Funding Wizard

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) provides funding to support crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R&D) and associated infrastructure support activities to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for advanced reactors and fuel cycle concepts, while maximizing the use of DOE resources and the sustainability of the existing light water reactor fleet.The development of nuclear energy-related infrastructure and basic capabilities in the research community is necessary to promote R&D that supports nuclear science and engineering (NS&E), DOE-NE’s mission, and the Nation’s nuclear energy challenges. Accordingly, DOE intends to facilitate the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy-makers through graduate and undergraduate study, two-year programs, and R&D that is relevant to the Department and the U.S. nuclear energy industry in general.The Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) supports university-based infrastructure and R&D in key NE program-related areas:• Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FC R&D);• Reactor Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration (RC RD&D); and• Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS)The infrastructure support requested should be individual, discrete, and definable items or capabilities that will:• Support, maintain, or enhance the institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;• Build the institution’s research or education capabilities; or• Enhance the institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to DOE-NE’s mission.The request should focus on a single, synergistic goal, or capability. Applicant must demonstrate the educational or R&D connection between requested pieces of equipment. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest. A request should not duplicate existing capabilities.NE reserves the right to respond to potential shifts in priorities during FY 2023 that may be driven by events, policy developments, or Congressional/budget direction. DOE-NE will factor such considerations into decisions related to the timing and scale of award announcements associated with this FOA.

Through the selection of multiple geographically diverse awardees, this FOA will provide resources to communities within the continental United States interested in learning more about consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel, and interim storage facility siting considerations. Awardees will foster, encourage, and support the development of innovative community ideas and feedback related to the potential role that one or more federal consolidated interim storage facilities for commercial spent nuclear fuel may have in the community. In general, awardees will 1) advance mutual learning involving public participation, 2) provide ease of access to information-sharing, and 3) serve as a facilitator and award administrator as a way to reduce barriers to meaningful participation.

The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is to advance U.S. nuclear power to meet the nation's energy needs by:1. Enhancing the long-term viability and competitiveness of the existing U.S. reactor fleet;2. Developing an advanced reactor pipeline; and,3. Implementing and maintaining the national strategic fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure.Collectively, all NE-sponsored activities support the Department’s priorities to combat the climate crisis, create clean energy jobs with the free and fair chance to join a union and bargain collectively, and promote equity and environmental justice by delivering innovative clean energy technologies for nuclear energy systems.All applications submitted under this CINR FOA must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of these three mission priorities and highlight how it supports the DOE priorities.NE conducts crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R&D) and associated infrastructure support activities to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for its mission needs as stated above, while maximizing the impact of NE resources.This CINR FOA addresses the competitive portion of NE’s R&D portfolio, as executed through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF). NEUP supports university-based infrastructure and R&D in areas relevant to the NE mission. By establishing the NSUF in 2007, NE opened access to material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination facilities to researchers from U.S. universities, industry, and national laboratories, by granting no-cost access to world-class nuclear research facilities.While this CINR FOA specifies many of NE’s current and upcoming R&D priorities, NE reserves the right to respond to potential shifts in R&D priorities during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 that may be driven by events, policy developments, or Congressional/budget direction. Further, NE reserves the right to fund all or part of an application to this CINR FOA.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund a cooperative agreement that engages state legislative leaders and representatives on issues and activities involving the topics for which DOE/NE has responsibility, including but not limited to: support for continued operation of existing reactors; development and deployment of advanced reactors; strengthening of the nuclear supply chain; consent-based siting an interim storage and/or disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste; transportation of fresh and spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; STEM education, workforce development; and, energy and environmental justice. The purpose of NLWG is to maintain and strengthen the government-to-government relationships between NE and state legislatures, while helping DOE/NE to accomplish its objectives. A principal project objective is to provide a better understanding for nuclear energy-related subject material to state legislators, and their staff allowing them to make informed policy decisions as well as to pass along the vital information to their colleagues and constituents.As part of this cooperative agreement, the selected entity would manage, organize, and execute NLWG meetings pursuant to DOE General Counsel guidelines and requirements governing such meetings. The meeting management would include at least two, but up to four, meetings a year (depending on DOE’s needs and budget). The awardee staff would provide administrative and logistical support for NLWG meetings, including securing meeting and hotel space; arranging for state representative travel to the meetings; researching and compiling information and materials relevant to the meeting topics; development of the meeting agendas, including invitations to and confirmations of expert speakers; arranging for any associated tours of DOE, National Laboratories or other relevant nuclear energy-related facilities; providing on-site support; taking meeting attendance and notes; and, compiling and posting meeting summaries and meeting materials on a website accessible to the public. The successful applicant (awardee) would also host conference calls and/or webinars to inform state legislative staff and allow DOE/NE leadership and staff to provide updates to NLWG members on DOE/NE initiatives and activities.The awardee would provide significant expertise in nuclear policy research and analysis and product preparation, including but not limited to meeting preparatory materials; white papers/policy papers or other educational materials, briefings; and, regular communications vehicles, such as a newsletter and/or website. These materials are intended to expand the knowledge and understanding of nuclear policy issues for states. The awardee may, in coordination with DOE/NE, develop new tools to assist state lawmakers as they promulgate and execute policies that address nuclear energy-related topics. As a condition of funding the project, DOE/NE will have final approval of all written material to be provided to NLWG members.Applicants are invited to provide an application with a project period of up to five years that supports the objective of successfully conducting NLWG meetings and providing for appropriate state legislative engagement. Applications should demonstrate the ability to work effectively with State legislators and their legislative staff and coordinate the necessary meetings/webinars with DOE/NE. The application should also demonstrate significant expertise in both the subject matter and with managing and executing effective and efficient communication strategies and tools that enable proactive engagement with state legislators and their staffs, promote an understanding of nuclear energy technologies and related issues, and provide actionable technical information toward the goal of enabling a robust exchange of information in a non-partisan manner.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund a cooperative agreement that engages tribal government leaders and representatives on issues and activities involving the topics for which NE has responsibility such as advanced reactors, siting an interim storage and/or disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste, transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, cultural resource management, STEM education, environmental justice, etc. The cooperative agreement will support DOE policies and programs related to energy infrastructure and possible development on tribal lands, as well as deployment of nuclear energy technologies affecting Tribes. The purpose of NETWG is to help DOE accomplish its Tribal objectives and maintain and strengthen the government-to-government relationship between NE and Tribal Nations.As part of this cooperative agreement, the selected organization (awardee) would manage, organize, and execute Working Group Meetings pursuant to DOE General Counsel guidelines and requirements governing such Working Group meetings. The meeting management would include up to four meetings a year (depending on DOE’s needs and budget). The awardee staff would provide administrative and logistical support for NETWG meetings, including securing meeting and hotel space; arranging for Tribal representative travel to the meetings; researching and compiling information and materials relevant to the meeting topics; development of the meeting agendas; arranging for any associated tours of DOE and National Lab, and other nuclear facilities; providing on-site support; and taking notes and compiling meeting summaries. The awardee would conduct quarterly meetings of NETWG, providing expertise in programming, administration, logistics/travel, policy analysis and other necessary support to DOE-NE and members of NETWG. The awardee would also host conference calls or webinars to allow DOE-NE leadership and staff to provide updates to NETWG members on DOE-NE initiatives and activities. Awardee staff would provide assistance to DOE office(s) and working group members to research, develop and compile information relevant to meeting topic(s), preparing white paper reports pertinent to Tribal issues, and support working group members in order to prepare and participate in scheduled meetings.Potential applicants are invited to provide an application with a project period of up to five years that supports the objective of successfully conducting NETWG meetings and providing for appropriate Tribal engagement. NETWG, which was chartered under the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) would be staffed by the awardee to assist in engaging federally-recognized tribal governments and their designated representatives in DOE-NE activities. Through this agreement, NETWG member Tribes would contribute their expertise to DOE staff, DOE sites, and other Tribes on issues related to nuclear energy, and share information on best-practices related to tribal impacts from DOE activities and the importance of cultural resource management.Applications should demonstrate the ability of effectively working with Tribal organizations and coordinating the necessary meetings/webinars with DOE/NE. The proposed interactions could be adopted and implemented by NE with staff who would be involved in the Tribal affairs of the office. The intent for the awardee is to conduct successful oversight of Tribal meetings and efficient communication among all parties, including the ability to meet or exceed all necessary steps for appropriate government-to-government actions.