Research Equipment Grants

I. Program Overview

The A&M System announces the inaugural call for proposals under the Research Excellence Fund (REF), a bold initiative to elevate the research enterprise across all A&M System member institutions. The REF provides competitive funding to accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and enhance national competitiveness.
 
Strategic Initiative 4: Research Equipment Grants under the REF provides a competitive funding mechanism to acquire cutting-edge research instrumentation and technology that will be shared across multiple A&M System institutions. These awards are intended to strengthen infrastructure supporting high-impact, collaborative, and externally funded research programs. This initiative recognizes that access to advanced equipment is essential to attract top researchers, support world-class scholarship, and increase the A&M System’s competitiveness for major federal, state, and private grants.

II. Program Objectives

The goals of the Research Equipment Grants program are to:

• Enhance Research Infrastructure: Support acquisition or upgrade of major research instruments and shared-use facilities that expand research capacity and capability.
• Foster Collaboration Across the A&M System: Encourage multi-institutional projects and shared equipment resources that serve multiple System members.
• Increase Competitiveness for Major Awards: Strengthen proposals to major federal, state, and private sponsors by ensuring access to modern instrumentation.
• Promote Efficient Use of Resources: Encourage shared investments, reduce redundancy, and maximize the return on equipment investment through coordinated management.
• Support Student Training and Workforce Development: Provide advanced training opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff.

III. Eligibility

• Eligible Institution: Any A&M System member university.
• Eligible Applicants: The lead principal investigator (PI) and other PI and co-PIs must be PI-eligible and hold a full-time faculty or research staff appointment at an A&M System member university or agency.
• Collaborating Members: Proposals must include at least two A&M System member institutions committed to shared use of the equipment.

IV. Award Information and Allowable Costs

• Total Funding Available (FY26): $1,000,000
• Maximum Individual Award: Up to $100,000 (no less than $25,000)
• Project Period: 12 months
• Expected Number of Awards: 10 – 40 annually
• Limited Submission: Submissions limited to five lead proposals per A&M System university as approved by designated university Chief Research Officer (CRO) (i.e., Vice President of Research). Note: A&M System agencies are included under Texas A&M University (TAMU) led submissions.
• Cost Share: Not required but encouraged to leverage the REF investment and demonstrate institutional commitment.
• Allowable Costs:
  • Purchase, fabrication, or installation of research instruments or equipment
  • Associated software and technical components
  • Upgrades to existing shared-use facilities
  • Limited costs for setup, calibration, or technician training
• Non-allowable Costs:
  • Routine laboratory supplies
  • Salaries for faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral staff, or administrative staff

All funds must be expended within 12 months of award unless an extension is approved.

V. Proposal Requirements

A. Proposal Components

Proposals must include the following sections, combined into a single PDF document:

1. Cover Page (1 page)
   • Title of equipment proposal
   • Lead and partner institutions
   • Lead PI and other PIs and Co-PIs
   • Lead PI contact information
   • Total amount requested
   • Brief abstract (250 words)
2. Project Description (up to 3 pages)
   • Description of the equipment and its capabilities.
   • Justification of need and relevance to current and future research.
   • Description of research projects and programs to be supported.
   • Multi-institutional collaboration and shared-use plan.
   • Broader impacts on competitiveness, student training, and innovation.
   • Plans for sustainability, management, and maintenance.
3. Budget and Cost-Share Details (1 page)
   • Itemized cost estimates (including quotes; quotes may be included in appendices).
   • Description of institutional or partner contributions.
   • Documentation of space availability and readiness.
   • Institutional cost share commitment to leverage the REF investment.
4. Biographical Sketches (Key investigators – PIs and co-PIs)
   • Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) format.
5. Letters of Commitment (up to 5 letters; 1 page per letter) from collaborating A&M System institutions.
6. Memo of Support (1 page) from CRO endorsing this proposal for submission.
7. Appendices:
   • Quote(s) itemizing cost of equipment proposed.

VI. Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent peer-review panel composed of internal and external experts using the following weighted criteria:

VII. Reporting and Expectations

Awardees will be required to:

• Establish a shared-use management plan to ensure equitable access across collaborating A&M System institutions.
• Submit a mid-year and final report summarizing usage, outcomes, publications, and funding proposals supported by equipment, and the equipment’s research and educational impacts.
• List equipment in a System-wide Research Equipment Directory to promote visibility and collaboration.
• Participate in the annual A&M System Research Excellence Meeting and present key findings and collaboration impacts.

Renewal proposals will be considered. Funding for subsequent years will be contingent on demonstrated progress toward external funding and project deliverables.

VIII. Submission Instructions

• Submission Portal: Submit single PDF document to ref@tamus.edu
• File Format: Single PDF document, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Deadline: June 1, 2026, 11:59 PM CST
• Questions: Contact E-mail: ref@tamus.edu

IX. Program Governance

The Research Equipment Grants program will be administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research under guidance from the REF Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from A&M System member institutions.
 
Proposals will be reviewed through a competitive independent peer-reviewed process. Decisions on funding will be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Research and endorsed by the Chancellor of the A&M System.

X. Key Dates

XI. Summary Statement

The Research Equipment Grants initiative of the Research Excellence Fund represents a strategic investment in the shared infrastructure that powers discovery and innovation. By supporting the acquisition of advanced instrumentation across multiple A&M System institutions, this program ensures that faculty, students, and partners have access to the world-class tools needed to solve the grand challenges of Texas, the nation, and the world.