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 (new and enhanced resubmissions) and for addressing concerns from peer reviewers on a submitted manuscript for publication. Faculty with summary statements from reviewed but unfunded grant submissions where reviewers recommend additional preliminary data involving a core facility will have the highest priority.

Eligibility requirements

Any tenure track CU Boulder faculty member (Assistant, Associate or Full Professors) 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).

We are no longer accepting applications. The funding opportunity will re-open as soon as funds are available.

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)
  • Co-PIs (if any): Name, department affiliation and scientific role(s)
  • Rationale and objectives of the proposed project, with an emphasis on the need for data collection/analysis services (300-word maximum)
  • Experimental plan
    • Description of the core facility services to be used (300-word maximum)
  • Explanation of how data will be used:
    • New grant submission; or
    • Grant resubmission; or
    • Manuscript resubmission.
  • Estimated frequency of future use of the core facility (not including the current application) and an explanation for how any future use would be funded.
  • A budget generated from the provided template that automatically calculates and adds the 7.85% GAIR to the quote.
  • Justification for funding request
    • 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)

Additional file uploads

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

  • Detailed quote for the core services (required for all applicants)
  • A budget generated from the provided template that automatically calculates and adds the 7.85% 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 $5,000 per core facility. 

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 8.19% 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 July 31, 2024. No new voucher awards will be made after May 1, 2024.

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 8.19% GAIR to the quote.
  • 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 July 31, 2023. To file your report, please fill in the form available through this link (coming soon). 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 the Research and Innovation Office.