Facility, but the maximum award will remain $10,000 or 50% of the total repair cost, whichever is less. 
  3. All funds must be spent in one or more Core Facilities.  
  4. Funds cannot be used to pay salaries of Core Facility staff. 
  5. Funds may only be used for instrument repair. 
  6. Funds must be spent in the Core Facility associated with the project described in the grant application. 
  7. All awarded funds must be spent by the end of FY24 (June 30, 2024). There will be no no-cost extensions. 

​Terms & Conditions

  1. Recipients will submit an annual Impact Report for three full fiscal years (three reports in total). Failure to do so may result in the Core Facility being disqualified from future funding opportunities.  
  2. If a significant outcome of this grant award is realized at any time, recipients will immediately notify Joe Dragavon, Director of Core Facilities & Shared Instrumentation in writing by emailing joseph.dragavon@colorado.edu.
  3. If there is a change or absence (60 days or greater) in PI, recipients will contact and provide a justification to Joe Dragavon, Director of Core Facilities & Shared Instrumentation at joseph.dragavon@colorado.edu.   
  4. If the project entails any compliance issues such as IRB, IACUC, EHS, biohazardous material, etc., recipients certify that the appropriate compliance offices on campus will be made aware of the proposed activities before initiating any work. 
  5. All funds must be spent by June 30, 2024. There will be no No-cost extensions awarded. Unused funds at the end of the project will be returned to RIO. 
  6. If a recipient fails to fulfill any of the aforementioned conditions, RIO reserves the right to suspend funds. 

Reviews

Faculty volunteers review applications, provide comments and recommend proposals for funding. Proposals will be evaluated in four primary areas:

  • Need: Is this an essential instrument that is used by a significant number of Users and Labs? Is the cost of the repair too great for the Core Facility and the home unit such that it could negatively impact future cost recovery efforts?  
  • Overall Benefit:  Does the repair benefit Core Facility operations and Users, and ensure the essential capabilities of the University’s research infrastructure?
  • Management:  How did the damage occur? How will this be avoided in the future?
  • Prevention: How with the Core Facility ensure that similar essential repairs will be appropriately internally funded in the future?
  • Funding Request: Is the expenditure of these funds accurate and justifiable, and worth the investment from the Research and Innovation Office? 

Application Deadline and Portal

Applications for FY24 can be submitted any time until June 1, 2024, 11:59pm MST.

Click Here to Submit

Proposal Preparation

Please provide the following information:

  • Application Title
  • PI Last Name
  • PI First Name
  • Full name of the Core
  • Core home department/institute
  • Core home college
  • Name of the instrument
  • Instrument vendor
  • Total repair cost ($)
    • Cost provided by the vendor/repairing agent
  • Total funds requested ($)
    • Up to 50% of the Total Repair Cost or $10,000, whichever is lower
  • Repair quote
  • Information statistics for FY23
    • Number of Users
    • Number of Labs
    • Total hours of Use/Samples Run/Services Performed (or equivalent metric)
    • Current age of the instrument (years)
  • Is the instrument under a service contract?
  • Description of the instrument (500 words max)
    • Purpose
    • Capabilities
    • Common applications
  • What repair is needed? (500 words max)
  • Why are the funds needed? (500 words max)
  • Will current research be negatively impacted without the repair?
  • Future avoidance of financial support?
  • Signed support letter from the home department/unit directly stating:
    • The department/unit financially commits to supporting the remainder of the Total Repair Cost, specifying the amount.
    • The department/unit will perform a thorough evaluation of the Core to ensure improved fiscal sustainability for FY25 and beyond.
    • The instrument in question will be part of the Shared Instrumentation Network and will be accessible to the entire CU Boulder research community following the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Core Facility.
  • Annual award report agreement
    • By submitting for the Core Facilities Assistance Grant, you agree to submit an annual Impact Report for the next three fiscal years (three reports in total). Failure to do so may result in this Core's disqualification from future funding opportunities.