FY 2024 NRST DE-FOA-0003410_09-30-24.pdf

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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho Operations Office

Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0003410

FOA Type: Initial Assistance Listing Number: 81.121

This FOA will be open continuously for up to 5 years or when funds are no longer available.

Informational Webinar (Video links and presentation available at https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD)

September 25, 2024

FOA Issue Due Date September 30, 2024

Application Due Date January 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET

Anticipated Award Date May-June 2025 https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD

Nuclear Reactor Safety Training & Workforce Development Program ii

• To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through

Office of Nuclear Energy, Competitively Awarded Projects at proposalsworkforce.inl.gov.

• If an application is selected for award negotiations, it is not a commitment to issue an award. It is imperative that the applicant/selectee be responsive during award negotiations. Failure to do so may result in cancelation of further award negotiations and rescission of the selection.

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) – Each applicant is required to: (1) register in the SAM at https://www.sam.gov before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid UEI in the application; and (3) maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency (unless the applicant is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110). DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, DOE will 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.

NOTE: Due to the high number of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process, they should use the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will address service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue.

Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity.

NOTE: All FOA information will be posted at the www.Grants.gov website and DOE-ID’s NSTWD informational website (https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD) Electronic application submission site is proposalsworkforce.inl.gov.

Electronic applications and instructions are available at the https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD website. To begin an application: (1) go to proposalsworkforce.inl.gov; (2) select “Sign In” from the top right-hand corner of the screen;

(3) enter your user credentials; (4) select “Applications” from the menu; and (5) click on “Create New Application” for the type of application you are creating. If you have any questions about your registration, contact the 208-526-7203 or NRST@inl.gov.

Any questions regarding the FOA or application requirements must be directed to NRST@id.doe.gov.

http://proposalsworkforce.inl.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/help https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=1b5f22581b2115102fe5ed7ae54bcb4e&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=1b5f22581b2115102fe5ed7ae54bcb4e&spa=1 http://www.grants.gov/ https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD https://www.id.energy.gov/ https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD http://proposalsworkforce.inl.gov/ mailto:NRST@inl.gov mailto:NRST@id.doe.gov iii

Questions

• Questions relating to the applications site can be directed to 208-526-7203 or NRST@inl.gov.

• Questions regarding the content of the FOA must be emailed to NRST@id.doe.gov. DOE will try to respond to a question within 3 business days, unless a similar question and answer have already been posted on the https://id.energy.gov/Home/NSTWD website.

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SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION

Issuing Agency Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office

Program Overview This program will provide funding to support the development of nuclear reactor safety training and workforce development programs.

Objective The objective of this FOA is to provide funding to implement new nuclear reactor safety training and workforce development programs.

Eligible Applicants Domestic Entities – Prime applicant: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI).

Sub-applicants: IHEs, including HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs; for-profit entities; non-profit entities; state and local governmental entities; Indian Tribes; utilities; and national laboratories.

Funding Scope of work: approximately $100M Federal funding; 50% cost share requirement

Deadlines

Applications due: January 14, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET

It is anticipated that future application dates may be available within a 5-year period, depending on availability of funds.

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CHECKLIST FOR AVOIDING COMMON ERRORS

Item Issue

Applications Submitted to proposalsworkforce.inl.gov.

Page Limits Strictly follow page limits and font size throughout application documents, including, but not limited to:

• Project Narrative File (TA1 - 50-pages; TA2 – 10 pages)

• Project Team Resumes (3-page max. per Resume)

• Benefit of Collaboration (8-page)

• Capabilities (4-pages)

Project Abstract Name of applicant, Principal Investigator (PI), PI’s institutional affiliation(s), project title, objectives of the project, description of the project, potential impact, and major participants.

Budget Use current negotiated indirect cost and fringe benefit rates or use de minimus rate

Budget Justification Justify all requested costs Vendor Quotes (Referenced costs (catalog pricing) or other basis for estimate)

Submit vendor quotes for any single item over $5,000

Current and Pending Support Ensure complete listing of all activities, including brief abstract of scope of work for all items listed, regardless of source of funding.

Font Size Pay particular attention to required font format and sizes, typically, Times New Roman, 11 pt. font.

Forms Use associated links for any forms.

https://proposalsworkforce.inl.gov/ vi

Table of Contents

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION ...................................................................... iv

Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. vi

PART I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A.1 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)

B. PROGRAM PURPOSE

C. APPLICATION TOPIC AREAS

D. APPLICATIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT OF INTEREST

E. COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN: JOB QUALITY AND EQUITY

F. AUTHORIZING STATUTES

G. NOTICE OF BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

PART II – AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD OVERVIEW

A.1 Estimated Funding

A.2 Funding Ceiling

B. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS

C. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

D. NUMBER OF SUBMITTALS

E. AWARD STRUCTURE

F. NEW APPLICATIONS ONLY

G. DOE FUNDING AGREEMENTS

G.1 Grants

G.2 Cooperative Agreements

G.3 Funding Agreements with Federally Funded Research and Development Center

PART III – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

A.1 Domestic Entities

A.2 Foreign Entities

B. COST SHARING

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B.1 Cost Share Percentage

B.2 Legal Responsibility

B.3 Cost Share Allocation

B.4 Cost Share Types and Allowability

B.5 Cost Share Contributions by FFRDCs

B.6 Cost Share Verification

B.7 Cost Share Payment

C. COMPLIANCE CRITERIA

D. RESPONSIVENESS CRITERIA

E. OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

E.1 Requirements for DOE/NNSA and Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs Included as a Subrecipient

E.2 Limitation on Number of Applications Eligible for Review

E.3 Questions Regarding Eligibility

PART IV – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION PROCESS

B. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SUBMISSION

C. APPLICATION FORMS

D. CONTENT AND FORM OF THE APPLICATION

D.1 Application Content Requirements

D.2 Conflict-of-Interest (COI) Acknowledgement

D.3 SF-424 (R&R): Application for Federal Assistance

D.4 Project Abstract

D.5 Project Narrative

D.6 Resumes

D.7 Benefit of Collaboration

D.8 Capabilities

D.9 Letters of Commitment Funding

D.10 SF-424 Research and Related (R&R) Lead Budget Form (Request for All Lead Institutions) . 27

D.11 SF-424 Research and Related (R&R) Subaward Budget Form

D.12 Budget for DOE/NNSA FFRDC Contractor (Required for National Laboratory Participants) . 28

D.13 Budget Justification (Required for Prime Applicants and all Sub-Applicants)

D.14 Current and Pending Support

D.15 Locations of Work viii

D.16 Coordination and Management Plan

D.17 Authorization for Non-DOE/NNSA or DOE/NNSA FFRDCs (If Applicable)

D.18 SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Required for All Lead Applicants)

D.19 Transparency of Foreign Connections

D.20 Community Partnership Documentation

D.21 Impacted Indian Tribes Documentation

D.22 Community Benefits Plan: Job Quality and Equity

D.23 Summary Slides

D.24 Intellectual Property Management Plan

D.25 Environmental Considerations Summary

D.26 Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

E. POST SELECTION INFORMATION REQUESTS

F. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

G. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

H. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

I. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

I.1 Allowable Costs

I.2 Pre-Award Costs

I.3 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirements Related to Pre-Award Costs

J. PERFORMANCE OF WORK IN THE UNITED STATES

K. FOREIGN TRAVEL

L. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

M. BUILD AMERICA BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS (IF

APPLICABLE)

N. DAVIS-BACON ACT REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE)

O. LOBBYING

P. RISK ASSESSMENT

Q. INVOICE REVIEW AND APPROVAL

R. PROHIBITION RELATED TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED TALENT RECRUITMENT

PROGRAMS

S. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND PAY TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS

T. FOREIGN COLLABORATION CONSIDERATIONS

PART V – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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A. CRITERIA

A.1 Initial Review Criteria

A.2 Topic Area 1 Applications

A.3 Topic Area 2 Applications

B. Budget Evaluation

C. STANDARDS FOR APPLICATION EVALUATION

D. OTHER SELECTION FACTORS

D.1 Program Policy Factors

E. EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

E.1 Overview

E.2 Pre-Selection Interviews

E.3 Pre-Selection Clarification

E.4 Recipient Responsibility and Qualifications

E.5 Selection

PART VI – AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

A.1 Ineligible Submissions

A.2 Application Notifications

A.3 Applicants Selected for Award Negotiations

A.4 Alternate Selection Determinations

A.5 Unsuccessful Applicants

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

B.1 Award Administrative Requirements

B.2 Foreign National Participation

B.3 Subaward and Executive Reporting

B.4 National Policy Requirements

B.5 Environmental Review in Accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

B.6 Flood Resilience

C. APPLICANT REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

C.1 Lobbying Restrictions

C.2 Corporate Felony Conviction and Federal Tax Liability Representations

C.3 Nondisclosure and Confidentiality Agreements Representations

C.4 Statement of Federal Stewardship x

C.5 Statement of Substantial Involvement

C.6 Intellectual Property Management Plan

C.7 Subject Invention Utilization Reporting

C.8 Intellectual Property Provisions

D. REPORTING

E. CONTINUATION REVIEW

F. NO-COST TIME EXTENSIONS

G. REBUDGET REQUEST

H. CONFERENCE SPENDING

I. UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE (UCC) FINANCING STATEMENTS

J. REAL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

K. IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13798, PROMOTING FREE SPEECH AND

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

L. PARTICIPANTS AND COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS

M. CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT

N. U.S. MANUFACTURING COMMITMENTS

O. INTERIM CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

P. FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE

Q. HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH

R. CONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE

S. OPERATIONS WORKFORCE CONTINUITY PLAN

PART VII – QUESTIONS/AGENCY CONTACTS

PART VIII – OTHER INFORMATION

A. FOA MODIFICATIONS

B. GOVERNMENT RIGHT TO REJECT OR NEGOTIATE

C. COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

D. TREATMENT OF APPLICATION INFORMATION

E. EVALUATION AND ADMINISTRATION BY NON-FEDERAL PERSONNEL

F. NOTICE REGARDING ELIGIBLE/INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

G. NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF FINANCIAL CAPABILITY

H. REQUIREMENT FOR FULL AND COMPLETE DISCLOSURE

I. RETENTION OF SUBMISSIONS

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J. TITLE TO SUBJECT INVENTIONS

K. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN SUBJECT INVENTIONS

L. RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA

M. COPYRIGHT

N. EXPORT CONTROL

O. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT

P. PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)

Q. ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDITS

R. INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR

Appendix A – Cost Share Information

Appendix B – Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

Appendix C – Open-Source Software xii

LIST OF ACRONYMS

BABA Build America Buy America Act

BIL Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

CBOO Community Benefits Outcomes and Objectives

CEJST Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

CEQ Council on Environmental Quality

COI Conflict of Interest

DBA Davis-Bacon Act

DEC Determination of Exceptional Circumstances

DEIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

DOE Department of Energy

DOL Department of Labor

EO Executive Order

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation

FCOI Financial Conflicts of Interest

FFATA Federal Funding and Transparency Act of 2006

FFRDC Federally Funded Research and Development Center

FOA Funding Opportunity Announcement

FY Fiscal Year

HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities

IHE Institution of Higher Education

IPMP Intellectual Property Management Plan

IRA Inflation Reduction Act

M&O Management and Operating

MSI Minority Serving Institution

NCE No Cost Time Extension

NDA Non-Disclosure Acknowledgement

NE Office of Nuclear Energy

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NRST Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program

NSF National Science Foundation

OFCCP Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs xiii

OIG Office of Inspector General

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OSS Open-Source Software

OSTI Office of Scientific and Technical Information

OTA Other Transactions Authority

PDF Portable Document Format

PICS Program Information Collection System

PII Personal Identifiable Information

RD&D Research, Development, and Demonstration

R&R Research and Related

SAM System for Award Management

SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely

SOPO Statement of Project Objectives

SPOC Single Point of Contact

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

TA1 Topic Area 1

TA2 Topic Area 2

UCC Uniform Commercial Code

UEI Unique Entity Identifier

U.S. United States

USG United States Government

WBS Work Breakdown Structure

WP Work Proposal

Nuclear Reactor Safety Training & Workforce Development Program PART I

PART I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Human-caused climate change is making the world reconsider how electricity is generated. The United States Government (USG), under the leadership of the Biden Administration, has made unprecedented investments in clean energy production with the goals of a decarbonized electricity sector by 2035 and a carbon free economy by 2050. Nuclear power provides almost half of the clean electricity in the United States today and is poised to play a critical role in the nation’s transition to clean energy. This requires continued operation of the existing fleet as well as expanding its capacity through upgrades as well as the deployment of additional nuclear reactors. Recognizing the need for clean, firm, baseload generation to achieve this ambitious goal while providing economic opportunity and supporting good-paying jobs, the Biden Administration has joined together with other nations in a pledge to triple nuclear energy by 2050. Importantly, this large increase in nuclear energy also is estimated to require approximately 375,000 additional trained technical and non-technical workers to research, design, build, maintain, and operate the new reactors.

The Biden Administration’s policies, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in November 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022 are providing billions of dollars toward the development of clean electricity generation. Many of these new incentives/programs are designed to increase the utilization of clean, firm electricity from nuclear energy. This funding opportunity was authorized by the BIL and is administered by the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) for developing the workforce needed to meet the future demand of nuclear energy.

The mission of NE is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental, and economic needs. NE has identified the following four mission goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:

• Keep existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating.

• Deploy new nuclear reactors.

• Secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle.

• Expand international nuclear energy cooperation.

All applications submitted under this FOA must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of the four mission goals and highlights how it supports DOE. Applications focused specifically in areas not of interest to the NE mission, such as fusion energy, medical physics, nuclear forensics, or environmental management, will not be reviewed or considered.

A.1 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)

The DOE NE Idaho Operations Office is issuing this Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program (NRST) FOA. Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,1 more commonly known as BIL.

BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in modernizing and upgrading American infrastructure to enhance U.S. competitiveness, drive the creation of good-paying jobs with a free and fair chance to join a union, tackle the climate crisis, and ensure strong access to economic, environmental, and other benefits for disadvantaged communities.2 BIL appropriates more than $62 billion to the DOE3 to invest in American manufacturing and workers; expand access to energy efficiency and clean energy; deliver reliable, clean, and affordable power to more Americans; and demonstrate and deploy the technologies of tomorrow through clean energy demonstrations.

DOE’s BIL investments will support efforts to build a clean and equitable energy economy that achieves a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035, and to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 20504 to benefit all Americans.

BIL will invest up to $100 million for the five (5) year period encompassing Fiscal Years (FYs) 2025 through 2030 for workforce development programs focused on nuclear safety training that supports the continued safe operation of existing nuclear power plants.

The activities to be funded under this FOA support BIL as outlined in Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and the broader government-wide approach to provide funding to implement a new nuclear safety training program to maximize the benefits of the clean energy transition as the nation works to curb the climate crisis, empower workers, and advance environmental justice.

This FOA is expected to be continuously open (with modifications as needed) until funding is no longer available. Consideration of additional rounds of applications will be given if adequate funding remains available. Applications for the first round are due in January 2025 and subsequent rounds will be announced as needed.

B. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This FOA supports the administration goals as describe in Part I, Section A.

1 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (November 15, 2021). https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684. This FOA uses the more common name Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

2 Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” January 27, 2021, and the Office of Management and Budget’s Interim Justice40 Implementation Guidance M-21-28 and Addendum M-23-09, DOE recognizes disadvantaged communities as the census tracts identified as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), located at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/, as well as all Federally Recognized Tribes (whether or not they have land).

See https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf. DOE’s Justice40 Implementation Guidance is located at https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022- 07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf.

3 U.S. Department of Energy. November 2021. “DOE Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Will Deliver for American

Workers, Families and Usher in the Clean Energy Future.” https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-fact-sheet-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-will-deliver-american-workers-families-and-0

4 EO 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” January 27, 2021.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-fact-sheet-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-will-deliver-american-workers-families-and-0 https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-fact-sheet-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-will-deliver-american-workers-families-and-0 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/

As part of the whole-of-government approach to advance equity and encourage worker organizing and collective bargaining,5,6,7 and in alignment with BIL sections as outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. This FOA and any related activities will seek to encourage meaningful engagement and participation of workforce organizations, including labor unions, as well as underserved groups and disadvantaged communities, including Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. Consistent with Executive Order (EO) 14008,8 this FOA is designed to help meet the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities, as defined pursuant to the Executive Order9, and to drive creation of accessible, good-paying jobs with the free and fair chance for workers to join a union.

To meet the needs of an expanding nuclear reactor fleet, the nuclear energy workforce is estimated to require 375,000 additional trained workers to research, design, build, maintain, and operate new reactors, while maintaining the current nuclear reactor fleet. More information on these needs can be found at: https://liftoff.energy.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230320- Liftoff-Advanced-Nuclear-vPUB-0329-Update.pdf.

To address this challenge, all applications to this FOA must:

• Establish a consortium with Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), for-profit entities, nonprofit entities, State and local governmental entities, Indian Tribes, DOE/ National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) FFRDCs, labor organizations/unions, and utilities.

• Identify gaps in training, recruiting, and retaining skilled workers in the current nuclear workforce.

• Develop or enhance one or more industry recognized nuclear reactor safety credential(s) that can be used to establish a national standard for workers to work across reactor types.

• Identify pathways for sustainability of developed training programs and certificates past the project period of performance by establishing multi-stakeholder and industry-wide partnerships, proposing implementation plans following the program, and training module development.

5 EO 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” January 20, 2021. EO 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, February 16, 2023.

6 EO 14025, “Worker Organizing and Empowerment,” April 26, 2021.

7 EO 14052, “Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” November 18, 2021.

8 EO 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” January 27, 2021.

9 Pursuant to EO 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” January 27, 2021, and the Office of Management and Budget’s Interim Justice40 Implementation Guidance M-21-28 and Addendum M-23-09, DOE recognizes disadvantaged communities as the census tracts identified as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), located at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/, as well as all Federally Recognized Tribes (whether or not they have land). See https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23- 09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf. DOE’s Justice40 Implementation Guidance is located at https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf.

https://liftoff.energy.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230320-Liftoff-Advanced-Nuclear-vPUB-0329-Update.pdf https://liftoff.energy.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230320-Liftoff-Advanced-Nuclear-vPUB-0329-Update.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/26/executive-order-on-worker-organizing-and-empowerment/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/26/executive-order-on-worker-organizing-and-empowerment/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf

C. APPLICATION TOPIC AREAS

This FOA provides award opportunities to domestic entities as defined in Part III Section A. All work for projects selected under this FOA must be performed in the United States.

For applicants meeting the eligibility definition of Part III Section A, this FOA contains two (2) separate funding opportunity Topic Areas as described below:

1. Topic Area 1 (TA1) – Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation

Focuses on the demonstration and implementation of reactor safety training programs, as well as the establishment or enhancement of industry-recognized nuclear reactor safety training credentials. Consortia in this category will have already clearly identified nuclear reactor safety training gaps and will execute a project that will result in one or more training programs and industry recognized credentials implemented by workforce development training providers such as IHEs, non-profit training providers, private training providers, federally registered apprenticeships, etc.

2. Topic Area 2 (TA2) – Curriculum Focused Training Program Development

Development-focused opportunity targeting the identification and development of training pathways, curriculum, and faculty development at universities and community colleges to support reactor safety training programs, as well as establishing sustainable long-term partnerships with utilities, employers, labor-management programs Tribal Nations, state and/or local governments, labor organizations, K-12 formal and informal institutions, etc.

The applicant should propose a plan for implementing the developed training curriculum with the established partnership.

D. APPLICATIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT OF INTEREST

The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered:

• Applications that do not support or establish an industry recognized nuclear reactor safety credential.

• Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Part(s) I.A. and I.B. of the FOA.

• Applications focused specifically in areas not of interest to the NE mission, such as fusion energy, medical physics, nuclear forensics, or environmental management.

E. COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN: JOB QUALITY AND EQUITY

To support the goal of building a clean and equitable energy economy, BIL-funded projects are expected to (1) support meaningful community and labor engagement; (2) invest in quality jobs;

(3) advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and (4) contribute to the President’s goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative).10 To ensure these goals are met, applications must include a Community Benefits Plan that describes how the proposed project would incorporate the four objectives stated above.

Applicants are encouraged to submit Community and Labor Partnership Documentation from Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and established labor and community-based organizations that demonstrate the applicant’s ability to achieve the above goals as outlined in the Community Benefits Plan. Within the Community Benefits Plan, the applicant is encouraged to provide details on how to ensure the delivery of measurable community and jobs benefits, ideally using negotiated agreements between the applicant and the community, and/or the applicant and labor unions referred to collectively here as “Workforce and Community Agreements.” These include community benefits agreements, Tribal agreements, community workforce agreements, project labor agreements, and other collective bargaining agreements. See Part IV Section D.22. for the Community Benefits Plan content requirements.

F. AUTHORIZING STATUTES

The programmatic authorizing statutes are Department of Energy – Energy Programs – Nuclear Energy in division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117 – 58), section 311 of Public Law No.: 118-42 (03/08/2024), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, section 31 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 2011, et seq.), section 4 of the Nuclear Safety, Research, Demonstration, and Development Act of 1980, and section 10745 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (division B of Public Law 117–167).

Funding for the grant(s) awarded under this FOA is subject to Congressional appropriations. The grant(s) will be awarded in accordance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter II Subchapter H, Part 200 (2 CFR Part 200) and Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter II Subchapter H, Part 910 (2 CFR Part 910). Awards will be made in accordance with regulatory requirements going into effect October 1, 2024.

G. NOTICE OF BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW SPECIFIC

REQUIREMENTS

Be advised that special terms and conditions apply to projects funded by the BIL relating to:

• Cybersecurity Plan;

• Davis-Bacon Act;

10 The Justice40 Initiative, established by EO 14008, sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Consistent with Justice40 guidance, DOE recognizes disadvantaged communities as the census tracts defined and identified as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), located at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/, as well as all Federally Recognized Tribes (whether or not they have land). See https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23- 09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/

• Reporting, tracking, and segregation of incurred costs;

• Reporting on job creation and preservation;

• Publication of information on the internet;

• Access to records by Inspectors General and the Government Accountability Office;

• Requiring all of the iron, steel, manufactured goods, and construction materials used in the infrastructure activities of applicable projects are produced in the United States;

• Protecting whistleblowers and requiring prompt referral of evidence of a false claim to an appropriate inspector general; and

• Certification and registration.

Recipients of funding appropriated by the BIL must comply with requirements of all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, DOE policy and guidance, and instructions in this FOA. Recipients must flow down the requirements to sub-recipients to ensure the recipient’s compliance with the requirements.

Nuclear Reactor Safety Training & Workforce Development Program PART II

PART II – AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD OVERVIEW

A.1 Estimated Funding

DOE expected funding for all awards over a five-year period is approximately $100 million of federal funding for new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

NE anticipates $50 million in funding from FY 2023 and FY 2024 for awards in this FOA for FY 2025. During the five-year period, DOE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. NE encourages applicants to propose projects at the appropriate funding level to accomplish the FOA’s objectives and will evaluate all applications that fall below the ceiling outlined in Part II Section A.2. Applicants should recognize that the request must be sufficient to establish an industry recognized nuclear reactor safety certification.

Applications are to be written so each proposed task within a budget period is completed within the specified budget period. DOE may establish more than one budget period for each award and fund only the initial budget period(s). Funding for all budget periods, including the initial budget period, is not guaranteed. If selected, DOE may decide to fund only a portion of the application or the entire application for award. If only a portion of the application is selected for negotiation, a new application can be submitted for the portion that was not selected for negotiation in a subsequent application cycle.

A.2 Funding Ceiling

Topic Area Topic Area Title

Anticipated Number of

Awards

Anticipated Minimum

Award Size for Any

One Individual

Award (Fed Share)

Anticipated Maximum Award Size for Any One Individual

Award (Fed Share)

Approximate Total Federal

Funding Available for All Awards

Anticipated Period of

Performance (months)

TA1

Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation

0 to 8 $5 Million $40 Million $40 Million 60

TA2

Curriculum Focused Training Program Development

0 to 10 $500,000 $2 Million $10 Million 24

B. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS

Topic Area 1 – Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation:

DOE anticipates making up to eight cooperative agreement awards under this FOA. DOE may issue one or more, or may choose not to make any awards based on the current year budget situation, the merit of the applications received, and other selection factors contained in Part V. If selected, DOE may decide to fund only a portion of the application or the entire application for award.

Topic Area 2 – Curriculum Focused Training Program Development: DOE anticipates making up to 10 total grants under this FOA. DOE may issue one, multiple, or choose not to make any awards based on the merit of the applications received and the selection and other program policy factors contained in Part V.

Topic Areas Anticipated No.

of Awards

TA1 Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation 0 - 8

TA2 Curriculum Focused Training Program Development 0 - 10

C. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for awards under this FOA is anticipated to start within 30 days after issuance of an award.

Topic Area 1 – Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation:

DOE anticipates making cooperative agreement awards with an estimated project period of performance for up to five years with multiple budget periods. Projects must submit a continuation request for each budget period.

NOTE: Project continuation will be contingent upon 1) availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program; 2) the availability of future-year budget authority; 3) substantial progress towards meeting the objective of the approved application; 4) submittal of required reports/other deliverable; 5) compliance with the terms and conditions of the award; and

6) DOE approval of a continuation application. Included in the evaluation of whether the recipient is making substantial progress towards meeting the objectives of the approved application, DOE will evaluate demonstrative project performance, project schedule adherence, meeting of milestone objectives, quality of deliverables, compliance with reporting requirements, and overall contribution to the program goals and objectives. As a result of this evaluation, DOE will make an annual determination to continue the project, re-direct the project, or not approve the continuation application and discontinue funding the project.

A continuation application is required to be submitted to the DOE Technical Project Officer and the DOE Contract Specialist for approval at least 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. Upon approval of the continuation application, an amendment is issued to authorize the expenditure of funds for the project during the new budget period. The required content of the continuation application will be included in the terms and conditions of the initial agreement.

Both fully funded or partially funded awards require a continuation application.

Topic Area 2 – Curriculum Focused Training Program Development: DOE anticipates making grant awards with an estimated project period of performance for approximately two years with one budget period.

D. NUMBER OF SUBMITTALS

In round one, applicants may submit only one application in either TA1 or TA2 as the lead applicant under this FOA. The applicant is considered to be the prime applicant.

Applicants are eligible to apply to future rounds.

There are no limitations to the number of applications submitted for an entity that is the non-prime applicant (i.e. subcontractor, contractor, or sub-applicant).

E. AWARD STRUCTURE

1. Awards will be made to consortia comprising a lead university applicant and eligible sub-recipients partnering to deliver the training program(s).

2. The program shall require a cost share of at least 50 percent of the total project costs as described in Appendix A (e.g., $1 federal funding: $1 non-federal funding match) with the cost share coming from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.

F. NEW APPLICATIONS ONLY

DOE will accept only new applications under this FOA. DOE will not consider applications for renewals of existing DOE-funded awards through this FOA.

G. DOE FUNDING AGREEMENTS

Through grants and cooperative agreements, DOE provides financial and other support to projects that have the potential to realize the FOA objectives. DOE does not use such agreements to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the U.S. government.

G.1 Grants

DOE will use grants for Topic Area 2 to provide financial and other support to prime recipients to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by federal statute.

G.2 Cooperative Agreements

DOE will use cooperative agreements for Topic Area 1 to provide financial and other support to prime recipients.

Through cooperative agreements, DOE provides financial or other support to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by federal statute. Under cooperative agreements, the government and prime recipients share responsibility for the direction of projects.

DOE has substantial involvement in all projects funded via cooperative agreements. See Part VI Section C.5. of the FOA for more information on what substantial involvement may involve.

G.3 Funding Agreements with Federally Funded Research and Development Center11

FFRDCs are funded independently of the remainder of the project team. The FFRDC then executes an agreement with any non-FFRDC project team members to arrange work structure, project execution, and any other matters. Regardless of these arrangements, the entity that applied as the prime recipient for the project will remain the prime recipient for the project.

11 FFRDCs are public-private partnerships that conduct research for the U.S. government. A listing of FFRDCs can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/.

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/

Nuclear Reactor Safety Training & Workforce Development Program PART III

PART III – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation.

A.1 Domestic Entities

Domestic entities are eligible to apply as prime applicants or sub-applicant. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a prime applicant of this FOA:

1. IHEs

The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a sub-applicant of the

FOA:

1. IHEs

2. For-profit entities

3. Nonprofit entities

4. State and local governmental entities

5. Indian Tribes, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education

Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. § 530412

6. Labor organizations/unions

7. Utilities

8. DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

9. Labor-management programs

12 “Indian Tribe,” for the purposes of this FOA and as defined in in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5304), [1]means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [ 43 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Federally Recognized Indian Tribes are also considered disadvantaged communities for the purposes of Justice40 requirements in this FOA per https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23- 09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/92/203.pdf#:%7E:text=688%20PUBLIC%20LAW%2092-203-DEC.%2018%2C%201971%20%5B85%20STAT.,and%20for%20other%20purposes.%20Alaska%20Native%20Claims%20Settlement https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:43%20section:1601%20edition:prelim)

Universities located in proximity to nuclear power plants with decades of operational safety experience and challenges are expected to receive priority consideration.

DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to apply for funding as a sub-recipient but are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient.

Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a prime applicant. To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States or under the laws of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.

Entities banned from doing business with the U.S. government, such as entities debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participating in federal programs, are not eligible.

Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding.

A.2 Foreign Entities

Foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either a prime applicant or sub-applicant.

B. COST SHARING

Applicants are bound by the cost share proposed in their application if selected for award negotiations.

B.1 Cost Share Percentage

The cost share must be at least 50%13 of the total project costs.14 The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.

To help applicants calculate proper cost share amounts, DOE has included a cost share information sheet as Appendix A to this FOA.

B.2 Legal Responsibility

Although the cost share requirement applies to the entire project, including work performed by

13 H.R.4366, PUBLIC LAW 118–42—MAR. 9, 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 Division D, explanatory statement;

and statutory requirement from EPACT 2005, 42 USC 16352, SEC. 988 Cost Sharing.

14 Total project costs are the sum of the government share, including FFRDC costs if applicable, and the recipient share of project costs.

members of the project team other than the prime recipient, the prime recipient is legally responsible for paying the entire cost share. If the funding agreement is terminated prior to the end of the project period, the prime recipient is required to contribute at least the cost share percentage of total expenditures incurred through the date of termination.

The prime recipient is solely responsible for managing cost share contributions by the project team and enforcing cost share obligation assumed by project team members in subawards or related agreements.

B.3 Cost Share Allocation

Each project team is free to determine how best to allocate the cost share requirement among the team members. The amount contributed by individual project team members may vary, as long as the cost share requirement for the entire project is met.

B.4 Cost Share Types and Allowability

Every cost share contribution must be allowable under the applicable federal cost principles, as described in Part IV Section I. of the FOA. In addition, cost share must be verifiable upon submission of the application. Cost share may be provided in the form of cash or cash equivalents, or in-kind contributions. Cost share must come from non-federal sources (unless otherwise allowed by law), such as project participants, state or local governments, or other third-party financing. DOE Loan Guarantees cannot be leveraged by applicants to provide the required cost share or otherwise support the same scope that is proposed under a project.

Cost share may be provided by the prime recipient, subrecipients, or third parties (entities that do not have a role in performing the scope of work). Vendors/contractors may not provide cost share. Any partial donation of goods or services is considered a discount and is not allowable.

Cash contributions include but are not limited to personnel costs, fringe costs, supply and equipment costs, indirect costs, and other direct costs.

In-kind contributions are those where a value of the contribution can be readily determined, verified, and justified but where no actual cash is transacted in securing the good or service comprising the contribution. Allowable in-kind contributions include but are not limited to the donation of volunteer time or the donation of space or use of equipment.

Project teams may use funding or property received from state or local governments to meet the cost share requirement, so long as the federal government did not provide the funding to the state or local government.

The prime recipient and subrecipient(s) may not use the following sources to meet cost share obligations:

• Revenues or royalties from the prospective operation of an activity beyond the project period

• Proceeds from the prospective sale of an asset of an activity

• Federal funding or property (e.g., federal grants, equipment owned by the federal government)

• Expenditures that were reimbursed under a separate federal program

Project teams may not use the same cash or in-kind contributions to meet cost share requirements for more than one project or program.

Cost share contributions must be specified in the project budget, verifiable from the prime recipient’s records, and necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of the project. As all sources of cost share are considered part of total project cost, the cost share dollars will be scrutinized under the same federal regulations as federal dollars to the project.