DHS FY 2022 NFRA NOFO_DHS-22-DN-130-NFRA-MSI.pdf

Nuclear Forensics Research Awards NOFO

DHS-22-DN-130-NFRA-MSI

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Nuclear Forensics Research Awards

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). Currently, the DUNS number, which is a unique nine-character identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) free of charge, is the official UEI. D&B assigns UEI (DUNS) for each physical location of a business. Requesting a UEI (DUNS) takes about 10 minutes. Receiving a UEI (DUNS) takes 1–2 business days (under normal circumstances) when using the D&B web form. Sam.gov information can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO.

Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms

On April 4, 2022, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number will be replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office, Systems Support Directorate (SSD), Research & Development Division

2. Assistance Listings Number: 97.130

3. Assistance Listings Title: National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program

Nuclear Forensics Research Award

4. Funding Opportunity Title Nuclear Forensics Research Awards https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140; Sec. 4(a)(12)., Public Law 111-140, US Code 4(a)(12)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), Division F – Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2021, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, Research and Development Division

8. Announcement Type

New

9. Program Category Cooperative Agreement- Nuclear Forensics Research Award

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

Overview. The National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC) was established on October 1, 2006, within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). NTNFC was tasked with two core missions: to provide national-level integration, centralized planning, and stewardship for the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community; and to lead the U.S. Government (USG) in establishing a robust and enduring pre-detonation radiological/nuclear materials forensics capability. A top priority of NTNFC’s stewardship mission is to lead USG efforts in addressing the enduring challenge of sustaining a preeminent Nuclear Forensics (NF) workforce.

The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP) works to build a nuclear forensics workforce of recognized technical experts and leaders through fostering scholastic and research collaboration between and among academia, the national and defense laboratories, and the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) Interagency. The implementation of the NNFEDP fulfills the requirements outlined in the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (P.L.111-140) signed by President Obama on February 16, 2010. This program also aligns with Goal 1 of the DHS Strategic Plan fiscal years 2020-2024: “Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats” and Objective 1.4: “Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction and Emerging Threats”.

To accomplish this mandate, the following initiative has been implemented:

The Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA) supports the establishment of a team of faculty, students, and technical staff at the national or defense laboratories to conduct research in the field of nuclear forensics.

Objectives.

1. Recruit and produce a new generation of leaders and technical experts in a wide range of fields relevant to nuclear forensics.

The NFRA is designed to link a qualified graduate student with a nuclear forensics-relevant research project, that will serve as the basis of his or her thesis and be completed through work at a partner laboratory and the student’s home university.

Through faculty and laboratory staff participation, a collaborative research process is established through which this graduate fellow is jointly mentored, further enhancing his or her understanding of the nuclear forensics field.

The NFRA sponsors two graduate fellows per award to pursue Ph.D. - level research within the nuclear forensics field. The award includes full tuition and a stipend for up to 60 months, or five years. To maintain eligibility for the fellowship, students must meet requirements outlined in the Terms of Appointment (TOA) in Appendix A.

Additionally, the NFRA sponsors the participation of two or more undergraduate student(s). To maintain eligibility, the graduate student(s) will be required to spend at least nine weeks performing hands-on research at the collaborating laboratory as well as maintain a minimum of a 3.0 out of 4.0 grade point average (GPA). The undergraduate student(s) may remain on the research project for as long as the eligibility requirements are met.

2. Enhance the ability for universities and the national and defense laboratories to work collaboratively on advanced research that increases the body of knowledge in the field of nuclear forensics.

The NFRA is designed to facilitate a multi-year process to build long-term collaborative partnerships among the laboratories, universities, and the next generation of nuclear forensics experts. These partnerships will provide universities opportunities to participate in research that directly supports USG NF strategic goals.

The Faculty Principal Investigator (PI) will directly oversee the university’s participation in the research project and will make joint decisions with the Laboratory PI concerning the path of the project. Multi-university proposals with a collaborative laboratory partner are allowable under the NFRA structure.

Key Personnel. Key Personnel under the NFRA include the university faculty PI, national or defense laboratory co-PI, and identified graduate fellows. All Key Personnel should be U.S. Citizens at the time of application and be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Obligations. Upon graduation, the named graduate fellow is obligated to serve for two years in a postdoctoral or staff position at a national or defense laboratory or federal department or agency in the field of nuclear forensics.

In accordance with the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, should the graduate fellow not comply with the TOAs, he or she must repay the fellowship grant in total to the U.S.

Government. The fellowship total to be repaid includes both the stipend and tuition, with interest per the prevailing rate of graduate student loans at the time the student received the award. More information can be found in Appendix A.

Technical Priorities. NF addresses a diverse set of topics related to the collection, analysis, and evaluation of pre-detonation (intact) and post-detonation (exploded) radiological or nuclear materials, devices, and debris, as well as the immediate effects created by a nuclear detonation. Each grant application will be evaluated based on the information provided in Evaluation Criteria under the Application Review Information section. Technical Mission Areas (TMAs) included below, reflect the technical priorities of the NNFEDP and NFRA and should be taken into consideration when developing a research project.

TMA 1. Pre-Detonation Material and Device Signatures Physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics of a radiological or nuclear material can be used to determine aspects of the material’s history and are therefore important to nuclear forensics. In general, a nuclear forensic signature is a set of measurable characteristics that points to the origin or history of a sample and may specifically include or exclude the sample from a specific class or category of materials. Physical signatures may include morphology, texture, size, and shape of a material or parts of the device.

Chemical signatures may include the elemental or molecular form of the material (e.g., uranium dioxide, plutonium oxalate) and abundances of impurities in the sample. Isotopic signatures reflect the isotopic composition of a sample (indicating its enrichment, burnup, intended or actual use) and may be used to derive the time since the material was last processed chemically. The R&D focus in these areas includes production, acquisition, and/or retrieval of radiological and nuclear materials of historical interest; laboratory analysis of the materials to document their characteristics; development of production and processing models relating processing parameters (chemical, physical, engineering, machining) to observed product characteristics; assessment of which characteristics persist through (or are modified by) various stages of the production, storage, and transport processes; development of libraries of material characteristics; and ultimately evaluation of material characteristics (or combination of characteristics) for their uniqueness or value as nuclear forensics signatures.

TMA 2. Pre-Detonation Analysis Methods and Tools While current methods of sample analysis and data interpretation provide a highly sophisticated level of material characterization and classification, even more advanced methods are required to identify new signatures and enable new insights into material provenance. R&D priorities in this area include development of new laboratory analytical methods for determination of spatially and/or temporally distinct features in radiological and nuclear materials; analytical methods that enable determination of new (i.e., previously unrecognized) characteristics and signatures in rad/nuc materials;

mathematical and statistical methods to identify and evaluate correlated material characteristics; modeling and simulation tools to predict forward and inverse relationships between physical/chemical material production processes and measurable characteristics; data visualization methods to enable improved interpretation of data relationships; and data management and knowledge capture tools to enable efficient storage, retrieval, and interpretation of diverse sets of material information.

TMA 3. Post-Detonation Material Collection and Analysis Methods Post-detonation material R&D explores novel methods and advancements in the ability to collect samples of material, analyze radioactive debris, and identify signatures from debris analysis. The overall goal is to obtain accurate debris characterization more rapidly than is currently possible, and to do so in all environments and conditions.

Chronologically, this starts with targeted airborne and ground collection methods that are robust under a wide variety of adverse conditions. Methods with the potential to enable remote characterization and quantification of airborne debris are of interest, as are methods that combine collection and analysis, and field deployable systems, with real-time analysis capability. Following sample collection, improved methods are sought for rapid dissolution and pre-concentration of post-detonation debris using environmentally friendly, potentially field-deployable, techniques on a reasonable time scale. The R&D focus for sample analysis includes non-destructive analytical techniques; innovations that rapidly identify and quantify elemental and isotopic constituents (major, minor, and trace) in fresh radioactive fallout debris; and fundamental phenomenology of laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and associated ionization methods. Improvements are also sought in data handling methodologies for compiling, assessing, and interpreting large sets of data; advancing the treatment of data uncertainties; and improving databases of physical constants, such as nuclear cross sections, decay branching ratios, or nuclear energy levels relevant to nuclear forensic analysis.

TMA 4. Post-Detonation Prompt Signal Analysis Post-detonation prompt signal analysis explores R&D that may enable accurate knowledge of the specifics of a nuclear device (e.g., special nuclear material type and mass, device sophistication, etc.) after a detonation. Ideally this knowledge would be available in as short a time as possible with a high degree of confidence. This topic investigates basic physical research on the prompt signatures of nuclear explosive events, such as novel methods for yield determination, device reaction history, or the radiation outputs of these nuclear explosions. Research could focus on the understanding of unique identifiers of these explosions, measurements of these identifiers, or other topics. In this context, prompt signatures indicate those which can be measured instantaneously to within a few days after the event. These signatures are generally separate from radiochemical signatures.

11. Performance Measures

The NNFEDP adheres to program measurement and evaluation standards in accordance with CWMD and other Government policies and guidance.

Government Program Managers and staff will monitor progress toward goal achievement through periodic program reviews and review of required reports (template provided post award). Proposal submissions must clearly define immediate project targets and year end project milestones for which performance can be qualitatively and quantitatively measured. Progress toward project milestones, cost, and schedule will be considered during project reviews in determining project continuances.

Information from proposal submissions and required reports may also be used for DHS-led NNFEDP evaluation, which may be carried out by a third-party on behalf of the Program Office or DHS.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO:

Subject to the availability of funds, DHS estimates that total of $465,00 per year will be available to fund each NFRA award, with $300,000 for the academic partner, and a subaward to the laboratory partner of $165,000. DHS does not guarantee any total amount of annual or cumulative funding.

2. Projected number of Awards: One (1) or more based on available funding.

3. Maximum Award Amount:

$300K per year for 5 years ($1,500,000) for the academic partner, and $165,000 per year for 5 years ($825,000) for the national laboratory partner.

4. Period of Performance: 36 months guaranteed, with an additional 2 option years. DHS anticipates the period of performance of awards to range from three to no more than five program years with each program year set at 12 months.

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/30/2022

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/29/2025

7. Funding Instrument Type:

Cooperative Agreement – The Program Office will have substantial involvement in the administration of the award, including tracking of faculty and student participants, publications, patents, and research progress. The recipient will be required to maintain close and regular interaction with the Program Office, including a) quarterly and annual reports providing updates on the research, graduate student progress, and any issues related to students, universities, or laboratories involved in the program, b) monthly financial reporting including funding levels and expenditures, and monthly technical reports, c) regular in-person or virtual meetings to discuss award progress.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

The following entities below are eligible to apply for this NOFO:

• Minority Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and

Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Hawaiian Native-serving institutions.

IMPORTANT: Academic respondents are expected to partner with a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory or Department of Defense laboratory for this award.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Organization Limit.

The following listed below are organizations that are eligible and encouraged to submit a proposal:

• Universities. Universities accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, and having a campus located in the U. S, and U.S. territories.

• Organizations are referred to as academic institutions for the purposes of this

Solicitation.

• All non-academic institutions regardless of profit or non-profit status are ineligible to apply.

3. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

DHS will not consider applications that do not adhere to one or more of the following requirements:

• University Programs. Universities must have doctorate-level programs in related chemistry fields such as, analytical, geo- or radiochemistry; nuclear physics or engineering; computer science, physics, mathematics, geology, or materials science. Applications must include active participation from these doctoral programs.

• Citizenship. All Key Personnel must be U.S. citizens at the time of proposal submission.

• Clearance Eligibility. All Key Personnel must be eligible to obtain and/or maintain a clearance if requested by the Program Office.

4. Other Eligibility Criteria

DHS will not consider applications that do not adhere to one or more of the following requirements:

1. Deadlines. DHS will not accept late applications. Without exception, applications must be received by Grants.gov on or before the deadline in this announcement or they will not be considered.

2. Application relevance. Applications that do not address the purpose of this announcement will not be considered.

3. Compliance and completeness. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements in this announcement, or they will not be considered.

4. Funding Limits. Applications exceeding the funding limits for a given topic will not be considered.

5. Project Period. Applications exceeding the project period of performance will not be considered.

6. Principal Investigator (PI) Limit. None specified

7. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization. None specified

8. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI. One (1). Furthermore, an individual researcher may not be named as a participant on more than one proposal submitted to this solicitation. This limitation includes participation as a PI, co-PI, senior researcher, student, consultant, or any other role for which financial remuneration is requested.

5. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

Not applicable

6. Cost Share or Match Cost share or match is prohibited in this NOFO.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 07/18/2022

b. Application Submission Deadline: 08/30/2022 at 5PM [EST]

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/15/2022

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/30/2022

e. Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Informational Webinar 08/03/22 (3:00PM EST) See details below

Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.gov.

For a hardcopy of the full NOFO, please send a request to:

Shareef Prater Grants Officer Grants and Financial Assistance Division Department of Homeland Security Email: Shareef.Prater@hq.dhs.gov Phone: 202.770.4776

Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal.

4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for

Award Management (SAM)

To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and Employer ID Number (EIN)

b. In the application, provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System DUNS number, which is currently the unique entity identifier;

c. Have an account with https://login.gov/;

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

e. Create a Grants.gov account;

f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account;

g. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;

h. Submit (if applicable, add: an initial) application in Grants.gov;

i. (If applicable) Submit the final application in the <insert applicable system>; and

j. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information, including information on a recipient’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well on all predecessors that have been awarded a Federal contract or grant within the last 3 years, if applicable, at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Shareef.Prater@hq.dhs.gov https://login.gov/ award, DHS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

5. Electronic Delivery

DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity. For this funding opportunity, the Program Office requires applicants to submit applications through Grants.gov.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. Instructions: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

1) Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

2) Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

3) Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

4) Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

5) EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

6) Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

7) Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

7. How to submit an Application to DHS via Grants.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS number.

To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first.

Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24- 48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

g. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant to which you are applying.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist DHS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

8. Submitting the Final Application in [another grant system]

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by 3 PM Eastern time on the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When DHS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DHS.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

10. Informational Webinar

DHS will conduct an informational webinar for interested applicants on August 3, 2022 at 3:00pm [EST]. During the call, DHS will discuss the NOFO and provide an opportunity for interested applicants to ask questions.

11. Content and Form of Application Submission Mandatory forms must be completed for this announcement, including the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance), SF-424A (Budget), and other forms in accordance with the application instructions on Grants.gov and additional instructions below. If submitting any information that is deemed proprietary, please denote the beginning and ending of such information with asterisks (***).

MANDATORY FORMS

• SF424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance (SF424-V2.0)

Please complete this form in its entirety. If you fill this form out first, other required forms will populate with basic data such as name, address, etc. Signature and date will auto-fill when you submit the application package through Grants.gov.

a. Block 1, Type of Submission – Please check “Application.”

b. Block 8, Type of Application – Please check “New.”

c. Block 12, Proposed Project – Enter Dates of Entire Project Period

d. Block 15a, Estimated Project Funding – Please check $465,000

e. Block 16, E.O. 12372 review question – Please check “No.”

f. Block 17 - By submitting this application, your organization is providing certifications and assurances regarding:

i. Drug-Free Workplace Requirements

ii. Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions

iii. Assurance that your organization is not delinquent on any Federal debt.

• Research & Related (R&R) Budget

An R&R Budget is required for ALL applications. Please ensure that the total amount requested corresponds to Block 15.a on the SF 424 R&R form.

Include up to three to five annual budgets, one for each year of the duration of the award; a cumulative budget will be automatically generated by Grants.gov. A detailed budget justification (up to three pages) should document proposed expenses. Multi-university proposals should use the award-sub award proposal mechanisms or the collaborative mechanism. Attach an expanded equipment list (see item C on R&R Budget Form) if necessary.

Funds must be included in each year of the proposal budget for attendance at an annual meeting as required by the Program Office, as described under Funding Restrictions. For budgetary purposes, the workshop may be assumed to be in the U.S.

and be up to four days duration. This workshop will be a primary mechanism for the Program Office and other NTNF interagency partners to assess progress and mitigate any issues on individual projects.

• Budget Justification

A Budget Justification is required for all applications. Please ensure that items listed in the budget justification correspond to the funds requested on the R&R Budget form. Attach the Budget Justification to the R&R Budget form. If you need to attach more than one file to fully capture your budget justification, you may use the optional “Attachments” form.

Please use the following guidance when assembling your budget justification:

Use the following cost categories to group items of cost in your budget justification.

PERSONNEL

FRINGE BENEFITS

TRAVEL

EQUIPMENT (see item C on R&R Budget Form) SUPPLIES (see item F.1 on R&R Budget Form) CONTRACTUAL (see item F.5 on R&R Budget Form) OTHER DIRECT COSTS (see items under item F on R&R Budget Form)

INDIRECT COSTS

If you wish to display your budget justification by task, please ensure that you supply a total for each of the cost categories listed above (and related fields on the R&R Budget Form) for the proposed budget period in your application.

• Project/Performance Site Location(s)

Please provide information for every site (including any subcontractors with sub-awards or subcontracts of $25,000 or more) in your project.

• SF 424B Assurances for Non-Construction Programs Submit this form. It will be electronically signed upon submission to Grants.gov as part of your application.

• Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG_Lobbying Form-V1.1) Submit this form. If paragraph two of the certification applies, then complete and submit the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying, which is provided as an optional form in the application package.

• Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile Please supply biographical information on Key Personnel. The files can be attached at item 12 on the “Other Project Information Form” or use the optional “Attachments” form.

Proposal Preparation Instructions:

1. Cover Sheet:

The cover sheet is provided in Appendix B. Note: for a proposal ID, please follow the following naming convention:

NTNFNOFO22-XXXX-YYYY-TMA-0#-0##

XXXX = four letter (maximum 4 letter) character shortcut for organization name YYYY = four letter (maximum 4 letter) character shortcut for department/division name # = Technical Mission Area number ## = number of proposal submission

Example: Organization A, Dept. B’s submission for its first proposal to topic 01 would have the ID listed: ORGA-DEPB-TMA-01-001

2. Project Summary

This space is limited to 200 words or less. Applicants should provide an overview of the research project and how PIs will effectively conduct the research as a team, integrating the graduate fellow and undergraduate participant. All highlights of the proposal should be listed here. The information provided on the Summary Page may be used as a public information document. Please do not include any proprietary information in this section of the application.

3. Project Narrative:

This is the main body of the application and should provide clear and specific statements regarding the proposed research. This section should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of nuclear forensics as an applied science and how the proposed program aligns with U.S. Government TMAs as outlined on pages three-five.

Describe the goals of the proposed research, approaches, and methodologies to attain the goals, and the expected outcomes. The narrative should include how the university and national or defense laboratory will jointly manage the proposed research project, to include student participation. Please include a proposed project timeline, listing milestones as appropriate.

Also articulate how the research project will offer opportunities for underrepresented minority groups and women, if applicable. The description of work should demonstrate congruency with the Evaluation Criteria (please refer to Section E).

High-risk proposals with the potential for high impact are encouraged. The Management Plan, Project Narrative, and References Cited sections are limited to a total of ten (10) pages. The following sections on Key Personnel and the Mentoring Plan are limited to a total of five (5) pages.

4. Proposed Research: Narrative consisting of the following items:

• An explanation of the scientific context, intellectual merit, relevance to the technical mission areas on pages three-five, potential long-term impact and timeliness of the proposed project;

• A detailed description of the proposed research, its goals, objectives and milestones, and any substantive risks and risk mitigation strategies;

• If appropriate, a discussion of the multidisciplinary approach taken and its proposed benefits;

• A description of the contribution to be made by Key Personnel;

• A description of how project progress will be tracked and continuously evaluated; and

• A timeline for the planned work.

5. Management Plan: Narrative describing:

• Demonstration of effective and appropriate financial controls, budget processes, administrative oversight, and personnel management;

• How the project will be coordinated, including any use of cyberinfrastructure;

• How decisions will be made regarding the conduct of the project; and

• How the effectiveness of the collaboration will be evaluated.

6. Mentoring Plan: Narrative describing:

• Establishment of a mentoring process, including goals, defining roles and responsibilities, and describing communication methods, for co-mentoring of the graduate fellow;

• How the design will be implemented; and

• How the effectiveness of mentoring will be evaluated.

7. References Cited:

References should include full titles of articles and book chapters cited. This section should include bibliographic citations only and must not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the project description. Indicate with an asterisk (*) references co-authored by two or more proposal investigators.

8. Formatting: The format applies to items 2-6 above:

a. Margins – Margins for length and width should be at least one (1) inch.

b. Page formatting – Use standard, single-column format.

c. Figures, Tables, Diagrams – Use captions and appropriate references with at least size 10 font for caption descriptions.

d. Spacing – Use least single spacing (for size 12 font and higher) and use single and a half (for size 11)

e. Font and size (except for item c above) - Use Calibri or Times New Roman font at size 11 or larger.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative that provides the grant community a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities; therefore, applicants with electronic access are to submit their applications electronically through http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. Before you can apply for a DHS grant at Grants.gov, you must have a DUNS number, be registered in SAM, and be approved as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

Applicants are encouraged to register early. The registration process can take four weeks or more to be completed. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

DUNS number. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number can be found at the following website: http://www.grants.gov//web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html. The DUNS number must be included in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the Standard Forms (SF)-424 forms submitted as part of this application.

System for Award Management: In addition to having a DUNS number, applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Step-by-step instructions for registering with SAM can be found here:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html. Failure to register with SAM will result in your application being rejected by Grants.gov during the submissions process.

Authorized Organizational Representative: The next step in the registration process, is to create a username and password with Grants.gov to become an AOR.

AORs will need to know the DUNS number of the organization for which they will be submitting applications to complete this process. Applicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid submissions. To read more detailed instructions for creating a profile on Grants.gov visit: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html.

12. Other Submission Requirements All files submitted in the application shall be in .pdf format. Limit filenames to 50 characters.

13. Intergovernmental Review

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372.

(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf).

14. Funding Restrictions

a. Award Size: DHS intends to fund one or more awards in 2022.

Funding under the NFRA will be the following:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf

• University research support will be funded at $300,000 per year for three years, with an additional two option-years based on performance.

• National or defense laboratory collaborators will be funded separately at $165,000 per year.

b. Students: Students supported under this project are classified as trainees and must be United States citizens.

c. Kick-Off: This meeting will be held remotely or on-site to discuss in detail the technical and programmatic aspects of the proposed research.

d. Collaboration Meeting: Periodic Collaboration Meetings will enable the awardees to review progress, exchange information, and promote and foster collaboration. It is required that all PIs and the graduate student supported through this award attend and participate in these meetings in their entirety.

e. Foreign Travel: Foreign travel required in the performance of the duties approved in this award must be approved by DHS in advance and in writing and comply with the applicable OMB Cost Principles Circular. Requests for foreign travel identifying the traveler, the purpose, the destination, and the estimated travel costs must be submitted to the DHS Grants Officer 60 days prior to the commencement of travel.

f. Funding: Funding beyond the first year will be dependent upon satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funds.

15. Allowable Costs

a. Pre-Award Costs Not allowed

b. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

M&A are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or cooperative agreement or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full-/part-time staff in direct support of the program.

As such these can be itemized in financial reports.

c. Indirect Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs

Indirect Costs (IDC) are allowable by the recipient and sub-recipients. IDC are based on a federally approved and negotiated rate. Please provide a copy of the negotiated rate approved by the applicant’s cognizant agency at the time of application. Indirect costs on subawards are limited to the first $25,000 of direct costs.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

The evaluation of proposals submitted in response to this NOFO will be accomplished through independent technical reviews using the following criteria, which are of equal importance.

Criterion I: Scientific and Technical Merit The following elements will be considered and evaluated:

• The application is responsive to the Technical Mission Areas outlined in the

Technical Priorities Section of the NOFO.

• The intellectual merit of the proposed research will serve to advance knowledge and understanding within the related technical field and/or across multiple related disciplines.

• The proposed University PI and National Laboratory Co-PI have the necessary experience (including prior, if applicable) and expertise to conduct the proposed research.

• The proposed research project addresses at least the following in a clear and complete manner: goals, schedule, methodology, and expected outcome.

• The proposed research exhibits creative, original (non-duplicative), innovative, and/or potentially transformative concepts.

• The dissemination of the results will broadly enhance…