Core Facility Voucher Program

The Core Facility Voucher Program (CFVP) is aimed at encouraging new and existing users to utilize CU Boulder core facilities in their research.

CFVP assists faculty in gathering new or additional data for grant applications and manuscripts (new and enhanced resubmissions) and for addressing concerns from peer reviewers on a submitted manuscript for publication. 

Intent of the Voucher Program

Preference will be given to applications pursuing federal FOAs within 6 months.

Any of the following employed by University of Colorado requiring data collection and analysis services from a CU Boulder Core Facility to generate data to support grants (new/resubmitted) or manuscripts (resubmitted/revised), and novel/exploratory research with broad implications. All CU Boulder Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty, Senior Instructors, and Career Track Research Faculty (i.e., Research Professors Series, Senior Research Associates* (SRA), and Research Associates* (RA)) who hold an appointment of half-time or greater are eligible to apply. PRAs must receive approval from their department chair, college dean or institute director before applying.

Now accepting applications. The application portal will remain open until all available funds have been allocated.

  Access Online Application 

Applications must be submitted electronically via CU Boulder’s OpenWater Portal and include the following information:  

• Application Title
• PI contact information and scientific role(s)
• PI Biosketch (NIH or NSF standardized format)
• Co-PIs (if any): Name, department affiliation and scientific role(s)
• Cover page
  • Signatures of the name and title of the PI and each Core Facility manager
  • Please use the   Cover Page template
• Amount requested (max = $2,000)
• Rationale and objectives of the proposed project, with an emphasis on the need for data collection/analysis services (500-word maximum), highlighting:
  • Research significance and impact: What about this research is important and what are its broader implications?
  • Experimental plan: A brief description of the Core Facility services to be used. 
  • Data use: Explanation of how the data will be used (new grant submission or resubmission, manuscript, etc)
• A budget generated from the provided template that automatically calculates and adds the 8.49% GAIR to the quote (link below). Note: RIO will not pay for GAIR. 
• List of Cores to be used
• Detailed quote for the Core(s) services
  • The quotes must be provided by the Core Facility. 
• Details concerning how the data will be applied:
  • Specific Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for which you intend to respond within 12 months of the CFVP award.
    • Note: If this justification is selected, the following questions are displayed on OpenWater:
      • Funder Name
      • Title of Program (Funding Opportunity)
      • Anticipated Date of Submission
      • Link to FOA
  • Specific FOA and reviews from a grant that was declined and for which you intend to reapply.
    • Note: If this justification is selected, the following questions are displayed on OpenWater:
      • Title of Program (Funding Opportunity)
      • Original Submission Date
      • Anticipated Date of Resubmission
      • Link to FOA
    • File Uploads: Applicants will be prompted to upload their supporting documentation.
      • Declined Grant Reviews (single PDF file)
  • Manuscript declined/needs revision and peer reviews call for additional data.
    • Note: If this justification is selected, the following questions are displayed on OpenWater:
      • Title of Manuscript
      • Title of Publication (Journal, Book, etc)
      • Date Reviews (decline/revision decision) Received
      • Anticipated Date of Resubmission
    • File Uploads: Applicants will be prompted to upload their supporting documentation.
      • Declined/Needs revision Manuscript Reviews (single PDF File)
• Annual Report Agreement
  • Recipients of the Voucher Program must agree to submit an annual Impact Report for three fiscal years (three reports in total)

Additional file uploads

All applicants will also need to upload these additional supporting documents:

• Signed   FY25 Core Facility Voucher Program Cover Page
• Detailed quote for the core services (required for all applicants)
• A budget generated from the provided template that automatically calculates and adds the 8.49% GAIR to the quote.
• PI’s two-page biosketch using either the standardized NSF or NIH format

After all of the above steps are complete, the applicant will be prompted to submit the application.

The maximum per request is $2,000 per core facility. There will be no no-cost extension, and the funds must be spent by the end of FY25.

The funding source for the Core Facility Voucher Program (CFVP) is coming from Auxiliary funding, therefore GAIR is required to be included in the total request for the Voucher award applications. Please use the   budget template, which automatically calculates and adds the 8.49% GAIR to the quote.

Deadline

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please allow 2–3 weeks for review and decision on the proposal. Funds must be used by June 30, 2025. No new voucher awards will be made after April 28, 2025.

Restrictions

• Funds for awarded vouchers will be provided to the selected core(s) and used for services as outlined in the submitted quote. Make sure you used the   budget template that automatically calculates and adds the 8.49% GAIR to the quote. Note: The GAIR calculation is for your reference. RIO will not pay for GAIR. 
• Unused funds cannot be redirected to other uses.
• PIs must submit or re-submit the applicable grant proposal or manuscript within one year after receipt of a Core Facility Voucher. Failure to do so will render the PI ineligible for any additional support from CFVP for a period of two years. Submitting a different manuscript or grant proposal will be permissible if the resulting core facility data necessitates a change in direction.
• Click here for a list of all eligible Core Facilities. 

Review

Core directors, in conjunction with faculty selected from various departments, will review submitted proposals. Review criteria include: (1) the ability of core facility services to satisfy the goals and objectives of the project; and (2) the track record of the principal investigator in grant submissions and publications.

Funding decisions will be announced on a rolling basis 2–3 weeks after submission.

Post-voucher award reporting

PIs must submit a brief Impact Report. Recipients will receive a link to the Impact Report each August. The report will request information on core facility use and grants/publications submitted.

Any awarded grants or publications must acknowledge support from the CU Boulder Financial Futures Program.

For more information about campus cores or applications for this program, please contact Joe Dragavon, Director of Core Facilities & Shared Instrumentation at joseph.dragavon@colorado.edu.