Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: third round of open solicitation

Supporting life-sciences related capital projects

Who: Massachusetts Life Science Center
What: Open solicitation for capital dollars to support life-sciences-related capital projects
Information: See MLSC website for more information and to apply. Please email capital@masslifesciences.com or call Beth Nicklas (781-373-7715) with any further questions after reading the website materials.
Deadline: Submit completed applications to MLSC website by 3:00 pm on Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) has announced the launch of the third round of an open solicitation for capital dollars to support life-sciences related capital projects for academic/research institutions (including 2- and 4-year colleges and universities), business incubators, and other not-for-profit organizations across the Commonwealth. The MLSC is interested in investing in high potential economic development projects that promise to make a significant contribution to the state's life sciences ecosystem. The MLSC has allocated up to $35 million in capital dollars for this open solicitation.

Read on below the jump for project phases and eligibility criteria!


The MLSC will manage the awarding of capital dollars through a two-phased approach:

Phase I: Submission of a short online application which will include a 1-page summary of the proposed project. Applicants will have until 3:00 pm on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 to submit their completed application via the MLSC website (link below). Applications will be vetted by MLSC staff for completeness and reviewed by the MLSC's Board of Directors, who will select a short list of projects for further consideration.

Phase II: If selected, applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal for evaluation. Phase II applications will undergo a full review by the MLSC’s Scientific Advisory Board and 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.

An eligible applicant/project must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be not-for-profit entities. For-profit organizations are generally not eligible for capital funding, and municipalities and other governmental entities are not eligible for capital funding through this solicitation.
• Entities that have already been designated within the MLSC's authorizing statute for capital funding, regardless of whether they have already received their funding or not, will not be eligible. A University, for example, that has already received capital funding from the MLSC for a particular campus or school will not be 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 MLSC's authorizing statute but have previously received $1 million or more in capital funding from the MLSC will not be eligible.
• Public colleges and universities that have had life sciences projects funded by the state within the past 5 years, whose feasibility study is not complete by July 1, 2013, or that have adequate state funding will not be eligible for funds to renovate or construct labs.
• Funding requested from the MLSC must not exceed $5 million.
• Projects must be ready for funding beginning in FY15 (July 1, 2014) and completion of the project must not extend beyond FY18 (June 30, 2017). Applicants may request single or multi-year funding.
• Applicants will need to identify and raise additional funds that will leverage any awards made by the MLSC. The MLSC 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. Nonetheless, applicants that have succeeded in attracting significant additional funds will benefit during the review process.

The MLSC will be evaluating proposals according to the criteria specified in the program solicitation posted on the MLSC website. For more information, and to apply, please visit www.masslifesciences.com/grants/capital.html. If you have questions about the program after you have reviewed the materials on our website, please email capital@masslifesciences.com or reach out to Beth Nicklas at 781-373-7715.