01_RD Program FY24 Cover Letter.pdf

February 16, 2024

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) NO. 31310024K0001

Dear Applicants:

Pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, as amended, and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hereby issues the above referenced Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program titled, “Research and Development Grant, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.”

This NOFO is released on February 16, 2024, and applications are due on April 1, 2024. It is anticipated that this NOFO will result in the award of multiple grants. This is a three (3) year program. Research and Development (R&D) funds may be requested up to $500,000.00 total costs (direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) for the project period. All Applicants are required to have an active account with FedConnect, please see the Section entitled “Other Submission Requirements and Information” of the NOFO.

We would like to bring to your attention several sections in the FY2024 NOFO that were revised as follows:

1) Part I, Section titled “Additional Overview Content:”

a. Subsection “Funds Available and Anticipated Number or Awards” was revised to increase the estimated budget to $9,000,000 - $10,000,000; and to increase the estimated number of awards to up to twenty (20).

b. The information provided in the subsections listed below were relocated to Part II, Section III. Eligibility Information.

i. Subsection “Eligible Institutions” relocated to Part II, Section III, subsection “Eligible Institutions.”

ii. Subsection “Eligible Principal Investigators (PIs) and Subsection “Eligible Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) were relocated to Part II, Section 2.A.

“Eligible Principal Investigators.”

c. Subsection titled “Applicable Materials” was deleted as it was not applicable.

2) Part II, Section I. Funding Opportunity Description, subsection 1. Program Objectives revised the areas of interest.

3) Part II, Section II. Award Information, subsection 1. Cost Sharing or Matching was revised to eliminate the language stating Academic year faculty release time is not a valid “in-kind” cost share/matching contribution.

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4) Part II, Section III. Eligibility Information:

a. Subsection 1. Eligible Institutions was revised to remove the language related to third party in-kind contributions by national laboratories and commercial entities.

b. Subsection 2.A. Eligible Principal Investigators was revised to add a reference to Section IV.2.J. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI).

c. Subsection 2.B. Citizenship Requirement was revised to eliminate duplicative language captured under Section IV.2.I. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

WITH U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS (RESEARCH GRANTS)

– TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO AWARD.

d. Subsection 2.C. Eligible Partnership Arrangements was revised to remove language related to third party in-kind contributions by national laboratories and commercial entities and to specify that applicants may partner for subaward solely with other U.S. institutions of higher education.

e. Subsection 2.D. Eligible Participants in the Grant was incorporated to specify

Optional Participation by Domestic (U.S.) Entities that Are Not Institutions of Higher Education.

5) Part II, Section IV Application and Submission Information

a. Subsection 2. Application Content was revised to:

i. Request that if “Past NRC Funding Summary of Results from Past NRC Funding” is not applicable, a statement to that effect is required.

ii. Request Organizational Conflict of Interest Assessment or a statement that one is not applicable (Refer to NOFO section IV.2.J “Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI)”.

b. Subsection 2.C. Project Description was revised to provide more details of the elements to be identified in this section as they relate to the evaluation criteria. It also updated the list of documents excluded from the Project Description page limit.

c. Subsection 2.J. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI) was incorporated. It states:

i. The NRC will review the information provided by the applicant in order to make an organizational conflict of interest determination.

ii. Requires applicants to disclose professional affiliations the PI’s, Co-PI’s, or any member of the research team has with Federal laboratories or other organizations.

iii. Specify that Federal laboratories or other organizations who are proposed for collaborative discussions during the grant research are subject to an organizational conflict of interest review by the NRC.

iv. Specify the information applicants must provide as an attachment to the application to address this area.

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d. Subsection 7. Other Submission Requirements and Information was revised to incorporate paragraph 7.D. Conflict of Interest.

6) Part II, Section V “Application Review Information.”

a. Subsection 2. Selection Criteria was revised to update the language of the criterions.

7) Part II, Section VII. Agency Contacts has been updated.

8) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Standard Terms and Conditions for U.S.

Nongovernmental Recipients was revised to update the following clauses:

a. Nondiscrimination

b. Compliance With U.S. Immigration Laws and Regulations

c. Travel and Transportation

d. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or

Equipment

Thank you for your interest in the NRC Research and Development Grant Program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely, Aracelis Pérez-Ortiz, Grants Officer Operations Branch B Acquisition Management Division