Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research | DE FOA 0002129

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002129

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0002129). The core purpose is to strengthen the nuclear energy research and education ecosystem at U.S. colleges and universities by funding targeted, clearly defined infrastructure and capability upgrades that enable crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R and D). The program is designed to help universities build the foundational tools, facilities, and technical capacity needed to pursue innovative work that can significantly improve the performance, safety, and viability of advanced reactor technologies and nuclear fuel cycle concepts, while making efficient use of DOE resources.

A central theme of the opportunity is that long-term progress in nuclear energy depends on having strong research infrastructure and a skilled workforce. DOE is explicitly linking infrastructure investments to both mission-relevant R and D outcomes and to the education and training pipeline for nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy professionals. The solicitation emphasizes support for students at multiple levels, including undergraduate and graduate programs as well as two-year programs, reflecting a broad view of the workforce needed for the nuclear sector. In practice, this means the agency is looking for infrastructure that not only advances research, but also improves an institution s ability to attract, train, and retain high quality students who want to enter nuclear energy related fields.

The funding is provided through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which sets aside up to 20 percent of the Office of Nuclear Energy R and D appropriation for university based infrastructure support and research in key program areas. The opportunity highlights three major technical focus areas tied to DOE NE priorities: Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FC R and D), Reactor Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration (RC RD and D), and Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS). Applicants are expected to align their infrastructure requests and the resulting capabilities with at least one of these areas, and more broadly with DOE NE mission needs and the practical challenges facing the U.S. nuclear energy enterprise.

The solicitation is specific about the type of infrastructure it wants to fund. Requested items should be individual, discrete, and definable pieces of infrastructure or capabilities, rather than vague or purely aspirational improvements. The funded infrastructure should do at least one of the following: support, maintain, or enhance the institution s ability to attract and educate strong nuclear energy students; build research or educational capability in a measurable way; or enhance the institution s capacity to perform R and D that is directly relevant to DOE NE mission objectives. In other words, the program is not just about buying equipment for its own sake, but about investing in tangible capabilities that improve teaching, training, and mission aligned research output.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. universities and colleges, consistent with 2 CFR 910.126(b). The opportunity encourages participation from underrepresented groups and minority serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Serving Institutions. This encouragement signals an interest in broadening participation in nuclear energy education and research, and in expanding the geographic and institutional diversity of the national nuclear innovation base.

Administratively, the opportunity is run through DOE s Idaho Field Office. It is categorized as an energy related assistance listing under CFDA number 81.121, and uses the grant funding instrument. The original application closing date listed is 2019-11-14, and the posting creation date is 2019-08-20. The award ceiling is stated as 5,000,000 dollars. The notice also includes an important caveat that DOE NE may adjust priorities during the fiscal year in response to events, policy changes, or Congressional and budget direction, and that such shifts can affect both the timing and the scale of award announcements under the funding opportunity announcement. This kind of language is common in federal solicitations and is meant to preserve flexibility if national priorities or appropriations change.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a strategic infrastructure investment program aimed at boosting the practical capacity of U.S. higher education institutions to contribute to advanced nuclear technology development and to train the next generation nuclear workforce. It seeks proposals that translate funding into concrete, mission aligned capability improvements that strengthen nuclear R and D, modernize or expand research and teaching tools, and better position institutions to support DOE NE priorities in reactors, fuel cycles, and advanced modeling and simulation.

• The Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-08-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

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