Single Source: Resource Center for the Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Program

The Single Source: Resource Center for the Support for Research Excellence Program is a forecasted federal funding opportunity issued by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, this opportunity supports the continuation of a centralized Resource Center that plays a critical role in advancing the goals of the Support for Research Excellence program. The SuRE program itself is designed to strengthen research capacity at resource-limited institutions, particularly those serving regions that have historically received limited NIH research funding. These institutions often emphasize strong student participation in research, making them essential contributors to workforce development in biomedical sciences. This funding opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement and is designated as a single-source award. This means that rather than an open competition, the funding is intended to support one specific, currently funded organization that operates the existing SuRE Resource Center. The purpose of this approach is to ensure continuity of services and maintain institutional knowledge that supports eligible institutions nationwide. The Resource Center provides administrative infrastructure support, guidance, and technical assistance to institutions and investigators seeking to participate in SuRE funding opportunities. The scope of the Resource Center’s work includes several key functions. It assists institutions in building sustainable research capacity, delivers outreach and training to faculty and administrative staff, and collects and reports programmatic data aligned with NIH goals. These activities are critical to expanding participation in NIH-funded research and improving institutional competitiveness. Funding is expected to support these operational and programmatic activities, although specific allowable costs, budget limits, and indirect cost policies are not detailed in the forecast notice. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited and non-competitive. The notice explicitly states that only the current recipient of the SuRE Resource Center is eligible to apply. While the general eligibility category includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and other entities, the additional eligibility clarification restricts applicants to a single invited organization. This reflects the continuation nature of the funding rather than a new competitive cycle. The application process will follow standard NIH procedures, including peer review. Although this is a single-source opportunity, the submitted application must still demonstrate merit to receive funding. The forecast indicates that the opportunity will be formally posted on March 25, 2027, with an estimated application due date of May 25, 2027. The anticipated award date is August 1, 2028, with the project start date aligned to the same day. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent are specified in the forecast. No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated for this opportunity. Contact with the program is facilitated through a centralized email address provided by NIGMS, allowing prospective applicants to seek clarification or guidance. As a forecasted opportunity, additional details, including full application instructions and evaluation criteria, are expected to be released in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity. The program does not indicate a recurring cycle, and given its single-source nature, it is likely tied to a specific continuation timeline rather than an annually competed grant.