Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002732
The Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) funding opportunity (DE FOA 0002732) is a Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) competitive grant program intended to push forward nuclear energy research, development, and supporting infrastructure in ways that directly strengthen U.S. nuclear power and its supporting supply chain. The opportunity is positioned as part of DOE-NE's broader mission to meet national energy needs through three main priorities: improving the long-term viability and competitiveness of the existing U.S. reactor fleet, building an advanced reactor development pipeline, and implementing and maintaining a national strategic fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure. Applicants are expected to clearly connect their proposed work to at least one of these mission priorities and also explain how it advances DOE-wide priorities such as addressing the climate crisis, supporting clean energy jobs (including the chance to join a union and bargain collectively), and promoting equity and environmental justice through the delivery of innovative nuclear energy technologies.
CINR functions as an umbrella solicitation that covers the competitive portion of DOE-NE's research and development portfolio, particularly as executed through two major programs: the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF). NEUP is focused on strengthening university-based research and infrastructure in nuclear energy fields that align with DOE-NE mission needs, helping universities contribute new ideas, train the workforce, and build capabilities. NSUF, established in 2007, is designed to broaden access to highly specialized nuclear research infrastructure by offering researchers from U.S. universities, industry, and national laboratories no-cost access to major facilities such as material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination capabilities. In practical terms, this means CINR can support both the research itself and, through NSUF pathways, the ability to use unique national facilities that are otherwise difficult and expensive to access.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the energy activity category (CFDA 81.121) administered by the Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office. The posting date is September 16, 2022, with an original application deadline of February 8, 2023. The award ceiling listed is $4,000,000, and DOE anticipated making about 46 awards, indicating an intent to fund a fairly broad slate of projects rather than only a small number of very large efforts. Eligibility is relatively wide and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. That mix is consistent with the program's goal of advancing nuclear innovation across academia, industry, and the broader research ecosystem.
Programmatically, DOE-NE frames CINR as targeting crosscutting nuclear energy R&D and enabling infrastructure support, with an emphasis on innovative technologies that can significantly improve performance against DOE-NE mission needs and make effective use of limited federal resources. While the solicitation describes current and upcoming R&D priorities for FY 2023, DOE-NE explicitly notes it may adjust to shifting priorities during the fiscal year due to external drivers such as policy developments, events, or Congressional and budget direction. DOE also states it may choose to fund all or only part of an application, which signals that applicants may receive partial scope funding or be asked to modify scope based on program needs, budget constraints, or portfolio balance.
Overall, CINR is best understood as DOE-NE's main competitive doorway for FY 2023 nuclear energy innovation funding, with projects expected to contribute tangible value to existing reactor sustainability, advanced reactor readiness, and/or fuel cycle and supply chain resilience, while also aligning with broader federal priorities around decarbonization, job creation, and equity and environmental justice.Apply for DE FOA 0002732
- The Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2023 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 Sep 16, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 08, 2023. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 46 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) (DE-FOA-0002732) - FAQs
1) What is the CINR funding opportunity?
The Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002732) is a competitive Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) grant program intended to advance nuclear energy research, development, and supporting infrastructure that strengthens U.S. nuclear power and its supply chain.
2) Which DOE office is sponsoring this opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE).
3) Who is administering the grant?
The opportunity is administered by the Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office.
4) What is the main purpose of CINR?
CINR is positioned as a primary competitive doorway for DOE-NE's FY 2023 nuclear energy innovation funding. It supports crosscutting nuclear energy R&D and enabling infrastructure, aiming to deliver technologies and capabilities that significantly improve performance against DOE-NE mission needs while making effective use of limited federal resources.
5) What DOE-NE mission priorities should a project connect to?
Applicants are expected to clearly connect their proposed work to at least one of DOE-NE's three mission priorities:
- Improving the long-term viability and competitiveness of the existing U.S. reactor fleet
- Building an advanced reactor development pipeline
- Implementing and maintaining a national strategic fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure
6) Are applicants expected to address broader DOE-wide priorities?
Yes. In addition to aligning with at least one DOE-NE mission priority, applicants are expected to explain how the work advances DOE-wide priorities, including addressing the climate crisis, supporting clean energy jobs (including the chance to join a union and bargain collectively), and promoting equity and environmental justice through the delivery of innovative nuclear energy technologies.
7) Is CINR a single program or does it include multiple pathways?
CINR is described as an umbrella solicitation covering the competitive portion of DOE-NE's research and development portfolio, particularly as executed through two major programs: the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF).
8) What is the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) in the context of CINR?
NEUP focuses on strengthening university-based research and infrastructure in nuclear energy fields aligned with DOE-NE mission needs. It is intended to help universities contribute new ideas, train the workforce, and build capabilities.
9) What is the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) in the context of CINR?
NSUF, established in 2007, is designed to broaden access to specialized nuclear research infrastructure. It offers researchers from U.S. universities, industry, and national laboratories no-cost access to major facilities such as material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination capabilities.
10) What does "no-cost access" through NSUF imply for applicants?
As described, NSUF pathways can enable use of unique national facilities that are otherwise difficult and expensive to access, alongside support for the research itself.
11) What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the energy activity category.
12) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided for this opportunity is 81.121.
13) When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date is September 16, 2022.
14) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline listed is February 8, 2023.
15) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $4,000,000.
16) How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 46 awards, indicating an intent to fund a broad slate of projects rather than only a small number of very large efforts.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is relatively wide and includes the following types of organizations:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
18) Is this opportunity limited to universities only?
No. While CINR includes university-focused components (such as NEUP), eligibility also includes nonprofits and for-profit entities (including small businesses and for-profit organizations other than small businesses).
19) What kinds of projects does CINR aim to support?
CINR targets crosscutting nuclear energy R&D and enabling infrastructure support, with an emphasis on innovative technologies that can significantly improve performance against DOE-NE mission needs and strengthen U.S. nuclear power and its supporting supply chain.
20) Does CINR support infrastructure access in addition to research?
Yes. CINR can support both the research itself and, through NSUF pathways, the ability to use specialized nuclear research infrastructure (including major facilities such as material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination capabilities).
21) Do applicants need to explain how their project strengthens the nuclear supply chain?
The opportunity is intended to strengthen U.S. nuclear power and its supporting supply chain, and DOE-NE identifies a national strategic fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure as one of its three mission priorities. Applicants are expected to connect their work to at least one of those mission priorities.
22) Can DOE change priorities during the fiscal year?
Yes. DOE-NE notes it may adjust to shifting priorities during FY 2023 due to external drivers such as policy developments, events, or Congressional and budget direction.
23) Can DOE partially fund an application?
Yes. DOE states it may choose to fund all or only part of an application. This signals that an applicant could receive partial scope funding or may be asked to modify scope based on program needs, budget constraints, or portfolio balance.
24) How should an application frame its overall value to DOE-NE?
Based on the opportunity description, strong proposals are expected to provide a clear line of sight to tangible value for one or more of the following: existing reactor sustainability and competitiveness, advanced reactor readiness, and/or fuel cycle and supply chain resilience, while also describing alignment with DOE-wide priorities around decarbonization, clean energy job creation, and equity and environmental justice.
25) What is CINR's relationship to DOE-NE's overall R&D portfolio?
CINR is described as covering the competitive portion of DOE-NE's research and development portfolio, particularly through NEUP and NSUF.
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