Strategic Equipment Investment Program

Special Call for Proposals

Program Overview

The Strategic Equipment Investment Program (SEIP) is administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships. Awards from the SEIP can be used to support the purchase of all types of equipment, ranging from scientific to creative arts. The SEIP provides funding on a competitive basis for the purchase of truly strategic equipment that will have significant impact on enhancing a team’s capabilities and competitiveness at a national level. The expectation is that acquiring the proposed equipment will provide new opportunities for advancing the team’s ability to achieve new goals in terms of creativity, discovery, innovation, and securing external funding. 

Eligibility and Award Limitations

Proposal teams must be led by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member. Research faculty and permanent professional/technical staff may serve as co-PIs on proposal teams. The maximum total SEIP budget for this Special Call for Proposals is $150,000. Funding received from the SEIP may not be used to renovate facilities or for infrastructure enhancements. Although not required, financial commitments from a proposing team’s parent units will be a favorable consideration and how these units’ funds will be used should be clearly articulated, e.g., infrastructure renovations and/or assisting with the purchase the equipment.

The Application Process

Written proposals must not exceed two pages (single-spaced, 12-point font, Times or Times New Roman) and will be evaluated by a selected team of OU peer reviewers. The written proposal should include:

• A brief executive summary that articulates the need for a new piece of equipment and how it will help produce new ideas or data and possibly new proposal opportunities.
• Briefly define your team and the departments/colleges the acquisition of this equipment will benefit. You may choose to attach an appendix with a list of team members and departments if needed.
• A brief description of the unmet needs and the benefit this equipment brings to your team.
• What are the goals, expected outcomes, and possible impact that this equipment brings to the university? How do the activities being conducted align with the Strategic Research Verticals, Horizontals, and Pillar 5 of the Lead On, University Strategic Plan?
• Provide a description of the equipment and at least one price quote. Please ask for a three-year service agreement to be included in the price of the equipment (not a separate line item). The vendor quote can be placed in an appendix.
• Provide a statement related to available infrastructure and space. We understand that there could be a need for items like electrical upgrades, exhaust, etc., but do not include these costs in the proposal. Contact OVPRP Associate Vice President Melany Dickens-Ray (mdickens@ou.edu) if you have questions or need assistance related to matters of space or infrastructure requirements. 

Budgeting and Available Resources

As mentioned above, there will be a total of $150,000 available for all selected proposals. At least one equipment quote must be included with each submitted proposal. Financial commitments from your department, college, or research units will be considered as favorable, and this support should be articulated in the proposal.

Proposals should be submitted as one PDF file using the following submission portal.

SUBMIT APPLICATION

If you have any questions, you may reach out to OVPRP Senior Associate Vice President John Antonio (antonio@ou.edu) who serves as the point of contact for the SEIP.

Timeline

• January 31, 2022 – Written proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. CST
• February 28, 2022 – Notification of selected proposals for awards
• March 31, 2022 – Project start date

2021 Awardees, SSHA and SEIP