Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 22 075
The grant opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Resources and Workforce Development for the Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (UC7 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-22-075) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding program, administered through NIAID, that focuses on sustaining and strengthening the existing network of 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (RBLs) that were originally built with NIAID support. The central aim is not to build new facilities, but to ensure these high-containment laboratories remain fully capable, properly staffed, and operationally ready to meet national needs related to biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, and pandemic preparedness, consistent with NIAID priorities. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UC7), meaning NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in the project’s direction and oversight compared with a standard grant, and clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this announcement.
A major emphasis of the FOA is operational readiness. Funds are intended to cover real, ongoing costs required to keep complex biocontainment infrastructure functioning safely and reliably, including facility maintenance and day-to-day operations. Because these laboratories support work on hazardous biological agents, the announcement highlights Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) practices support as a core element. That includes support for personnel who work in or around BSL-3 spaces and for the specialized building systems tied to biocontainment operations, which can include controlled ventilation, filtration, access controls, decontamination procedures, and other safety-critical infrastructure. In practical terms, the FOA is designed to keep the laboratories, their procedures, and their workforce continuously prepared to conduct and support sensitive research without lapses in safety or capability.
The RBLs are positioned as regional resources rather than isolated institutional assets. The program envisions that these laboratories will enable and accelerate pre-clinical and laboratory research, including both in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as testing activities involving hazardous biological agents. The purpose is to support NIAID’s broader research mission in biodefense and infectious disease preparedness by ensuring that researchers have access to appropriately equipped and professionally managed BSL-3-capable environments. An optional component is also described in the FOA: laboratories may propose to provide specialized services that are essential for supporting BSL-3 activities. While the announcement does not enumerate every possible service in the provided text, the intent is to allow RBLs to offer high-value, specialized support functions that strengthen BSL-3 research operations and make the facilities more broadly useful to the regional and national research community.
Eligibility is limited and structured to align with the "limited competition" framing and the purpose of supporting a defined set of existing NIAID-funded RBLs. The source data lists eligible applicants as small businesses, but the narrative description makes clear that the funding is meant for the 12 previously constructed RBLs, so eligibility is effectively constrained to that established network and whatever applicant types are permitted under the full FOA. Importantly, foreign participation is not permitted: non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) may not apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. Applicants therefore must be U.S.-based and must structure the work so that all supported components remain domestic.
Key administrative details include an NIH discretionary opportunity in the health activity category (CFDA 93.855), created on December 14, 2022, with an original closing date of February 22, 2023. The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an operational capability and workforce sustainment program for high-containment laboratory infrastructure, ensuring that the RBL network remains safe, staffed, and ready to support critical non-clinical research and testing on dangerous pathogens relevant to biodefense and pandemic response.Apply for RFA AI 22 075
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Resources and Workforce Development for the Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (UC7 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-12-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-02-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Limited Competition: Resources and Workforce Development for the Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (UC7 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The FOA number is RFA-AI-22-075.
Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity, administered through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
What is the overall purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to sustain and strengthen the existing network of 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (RBLs) that were originally built with NIAID support. The focus is on keeping these high-containment laboratories fully capable, properly staffed, and operationally ready to meet national needs related to biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, and pandemic preparedness, consistent with NIAID priorities.
Is this funding meant to build new biocontainment facilities?
No. The central aim is not to construct new facilities. The intent is to support ongoing readiness, staffing, and operations for the existing NIAID-supported RBL network.
What award mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UC7).
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (UC7)?
A UC7 cooperative agreement means NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in the project’s direction and oversight compared with a standard grant. In other words, the NIH role is more hands-on than it would be under a typical assistance mechanism.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this announcement ("Clinical Trial Not Allowed").
What kinds of activities does the FOA emphasize?
A major emphasis is operational readiness. The funding is intended to cover real, ongoing costs required to keep complex biocontainment infrastructure functioning safely and reliably, including facility maintenance and day-to-day operations.
What does "operational readiness" mean in the context of these laboratories?
Operational readiness refers to maintaining continuous capability to safely run high-containment laboratory operations without lapses, including sustaining the workforce and ensuring that essential biocontainment building systems and procedures remain functional and reliable.
Is Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) support a required focus area?
Yes. The announcement highlights BSL-3 practices support as a core element, reflecting the need to safely support work involving hazardous biological agents.
What types of costs are implied for BSL-3 support and biocontainment operations?
The FOA describes support for personnel who work in or around BSL-3 spaces and for specialized building systems tied to biocontainment operations. Examples mentioned include controlled ventilation, filtration, access controls, decontamination procedures, and other safety-critical infrastructure, along with day-to-day operations and maintenance.
How are the Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (RBLs) positioned in this program?
The RBLs are positioned as regional resources rather than isolated institutional assets. The program envisions these laboratories enabling and accelerating research and testing involving hazardous biological agents by providing access to appropriately equipped and professionally managed BSL-3-capable environments.
What kinds of research does the FOA intend to support through the RBLs?
The RBLs are described as supporting pre-clinical and laboratory research, including in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as testing activities involving hazardous biological agents. The focus is on non-clinical work aligned with biodefense and infectious disease preparedness.
Does the FOA allow applicants to propose additional services beyond basic facility operations?
Yes. The FOA describes an optional component where laboratories may propose to provide specialized services essential for supporting BSL-3 activities. While the provided information does not list every possible service, the intent is to enable high-value support functions that strengthen BSL-3 research operations and increase usefulness to the regional and national research community.
Is this a limited competition opportunity?
Yes. The title and description frame it as a "limited competition" opportunity, aligned to supporting a defined set of existing NIAID-funded RBLs.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is limited and structured to support the 12 previously constructed, NIAID-supported RBLs. The source data lists eligible applicants as small businesses, but the narrative makes clear the intent is to fund the established RBL network and whatever applicant types are permitted under the full FOA.
Are foreign organizations allowed to apply?
No. Foreign participation is not permitted. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) may not apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this announcement.
Are foreign components allowed under the NIH definition?
No. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000.
What is the program’s public health or activity category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is in the health activity category, with CFDA number 93.855.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on December 14, 2022, and the original closing date was February 22, 2023.
What is the best way to summarize what this funding supports?
It is best understood as an operational capability and workforce sustainment program for high-containment laboratory infrastructure, ensuring the RBL network remains safe, staffed, and ready to support critical non-clinical research and testing on dangerous pathogens relevant to biodefense and pandemic response.
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