Limited Competition: Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions seeking funding for shared scientific instrumentation used in NIH-supported research projects. Eligible applicants are typically domestic nonprofit organizations, federal and state government institutions, and universities that have active NIH research funding. The program supports the purchase of specialized equipment and instrumentation costing $100,000–$500,000 that will be used across multiple research projects and investigators. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment through cost-sharing and show how the instrument will enhance research capabilities and productivity. Institutions must have adequate facilities, technical expertise, and administrative support to maintain and operate the equipment effectively.
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Program description
The Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase a single piece of new, costly, specialized, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system.
The BIG Program is limited to institutions that have not received S10 instrumentation funding of $500,001 or greater in any of the preceding 3 Federal fiscal years (FY). Use the following to determine applicable funding periods:
for submission in CY 2026, consider S10 funding in FYs 2023-2025;
for submission in CY 2027, consider S10 funding in FYs 2024-2026;
for submission in CY 2028, consider S10 funding in FYs 2025-2027.
The minimum award is $25,000. There is no maximum price limit for the instrument; however, the maximum award is $350,000. Instruments supported include, but are not limited to, basic cell sorters, confocal microscopes, ultramicrotomes, gel imagers, or computer systems.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form (NIH grant application cover page)
- Project narrative describing scientific justification, shared-use model, and research impact (typically 6–8 pages)
- Detailed budget and budget justification, including equipment cost, installation, and 3–5 years of operational costs
- Institutional cost-sharing documentation (signed commitment letter from institutional official)
- Equipment specification sheet and vendor quote
- NIH biosketch(es) for key personnel responsible for equipment management
- List of research projects and investigators who will use the equipment
- Equipment maintenance and management plan
- Current and pending support information (showing active NIH funding)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$59,464,779
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$57,271,194
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$56,019,458
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$54,912,096
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$53,329,877
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$52,858,544
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$52,347,059
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$52,026,661
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$50,897,104
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$49,349,731
Top States by Funding
- ME 4 awards $143.3M
- MS 4 awards $135.1M
- NY 5 awards $131.6M
- CA 5 awards $129.3M
- RI 4 awards $126.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
What types of institutions are eligible for the Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) program?
Domestic nonprofits, universities, colleges, government institutions, and research centers with active NIH funding are typically eligible. Foreign institutions are generally not eligible, though some exceptions may apply.
What is the typical funding range for BIG awards?
The program typically supports equipment purchases in the $100,000–$500,000 range. Equipment must be specialized research instrumentation with demonstrated use across multiple research projects.
Can this grant support clinical trial equipment?
No. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means this competition does not support instrumentation exclusively dedicated to clinical trial activities.
What is required to be competitive?
Strong institutional commitment (demonstrated through cost-sharing), clear justification of research need across multiple projects, evidence of staff expertise in operating the equipment, and a detailed equipment maintenance and management plan.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline for this competition is June 1, 2027. Applications typically open several months earlier, with the current cycle opening October 29, 2024.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize the shared use model: clearly identify all research projects and investigators who will benefit from the instrumentation across diverse research areas.
- Secure institutional cost-sharing commitment in writing before submitting, typically 20–30% of equipment cost. Institutional investment signals serious commitment to the equipment's success.
- Provide detailed evidence that the equipment fills a critical research gap and is not duplicated elsewhere in your institution or accessible nearby.
- Include a realistic equipment maintenance plan with identified technical personnel, preventive maintenance schedules, and operational costs.
- Tailor your research justification to NIH priorities and strategic goals; align instrument use with funded or fundable research areas aligned with NCI, NHLBI, NINDS, or other relevant institutes.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they undersell the shared-use impact, presenting the instrument as serving only one or two research programs instead of demonstrating broad institutional research benefit. Another common pitfall is underestimating operational costs or failing to provide credible long-term funding for equipment maintenance, staff training, and calibration—reviewers question sustainability. Finally, some applicants submit weak or generic cost-sharing commitments that don't clearly demonstrate institutional financial accountability.
Similar grants
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- CLOSED Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health