This note provides the answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) relating to the National Institute for Health and Care Research Capital Funding Competition. These FAQs will be updated when significant new questions/queries are submitted, so applicants are advised to check the NIHR website frequently for the latest version (as indicated by the date and version number).
Member Organisations
Are NHS Organisations which host a local Clinical Research Network (CRN) and also hosts other NIHR infrastructure (e.g. a BRC and CRF) able to apply for £5m to support capital spend in the CRN partnership and a further £5m to support capital spend across the NIHR infrastructure? (i.e. £10m in total)?
NHS organisations can submit a single application up to a maximum of £5m. This should include all NIHR infrastructure and the LCRN, as applicable.
Can an NIHR infrastructure host NHS organisation include in its application funding that will be passed to an NHS partner organisation that itself is eligible to apply directly as a host of NIHR infrastructure?
A single application should be submitted by each NHS organisation which covers requests by any or all NIHR Infrastructure hosted by that organisation. It is possible to pass funding to other NHS organisations which are named as formal partners in the NIHR infrastructure contracts. However, we anticipate that capital requested by an NHS organisation in its application would reflect the remit of the infrastructure contracts it holds.
Can funding be passed to partner organisations which are non-NHS (but also non-HEI)? (e.g. local authorities, independent care providers, third sector provider organisations?)
Funding cannot be passed to non-NHS partner organisations. All equipment shall be owned by the purchasing NHS organisation (which could be a NHS partner organisation) as allocated in the financial plan. The NHS organisation may locate the equipment where they feel it best supports the research delivery of the NIHR infrastructure that they host. DHSC reserves the right to determine the outcome of any equipment purchased with this investment.
Does the Host need to submit all funding applications in one form or can each infrastructure be submitted separately? i.e. LCRN, BRC, CRF etc
Only ONE application per eligible NHS organisation should be submitted.
Please could you provide clarity on the linkage between the capital equipment and the refurbishment to house these items. How directly they are linked? Would a slightly more broad bid around housing key research equipment within a refurbished CRF be accepted, or is the call simply to cover large research equipment with the absolute minimal refurbishment required as a direct consequence of the capital purchase?
General refurbishment, even of research areas, is not eligible for this call. However, where a capital investment of equipment has been made, refurbishment of an appropriate space to use the equipment can be included within the application, if required.
Where infrastructure is a consortium with several Trusts, can an application be submitted for funding for each of the Trusts or only for the Host Trust?
NHS organisations that hold either an NIHR infrastructure contract (including LCRN) or one due to commence by 1 April 2023 are eligible to apply. NHS organisations that are formal partners (i.e. named on your infrastructure contract) may be included in the host NHS organisation's application. Only ONE application per eligible NHS organisation should be submitted.
What is the definition of an NHS organisation for the purposes of this call?
All equipment shall be owned by the purchasing NHS organisation (which could be a NHS partner organisation) as allocated in the financial plan. The NHS organisation may locate the equipment where they feel it best supports the research delivery of the NIHR infrastructure that they host, including GPs and primary care organisations. DHSC reserves the right to determine the outcome of any equipment purchased with this investment.
For the purposes of this competition we define NHS organisations as NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts and ICBs. The equipment purchased through this award may be located in GP practices that are LCRN partners however the equipment would be owned by an NHS organisation.
If an ICB intends to own the purchased equipment that will be placed in a General Practice, will the funds flow from DHSC to the LCRN host, then to the ICB or can they go from the LCRN host direct to the GP to purchase the equipment on behalf of the ICB?
All equipment shall be owned by the purchasing NHS organisation (which could be a NHS partner organisation) as allocated in the financial plan. The NHS organisation may locate the equipment where they feel it best supports the research delivery of the NIHR infrastructure that they host, including GPs and primary care organisations. DHSC reserves the right to determine the outcome of any equipment purchased with this investment.
The equipment purchased through this award may be located in GP practices that are LCRN partners however the equipment would be owned by an NHS organisation.
Finance
How should applicants cost their equipment?
NHS organisations should follow standard procurement processes and are encouraged to procure equipment through the NHS Supply Chain.
Is there an indication of the total envelope available?
There isn't a specified funding envelope for this call. Applications will be assessed based on the criteria set out in the call documents. NHS Organisations are asked to set out their priority order for items requested and a justification for how they contribute to the research capacity and capability of their research infrastructure/ network.
Can the capital investment requested be utilised more generally in research in the Host or formal partner organisations of an NIHR infrastructure bid or does it have to be directly related to the submitting infrastructure bid's work?
Applications are expected to be for equipment that will support the agreed research programme of the infrastructure hosted by the NHS organisation (including formal partners).
NHS Trusts receive a capital resource limit (CRL) for each financial year. If an NHS organisation was successful in bidding for this NIHR capital funding, would that increase its CRL for 23/24 and 24/25?
Equipment purchased with funding from this call should be credited to CDEL, and the subsequent expenditure on the equipment debited to CDEL once the equipment has been purchased. The funding provided is not outside of NHS system capital allocations, but the net impact of these transactions should be nil as the debit and credit cancel each other out. It is important that the NIHR capital grant and subsequent equipment spend by the NHS organisation both need to be recognised in the same financial year. However, if the spend is more than the grant then there would be a net impact on NHS organisation’s system allocation.
Will all awarded funds be paid to the host who will then have the responsibility to distribute to partner organisation(s) or will payments to NHS partners be direct from NIHR?
Funds will be paid to the lead NHS organisation who will be responsible for distributing the funds to their NHS partners.
How will the funds be administered to successful NHS organisations?
Once funding has been confirmed, NIHR will ask successful applicants to profile the spend across the two financial years. NIHR will make payments through a Variation to Contract (VTC) to an existing NIHR infrastructure award in-line with the submitted profile of funds. Please ensure that the submitted finances are profiled as accurately and realistically as possible. The funding will be managed separately to the NIHR infrastructure award with the capital element having its own Annual Statement of Expenditure (ASTOX) return.
Would applications for a total of less than £1 million of capital investment be accepted?
No - the intention of the funding is to invest in significant items of equipment, therefore we expect applications to be in excess of £1 million.
Do purchases count towards the ICB CDEL limit?
This funding should be spent in addition to a Trust's core NHS CDEL allocation. This is a separate pot of funding through a research contract. It should not displace other NHS capital funding that the Trust is due to receive
Is the purchase of a portacabin to house research activity an eligible cost?
No, a portacabin would not be an eligible cost. This capital funding call is for equipment purchases and necessary building refurbishment required to house the equipment purchased only. Construction of new buildings, purchasing of buildings and on-going maintenance costs are not eligible.
Will this funding count as income in the Statement of Comprehensive Income?
This funding will be provided as a capital grant, which will be evidenced by the Variation to Contract. The income will score to the host Trust's Statement of Comprehensive Income, however it is then removed to give the 'adjusted financial performance' which is the true value against which the Trust is measured. The grant should be reported as a capital grant as this will credit a host Trust's CDEL position.
Current FAQs state that NHS organisations can submit a single application up to a maximum of £5m. This should include all NIHR infrastructure and the LCRN, as applicable. So is that suggesting as Host of a BRC, CRF, MIC and then Host to the CRN, we can only submit one bid to the value of £5M, noting that the CRN bid may have nothing to do with us as a Trust or our NIHR Infrastructures? Are we not disadvantaged as other Trusts can bid for £5M for their own Trust?
For this call, we have decided to set the same maximum value for all applications regardless of the number, value or type of the NIHR infrastructure contracts held by each Trust. NHS organisations must hold an NIHR infrastructure award to be eligible for this call and can submit a single application up to a maximum of £5m. This should include all NIHR infrastructure and the LCRN including their partners, as applicable. To ensure those assessing applications are clear, please order all the items by priority, with the items that are the highest priority at the top of the financial plan and the items that are the lowest priority at the bottom.
Other
Is a vehicle within scope of this funding call?
Yes, purchase of a vehicle to support research activity is within scope.
Would the costs of refurbishment of some existing buildings or new build be eligible under this scheme? Would the fitting of a new build, including fixtures, fittings and furniture and equipment be eligible under this scheme?
General refurbishment, even of research areas, is not eligible for this call. However, where a capital investment of equipment has been made, refurbishment of an appropriate space to use the equipment can be included within the application, if required.
Is Magnetic Resonance elastography classed as capital investment and applicable for this call?
Equipment to deliver Magnetic Resonance elastography for research purposes is within scope for this call.
Is spend on mobile technology (laptops, mobile phones etc) to support research activities eligible under this call?
Whilst mobile technology (laptops, mobile phones) are not explicitly ineligible for this call, each individual item needs to have a value greater than £5,000. While £5,000 is set as the minimum threshold, we expect this funding to be used to purchase more expensive equipment not frequently funded through grant applications; the majority equipment set out in applications should be well above the £5,000 threshold. The selection criteria, against which all applications will be assessed, includes value for money.
Is IT equipment (e.g. server) eligible for funding through this call?
Yes, IT equipment costing in excess of £5,000 per item is eligible.
Will recurring revenue consequences of the capital investment be fully funded?
Equipment maintenance costs, insurance costs, and extended warranties etc of the capital investment purchased under this call will not be funded, as per Ineligible Costs in the competition guidance.
Can this funding be used to support the leasing of equipment particularly where it is not possible to purchase outright? For example, equipment where the manufacturer only provides leasing agreements due to the need for continual software updates.
No, this funding is only available for the purchase of equipment which will be owned by an NHS organisation.
Can we include an image in the application form?
No, applicants should complete the text boxes with text only.
Can this funding cover the purchase of licenses for specific computer software to support delivery of research/research activities where the cost will be in excess of £5,000?
No, software is included in the guidance as an ineligible cost.
Can this funding be used to purchase items individualy less than £5,000 but put together to create a research 'unit' e.g. beds, freezers, centrifuges etc.
No, each individual item purchased under this call must be £5,000 or more in value.The intention of the funding is to invest in Is the applying Trust (Host) required to submit both the Excel finance form with completed 'justification of costs' in tab 3 'Capitfal Funding' and the Word application form provided in the original email to trusts?
Yes, each applying Trust must submit both the completed Excel financial form and the completed Word application form provided.
Are the costs of equipment warranties eligible for this call?
Equipment warranties that incur an additional cost are ineligible costs under this call.
Can maintenance costs of new equipment be included for the first two years following purchase?
No, equipment maintenance costs are ineligible costs under this call.
Is it acceptable for the Trust CEO to be the NHS Lead for an application?
This should be the Director or Co-Director of one of the NIHR infrastructure centres listed in the guidance document, or an LCRN Clinical Director for NHS Organisations with an LCRN contract only. This person must be directly employed by the applying NHS organisation (this can be an honorary contract or a secondment agreement for an LCRN Clinical Director). A Trust CEO would be acceptable if they are also a Director or Co-Director of one of the NIHR infrastructure centres listed in the guidance document, or an LCRN Clinical Director for NHS Organisations with an LCRN contract only.