This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is for Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research and university research reactor upgrades for the U.S. nuclear research community. It is referred to in this document as the “Infrastructure FOA.”
DOE is seeking applications under the Infrastructure FOA in the following areas:
- University Research Reactor Upgrades Infrastructure Support
- General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI) Support for Universities
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.
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 enable the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy-makers, in graduate and undergraduate study, and two-year programs, as well as R&D that is relevant to the Department and the nuclear energy industry in general.
The Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) utilizes up to 20 percent of funds appropriated to NE’s R&D program for university-based infrastructure support 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)
- Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS)
The infrastructure requested should be individual, discrete, and definable items or capabilities that will:
- Support, maintain, or enhance the institutions’ capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;
- Build the institutions’ research or education capabilities; or
- Enhance the institutions’ capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to DOE-NE’s mission.
- Focus on a single, synergistic goal or capability. A proposal made of several uncorrelated equipment requests in does not meet the goals of this FOA.
- Not duplicate existing capabilities. To see NE R&D capabilities in the US, review the Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database (NEID) available at https://nsuf-infrastructure.inl.gov.
Number of applications allowed:
- One application per reactor under the reactor upgrade
- One application can be submitted by Penn State under GSI
For example: If a university operates 2 research reactors, they may submit a total of three applications under this FOA. One for each reactor for a total of 2 under the University Research Reactor Upgrades Infrastructure Support area and 1 under the GSI area for a total of 3 applications.
Interested applicants should apply through the InfoReady link below and upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_NIH 17-340_2020 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Letter (1 page, pdf):
- Descriptive title of proposed activity
- PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- Names of other key personnel
- Participating institution(s)
- Number and title of this funding opportunity
2. Project Description (no more than two pages, pdf) and identify the project scope that addresses the key aspects and elements, principal investigators, collaborators, and partner organizations.
3. 2-page CV's of Investigators
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)