We had a situation with a PI transferring to another institution.  He had
acquired a large amount of equipment from NSF grants and University
departmental and matching funds over a ten year period.  Some of the NSF
grants were still open, others long closed.

The institution he transferred to made an offer to buy out the
university's investment in the equipment (at the depreciated value).  We
countered with a slightly higher amount and made a deal.  This was
equipment highly specialized to the PI's continuing NSF-funded research
and we made sure that it wasn't needed in the department before making the
deal.

Geri Walker
Bureau for Faculty Research
Western Washington University