23 - Construction Grants

Abstract

Construction awards are highly individual. Generic rules of grantsmanship are obvious for R01s, but less defined for these kinds of institutional projects. Construction funds for new construction or alteration/renovation of research facilities are available as C06 awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), as determined each year by specific congressional appropriations. Strong proposals are essential to secure funding in an intensely competitive arena. Proposals for construction awards must be well written and well justified, tightly organized, and supported by careful architectural detail to be competitive. Success is based on the number, strength, and productivity of facility users. There must be a compelling presentation that the proposed facilities will lead to expansion of research activity with an increase in both the quantity and the quality of the work performed by the group. In the case of animal facilities, upgrading to the new standards is justification enough if the facility is used by a sufficient number of investigators with R01 grants. Preapplication information is crucial to a successful application. Since competition for construction dollars is keen and often involves many strong programs, grantsmanship may be the key to success.