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Capital Program

The Center is pleased to announce the launch of an open solicitation for capital dollars beginning in FY14 (Capital Program). The Center is interested in investing in high-potential economic development projects that promise to make a significant contribution to the state’s life sciences ecosystem. Up to $40 million in capital dollars has been allocated for this open solicitation in FY14.

Before and after photos of the renovation of the Loeb Laboratory Building at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, funded with a $10 million grant from the Center, matched by a $15 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

 

The Center intends to manage the award of capital dollars through a two-phased approach:

Phase I: Submission of a short online application which includes a 1-page summary of the proposed project (link to application posted below). Applications will be vetted by the Center’s staff for administrative completeness and the Center’s Capital Planning Workgroup which is comprised of members of the Board of Directors. A short list of Phase I applicants will be selected for further consideration and invited to submit a Phase II application.

This application deadline was September 21, 2012. No new applications will be accepted.

 

Phase II: Based on Phase I review, applicants selected to move to Phase II will be notified by October 19, 2012. Only these applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal for evaluation. Phase II applications will undergo a full review by the Center’s Scientific Advisory Board and the Center’s Capital Planning Workgroup.  A group of finalists will then be asked to make presentations to the Board of Directors’ Investment Committee. Final recommendations will be brought to the full Board of Directors for approval.

Phase II Applications will be sent via email to the institution's representative.

This application is due on November 16, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. EST.


Eligible applicants must be a Massachusetts legally organized “not-for-profit” entity such as an academic/research institution, a hospital engaged in research, disease foundation, business incubator, or other not-for-profit entity that would be eligible for capital funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Institutions that are exclusively health care providers and/or requests for the purchase of equipment associated with standard healthcare would not be eligible for capital funding.
Only ONE (1) application per organization will be accepted and must be signed by a senior leader of the organization (President, CEO, Executive Director, etc.).

The following entities are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply to the Capital Program:

  • For-profit companies or other for-profit entities.
  • Municipalities or other governmental entities.
  • Entities that have already been designated within the Center’s authorizing statute for capital funding, regardless of whether they have already received their funding or not. A University, for example, that has already received capital funding for a particular campus or school is not eligible to apply on behalf of a different campus or school within that University system.
  • Entities that have not been designated for capital funding within the Center’s authorizing statute, but have received $5 million or more in capital funding from the Center will not be eligible.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be requesting funding for capital projects to support the life sciences “infrastructure” in Massachusetts in organizations engaged in life sciences research, development, education and training, or commercialization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the time of the application deadline.

    • “Life sciences” is defined as: advanced and applied sciences that expand the understanding of human physiology and have the potential to lead to medical advances or therapeutic applications including, but not limited to, agricultural biotechnology, biogenerics, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical synthesis, chemistry technology, diagnostics, genomics, image analysis, marine biology, marine technology, medical devices, nanotechnology, natural product pharmaceuticals, proteomics, regenerative medicine, RNA interference, stem cell research and veterinary science, as defined in the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL), chapter 23I, section 2.

  • Project requests for funding from the Center must not exceed $5 million.
  • Projects must be ready for funding beginning in FY14 (July 1, 2013) and completion of the project must not extend beyond FY16 (June 30, 2016). Applicants may request single or multi-year funding.
  • The Center envisions that recipients under the Program will receive a grant amount that leverages additional funds that have been identified and raised for the proposed project. The Center acknowledges that the sources and amounts of additional funding will vary depending on the Applicant, the proposed project, and the availability of such funding to the Applicant. These variables will be taken into consideration by the Center’s Board of Directors as it makes its funding decisions. For example, a research institution engaged in finding a cure for cancer may be able to attract a greater share of philanthropic dollars than a community college focused on workforce development. Applicants that have succeeded in attracting significant additional funds will benefit during the review process.     

The Center will be evaluating proposals in both phases of the process according to the following criteria:

  • Capacity of the project to create and/or retain jobs in Massachusetts;
  • Contributions to the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem and its “culture of innovation”;
  • Promotion of significant economic development in Massachusetts;
  • Potential for the Center’s funding to make a difference in whether the Project goes forward or not (the “but for” criterion);
  • Evidence of the availability of funds from other sources, project collaborators and partners;
  • Project implementation team qualifications, specifically the qualifications and track record of the management team; and
  • Work Plan (this criterion applies to the Phase II Application)
    1. Detailed plan for using MLSC funds
    2. Clearly stated tasks and related objectives
    3. Milestones to be achieved with MLSC funds
    4. Feasibility of achieving objectives and milestones with MLSC funds

The selected finalists will be invited to present in-person regarding their projects to the Investment Committee of the Center’s Board of Directors on January 9, 2013 and the awards will be determined by the Center’s Board of Directors by the end of January 2013.

If you have questions about the program after you have reviewed the materials on this website, please email Beth Nicklas at: capital@masslifesciences.com

For more information, and to apply, please review the links below:

 

NOTE: For information on the Capital Program: Equipment and Supplies for High Schools, please click here.