As a public institution you need to be careful about expending tax
supported resources in a manner that does not provide equal access to
the public whom you serve. The terms of use of a special piece of
equipment should spell out the conditions of acceptance which you,
your P I and your corporate counsel can live with when the
"competition " calls their state representative to complain of
"unfair advantage". If theequipment is a gift to the institution then
it has vested in the institution, according to the terms of the state
law governing your entity. You may want to check with your counsel to
sort out the original terms and to advise on any other use.