fy15 nrc radioactive material disposition announcement - final.docx

NRC-HQ-50-15-FOA-0001

Part I - Overview Information

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (http://www.nrc.gov)

Title:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Funding Opportunity Announcement, Radioactive Material Disposition Grant, Fiscal Year 2015

Announcement Type:

New

Announcement of Opportunity Number:

NRC-HQ-50-15-FOA-0001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:

CFDA #: 77.009

Key Dates:

You must submit applications in response to this FOA for Federal assistance electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF-424 forms and the SF-424 Application Guide included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).

Your application must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m., your local time. If you need information on alternate means of submitting your application, see section IV.3.B.1.

You may NOT submit applications in paper format.

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency, established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, tasked with licensing and regulating the Nation’s civilian use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear material to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and to protect the environment.

Type of Award:

This FOA will result in a grant awards.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number or Awards:

Up to two (2) grants may be awarded based upon the availability of funds and applicability of the proposal to planned work objectives. The number of possible awards for FY 2015 depends on the number, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received and availability of funds.

Budget and Project Period:

Awards are for a projected period of up to 5 years depending on program requirements and scheduled milestones. Award amounts in prior years have ranged from $25,000 to $50,000 per year, based on the availability of funds.

Eligible Institutions/Organizations:

See Section III, 1.A. for eligible institutions.

Eligible Principal Investigators (PIs):

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to conduct the proposed project are invited to work with their institution/organization to develop an application.

Number of Applications:

Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is technically distinct.

Continuation Applications:

Not applicable.

Application Materials:

See Section IV.1 for application materials.

Hearing Impaired:

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired are available at: TDD: 301-415-5609.

Table of Contents

Part I - Overview Information

Part II - Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Section II. Award Information

Section III. Eligibility Information

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

Section V. Application Review Information

Section VI. Award Administration Information

Section VII. Agency Contacts

Section VIII. Other Information

Part II - Full Text of Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Program Objectives

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to enable the nation to safely use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected. The NRC regulates the nation's civilian use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and to protect the environment. This regulatory control is most commonly accomplished through the process of licensing those that use and/or possess radioactive material.

An important component of safe use of material is proper disposition of material (typically through transfer to another authorized entity or proper final disposal) that is unwanted or orphan. Unwanted materials is normally defined as material under regulatory control but no longer in use and no longer wanted by the user. Orphan materials are typically defined as materials that are out of regulatory control, e.g., material that has been found by a member of the public, or as specified in the NRC glossary or in accordance with other NRC guidance.

NRC is interested in projects that promote the NRC mission by; 1) effectively providing information regarding the disposition of unwanted and orphan material; and 2) effectively providing assistance for the disposition of orphan material.

The goal of this grant is:

Proper disposition of material that is unwanted or is orphan, in order to ensure safe use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected.

The primary objectives of this grant:

1. Effectively provide information regarding the disposition of unwanted and orphan material;

2. Effectively provide assistance for the disposition of orphan material.

The areas of interest to accomplish the objectives including but not limited to:

· compliance with all Federal and State regulatory requirements regarding disposition of radioactive material, including those for possession, transfer, transport and disposal

· ensuring that funds expended are done in an efficient and prudent manner, ensuring best value while maintaining safety,

· ability to assemble, maintain, and provide accurate information regarding available disposition options, processes and requirements for disposition of material, and available service providers for activities related to disposition of radioactive material, including: characterization, packaging, transportation, and surveys,

· ability to produce accurate, knowledgeable determination of available disposition options for individual unwanted or orphan material situations, and provide recommendations of options to possessors of material,

· ability to effectively coordinated with State and local governmental entities regarding unwanted or orphan material, and

· capability to address issues related to orphan material.

Funding may be used for the direct costs associated with:

a) Establishing and maintaining programs that can effectively provide information regarding disposition of unwanted and orphan material in accordance with Federal and State regulatory requirements for the possession, transfer, transport, and disposal of radioactive material.

b) Assisting with identification, referrals, and interactions with other entities that provide information and assistance for the disposition of unwanted and orphan radioactive material

c) Reimbursement to government entities for costs related to actual disposition of orphan material in accordance with Federal and State regulatory requirements.

Funding must not be used for costs, or reimbursement of costs, to dispose of unwanted material. Each authorized (licensed) entity or individual is responsible for the safe disposition of the unwanted radioactive material. Funding for this award may be used to assist such individuals or entities to identify options for the disposal of unwanted radioactive material.

See Section VIII, Other Information, for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information

1. Type of Award

This FOA may result in a grant award(s).

2. Funds Available

Up to two (2) grants may be awarded based upon the availability of funds and applicability of proposal to planned work objectives.

Because the nature and scope of the proposed project/program will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the NRC provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching may be considered, but is not required.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Institutions

You may submit an application(s) if your institution/organization has any of the following characteristics:

· Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

· Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

· State Governments

· Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)

· Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organizations

· County Governments

· City or Township Governments

· Special District Governments

For profit entities are not eligible under this announcement.

Federal agencies are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this announcement. Individuals and other entities may not apply directly to NRC for these grants.

1.A. Eligible Individuals

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the PI is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NRC support.

More than one PI (i.e., multiple PIs), may be designated on the application for projects that require a “team science” approach and therefore clearly do not fit the single-PI model.

The decision of whether to apply for a grant with a single PI or multiple PIs is the responsibility of the investigators and applicant organizations and should be determined by the technical goals of the project. Applications for grants with multiple PIs will require additional information, as outlined in the instructions below. The NRC review criteria for approach, investigators, and environment have been modified to accommodate applications involving either a single PI or multiple PIs. When considering the multiple PI option, please be aware that the structure and governance of the PI leadership team as well as the knowledge, skills and experience of the individual PIs will be factored into the assessment of the overall technical merit of the application. Multiple PIs on a project share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically. Each PI is responsible and accountable to the grantee organization, or, as appropriate, to a collaborating organization, for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of required reports.

Although the PIs write the grant application and are responsible for conducting and supervising the research, the actual applicant is the institution/organization.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

You can download a SF-424 Application Package and instructions for completing the SF-424 forms for this FOA by linking to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp and following the directions provided on that Web site. Institutions must complete a one-time registration at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp).

If you have questions regarding Grants.gov registration, direct them to:

Grants.gov

· Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726 Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on federal holidays (see Office of Personnel Management Federal Holidays).

· Email Support: Support@grants.gov

The NRC requires all prospective awardees to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through the end of the project period. You should allow processing time of at least 48 hours, when registering with SAM. If you are not currently registered, we recommend that you consider registering immediately to avoid delays. You obtain registration information at http://www.sam.gov.

1. Request Application Information Applicants must download the SF-424 application forms and instructions for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.

2. Application Forms and Content

Prepare your application using the SF-424 application form. Both the application form and instructions for completing it can be downloaded from http://www.grants.gov/Apply/. Approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Grants Management Forms are available on the OMB website, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms/.

The SF-424 application has several components. Your application is complete only if it includes the following components:

Required Components:

SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance - CFDA Number: 77.009 SF-424A – Budget Information - complete Sections A, B, C, D, E and F SF-424B – Assurances and Certifications SF LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Allowable Costs: Allowable costs must be consistent with the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E—COST PRINCIPLES, be reasonable, allocable, well documented and fully justified for the program proposed in the application. Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds otherwise available at the applicant institution. It is recommended that potential applicants consult NRC staff, identified in Section VII, if there are any questions regarding allowable costs.

Personnel: The Principal Investigator will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. Individuals participating in the design and implementation of the grant may request salary and fringe benefits appropriate for the person months devoted to the program. These expenses must be itemized in Sections A and B, as appropriate, of the SF-424A Budget page. Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions. Limited administrative and clerical salary costs associated distinctly with the program that are not normally provided by the applicant organization, may be proposed as direct charges to the grant and must be specifically identified and justified.

Other Program-Related Expenses: Consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key persons, and other program-related expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available for programs at the applicant institution/entity. These expenses must be itemized, as appropriate, in the SF-424A object class categories and fully documented in the budget justification. Committed Cost Sharing/Matching becomes an official part of the budget and should be documented on the SF-424A and the proposal budget justification page.

Application Involving Multiple Principal Investigators: For applications designating multiple PIs, a section of the project plan, entitled “Multiple PI Leadership Plan” must be included. A rationale for choosing a multiple PI approach should be described. The governance and organizational structure of the leadership team and the project/program should be described, and should include communication plans, process for making decisions on technical direction, and procedures for resolving conflicts. The roles and administrative, technical, and financial responsibilities for the project or program should be delineated for the PIs and other collaborators.

If budget allocation is planned, the distribution of resources to specific components of the project or the individual PIs should be delineated in the Leadership Plan. In the event of an award, the requested allocations may be reflected in a footnote on the Notice of Award (NoA).

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs: Grantees will receive F&A costs at the actual F&A cost rate. A copy of the institution’s and all subcontractor’s current rate agreement is required in the application with the budget justification.

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3.A. for details.

3. A. Submission and Anticipated Start Dates

3. A. 1. Application Content

Applicant must download a grant application package from http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp

Required Elements for Applications

A. Format:

Font Size, Style, and Color

1. 11 point, Arial, black color (A Symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters.)

Page Size and Margins

1. Use standard paper size (8 ½" x 11”).

1. Use one inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right).

1. Each page should include a page number and the PI’s last name in the bottom right-hand corner.

1. NRC requires all text attachments to the SF-424 application forms to be submitted as PDF files. Adobe PDF format is preferred.

Footer

1. Each page should include a page number and Principal Investigator’s last name in the bottom right-hand corner.

Attachments

1. NRC requires all text attachments to the SF-424 application forms to be submitted as PDF files. Adobe PDF format is preferred.

B. Executive Summary (half-page maximum):

Describe the proposed project’s essential elements. Include the following:

· Descriptive title of proposed project: NOTE: Applicants should describe the project as the Institution’s Program and not the NRC’s Program.

· Name, address, email address and telephone number of the PI(s).

· The project’s total funding request.

· Concise statement of the project’s objectives and benefits.

C. Project Description:

The project description (which is not the same as the evaluation criteria in Section V.1) is limited to fifteen (15) pages or less, including text, tables, and visual materials (e.g., charts, graphs, maps, photographs). The page limit does not include the:

· Executive Summary

· Program Objectives

· Budget and Budget Narrative

· Current and Pending Support

· Curriculum Vitae

· Past NRC Funding and Summary of Results from Past NRC Funding, if applicable

· Other required forms.

D. Summary of Current and Pending Support:

You must provide information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and proposals. Include the proposed project and all other projects or activities using Federal assistance or that require a portion of time of the PI or other senior personnel. Describe the relationship between the proposed project and these other projects and state the number of person-months per year to be devoted to the projects.

E. Curriculum Vitae:

Include two (2) page maximum vitae for the entity corporate official in charge of the project, and other senior personnel or principal investigator involved in carrying out the proposal, including recent relevant publication references.

F. Detailed Budget Narrative and Application Instructions:

Submit a detailed budget narrative explaining the need for and justifying the costs of the Federal and the non-Federal expenditures as they relate to the proposal objectives. Budget should be labeled with each budget line item and proposed funding.

SF-424, Section A – Budget Summary: Fill in “NRC-HQ-50-15-FOA-0001” under the “Grant Program Function or Activity” (Column a). The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 77.009 (Column b). Columns (c) and (d) should be left blank. Columns (e) and (f) should include the total Federal and Non-Federal funding for the entire grant period.

List all expenditures in the budget narrative using the same budget categories on SF-424A, Section B (Budget Category). Describe each expense in the budget narrative by object class (e.g., personnel, equipment, travel, and other costs) in the order that they appear on the SF-424A, Section B. Include the dollar amounts in the budget narrative/justification and how the dollar amounts were derived.

Subaward: A budget narrative is requested for subaward institutions. Letters of commitment between multiple institutions, signed by their respective authorized organization representatives, are required as part of the application.

The cost sharing amount, if applicable, should be entered in SF-424A, Section C, and “Non-Federal Resources.” The total on Section D, Line 14, and Section E, Line 21, equals total project costs.

Include detailed descriptions of all cost justifications. The website, http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/grants/faqs.html lists numerous Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that may be of assistance in preparing cost justification.

The budget narrative attachment/justification submitted with the application must match the dollar amounts on all required forms (i.e. SF-424 and SF-424A, Section F). Please explain each calculation and provide a narrative that supports each budget category as it relates to the project objectives.

3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically

We encourage applicants to apply early to avoid problems uploading applications to www.Grants.gov. We will make adjustments to the correction window or submission deadlines if necessary to protect applicants’ ability to submit on-time.

Electronic submission is required through www.Grants.gov. If you cannot submit through Grants.gov due to transmission issues, applications may be submitted via email to NRC. Contact the Grants.gov Contact Center to document and help resolve the submission issues, then:

1. Document the issue with the NRC Program and Grants Officer listed in Section VII. Agency Contacts; and

2. Include your www.Grants.gov support ticket number with your alternate submission.

3.B.1. Alternate submissions

Email submissions must be sent by the institution’s Authorized Organization Official (not the PI) to the Agency contacts found in Section VII in this announcement. The email subject line should include the www.Grants.gov support ticket number with your institution’s name.

3.C. Application Processing

Applications received will be evaluated by the NRC. Late, incomplete or non-responsive applications may not be evaluated.

Grants.gov will acknowledge receipt of applications. The submitting Authorized Organizational Representative receives the www.Grants.gov acknowledgments. Applicants can track your applications at: http://www.grants.gov/assets/TrackingYourApplicationPackage.pdf.

4. Funding Restrictions

All NRC awards are subject to the administrative requirements in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200 and other considerations described in “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Standard Terms and Conditions for U.S. Non-Governmental Recipients.”

5. Information on Civil Rights Compliance Requirements Imposed as a Condition of Award of NRC Federal Financial Assistance

The NRC assures nondiscrimination in NRC conducted and Federal financially assisted programs and activities. The NRC’s Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR) provides applicants/recipients with direction, guidance and technical assistance. SBCR also monitors program activities, conducts compliance reviews, investigates complaints, enforces violations and submits reports to Federal oversight agencies.

5.A. Submit a Standard Form (SF) 424B Statement of Assurances

Statements must be signed by individuals with authority to assure that the recipients’ programs comply with Federal civil rights laws, mandates, and NRC regulations.

5.B. Provide Public Notification

Recipient will display the NRC’s nondiscrimination policy and procedures for filing complaints in prominent locations to inform staff, beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries; disseminate a nondiscrimination policy statement (e.g., recruitment materials, brochures and other materials, handbooks, applications and postings); and distribute notices regarding programs and activities to eligible populations, including minority and low-income populations; and to Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals (See LEP Guidance FR Doc 04-4672).

· Participate in mandatory NRC Compliance Reviews.

· Participate in pre- and post-award compliance reviews.

5.C. Pre-Award Compliance Review

A pre-award compliance review (usually a desk-audit) must be conducted prior to award of NRC financial assistance. Applicants and recipients are required to complete NRC Form SF 781 Parts A, B, and C. If a determination cannot be made from the submitted data, SBCR will take other steps to request additional information, which could include conducting an on-site audit or inspection.

5.D. Post Award Audit

Post-award compliance reviews will be based on desk audits and input from advocacy groups, community organizations, and results from ongoing research to identify recipients that should be selected to undergo an on-site audit. The following criteria will be used to target recipients for a post-award compliance on-site audit:

· Areas of “questionable” compliance identified in a desk audit;

· Issues raised in a complaint or identified during a complaint investigation (not covered in the scope of the investigation);

· Noncompliance issues raised;

· Amount of program funding ($100K or greater), or size and complexity of the project;

· Geographical areas the agency wishes to target because of known problems beneficiaries are experiencing;

· Problems identified to the agency by other civil rights agencies;

· Problems identified to the agency by community organizations or advocacy groups that are familiar with actual incidents to support their concerns;

· Issues frequently identified as problems faced by program beneficiaries;

· Issues targeted in the agency's strategic plan;

· Problems identified to the agency by its block grant recipients; and

· Proximity of the recipient to NRC offices.

Post-award compliance (on-site) audits (sampling not to exceed 10%) encompass a broad review of recipients’ programs and practices to determine actual compliance with regulations and include:

· Civil rights implementation and enforcement policies and practices;

· Statistical evidence by racial and ethnic minorities based on the recipient’s (a) staffing patterns, (b) beneficiary program participation rates, and (c) rejection rates;

· Applications or interview materials related to program participation or selection;

· Demographic make-up of the affected community or potential participants;

· Actions to educate the public and affected communities, particularly LEP individuals;

· Any discrimination complaints lodged against the recipient;

· Auxiliary aids, reasonable accommodations, facility accessibility; and

· Any previous findings of compliance or noncompliance related to the recipient.

· Interviews of recipients officials, representatives, participants or beneficiaries; and Review recipients’ data collection and analysis used to assess compliance;

· SBCR will issue written results of its compliance findings and issue a written report containing recommendations for achieving compliance;

· Designate Equal Opportunity (EO) Coordinators; and

· Appoint Coordinators (e.g., Title VI and IX, Disability, Age) in order to:

· Inform those eligible to participate in programs and activities about all available services and their rights under applicable Federal civil rights regulations;

· Collect data on who is being served by the programs and activities offered;

· Monitor compliance and alerting recipient officials of any complaints or noncompliance issues that require action;

· Plan, develop, and implement periodic EO civil rights training;

· Maintain records and report compliance to SBCR/Outreach and Compliance Coordination Program (OCCP); and,

· Ensure prompt corrective action has been taken to adequately address any deficiencies.

5.E. Submit Compliance Reports

Submit compliance reports throughout the program year and an annual EO compliance report to SBCR no later than December 31 of each calendar year.

5.F. Provide Civil Rights Training

Provide comprehensive civil rights training for existing and new staff for those administering the grant, and periodically retrain existing staff to establish and update their knowledge of Equal Opportunity civil rights statutes and emerging issues.

5.G. Establish Complaint Process

Establish procedures for “processing and disposition” of discrimination complaints. Maintain complaint log, which includes the complainant’s: race, color, or national origin; the identity of the recipient; the nature of the complaint and date filed; the investigation completion date; the date and nature of the disposition; and other pertinent information.

5.H. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is provided by SBCR to assist stakeholders with understanding and complying with regulations. Links are provided to the U.S. Department of Justice website and the following NRC regulations: 10 CFR Part 4--Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs or ...Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From the Commission;” 10 CFR Part 5--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education ... Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance;” 10 CFR Part 2, §2.111 10 CFR Part 2--Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings and...; and 10 CFR Part 19, § 19.32 10 CFR Part 19--Notices, Instructions and Reports to Workers ...

OCCP staff is available to provide direction, guidance, and technical assistance to help ensure compliance. OCCP staff can be contacted via email at OCCPrograms.Resources@nrc.gov or by phone at 301-415-7394.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP)

The NRC uses ASAP for Recipient reimbursement. ASAP is a recipient-initiated payment and information system, designed to provide a single point of contact for the request and delivery of Federal funds. ASAP was developed by the Financial Management Service (FMS) of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of Richmond. For information about ASAP, see http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap/ Recipient organizations must be enrolled in ASAP.Gov and their bank account must be linked to the NRC Agency Link Code (31000001) to receive funds.

Organizational Dun and Bradstreet Numbering System (DUNS)

The DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet Numbering System) number on the application must match the DUNS number provided at the SAM database at https://www.sam.gov with http://www.grants.gov.

For additional information, see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs/obtaining-duns-number.html

If the Payee DUNS for ASAP.Gov is different from the DUNS number provided in the Sam.gov registration, please include the Payee DUNS at the end of the budget narrative under the heading ASAP DUNS. Payments may be delayed if this information is missing in the application.

FedConnect

Applicants are strongly encouraged, however, not required to register with FedConnect at www.FedConnect.net. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and may also be submitted through FedConnect. Please see attached for additional information: FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go!

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Full Review Criteria

Applications are evaluated and rated individually by Federal and non-Federal experts in the field. The following criteria items must be addressed and clearly labeled.

Significance: Does this project address the stated objective? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will public safety be benefited?

Approach: Is the program framework, methods, and processes adequately developed, well integrated, well-reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? Are there clearly defined and measurable objectives? Is there a clearly defined process to measure and report against the progress and success of the objectives?

Feasibility: Can the proposed work be accomplished within the proposed budget by the entity, given their experience and expertise, past progress, available resources, institutional/organizational commitment, and (if appropriate) access to technologies?

In addition to the above criteria, the following item will be considered in the determination of merit and the rating:

Budget and Period of Support: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the appropriateness of the requested period of support in relation to the proposed project/research may be assessed by the reviewers. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

2. Review and Selection Process

2.A. Review Process

The NRC conducts an initial administrative review to determine that the proposal is complete and complies with the announcement’s requirements. Ineligible applications or non-responsive applications may not be reviewed. You may withdraw your application at any time.

The NRC protects the information contained in an application from unauthorized disclosure, consistent with the need for objective review of the application and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. However, if a grant is awarded, the Federal government has the right to use or disclose the information to the extent authorized by law.

Applications are peer-reviewed and rated using the evaluation criteria provided above (Section V.1). Both Federal and non-Federal experts may be used in this process. Peer reviewers’ identities remain confidential. All peer reviewers must sign a conflict of interest form prior to acceptance as a reviewer. The applications, proposals and associated materials made available to reviewers, including the discussions that take place during review meetings are strictly confidential. Individual peer reviewers’ scores are averaged and rated prior to being presented to the selecting official.

2.B. Selection Process The highest ranked applications will receive priority consideration for award within the available funding. The selecting official makes make final award recommendations. The selecting official generally recommends funding in rank order unless an application is selected because of one of the following factors:

· Availability of funding.

· Support geographic diversity,

· Assure diversity in disciplines,

· Whether the project duplicates other projects NRC is funding or considering funding,

· Program priorities and policy factors,

· Needs that the Commission determines to be critical to the NRC’s regulatory mission,

· Applicant’s prior award performance,

· Previous expenditures and on-time progress report submissions, or

· Limiting the number of multiple NRC grant awards to individual institutions.

The decision not to award a grant, or to award a grant at a particular funding level, is discretionary and is not subject to appeal to any NRC official or board.

3. Earliest Anticipated Start Dates

The earliest anticipated start date for this Funding Opportunity Announcement is August 1, 2015.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

Formal notification in the form of a Grant or Cooperative Agreement will be provided to the applicant organization. The award signed by the Grants Officer is the authorizing document, and the Grants Officer is the only person authorized to obligate funds and permit changes to approved projects on behalf of the NRC. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NRC issues notifications via email directly to the proposing institutions’ authorizing officials.

Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the Grant or Cooperative Agreement are at the recipient's risk. See Section IV.4., “Funding Restrictions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Standard Terms and Conditions for U.S. Nongovernmental Recipients” contain the administrative and national policy requirements for all NRC awards, and is located at the end of this FOA.

3. Limitation of Liability

The NRC is not responsible for any proposal costs if agency priorities cause it to cancel this program prior to awarding any grants. Publishing this announcement does not obligate NRC to award any specific project.

4. Reporting

Financial Reports Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) are semi-annually, for the periods ending March 31 and September 30, or any portion thereof, regardless of the award date. Reports are due within 30 calendar days following the end of each reporting period. The reports must be emailed to Grants_FFR.Resource@nrc.gov. The SF-425 form and instructions are available at the following URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms/.

Performance Progress Reports Performance Progress reports must be submitted semi-annually, for the periods ending March 31, and September 30, or any portion thereof, regardless of the award date. Reports are due within 30 days following the end of each reporting period and must be emailed to Grants_PPR.Resource@nrc.gov.

See the Standard Terms and Conditions for the required metric reporting.

The NRC authorizes the use of the following forms for reporting performance. The reports are electronically transmitted to the Agency contacts listed in the Grant or Cooperative Agreement. The four forms that constitute a complete submission are available at the following hyperlinks:

· SF-PPR

Performance Progress Report Cover Form (Instructions accompany the form). Block 10 of this form should provide a narrative that details activities that have occurred during the reporting period that correspond with the goals and objectives identified in the proposal narrative. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/approved_forms/sf-ppr.pdf.

· SF-PPR-B

Performance Progress Report Program Indicators (Instructions accompany the form) http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/grants/approved_forms/sf-ppr-b.pdf.

· SF-PPR-E

Performance Progress Report Activity Based Expenditures (Instructions accompany the form) http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/grants/approved_forms/sf-ppr-e.pdf.

· SF-RPPR

Research Performance Progress Report https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms

In addition to all standard requirements, each report must also contain a summary of, and estimated quantity of, questions and requests regarding Objective 1 addressed in the reporting period, and a list of all requests received for orphan material disposition under Objective 2 for the reporting period, including, for each request, the date of the reimbursement request, date of reimbursement (if made), total dollar amount requested, total dollar amount reimbursed (if made), entity requesting reimbursement (name/address/contact information), isotope(s) and quantity(ies), summary of activities the reimbursement covered, brief description of the situation/circumstances and type(s)/typical use(s) of the material dispositioned, and the status/outcome.

Final Reports A Final Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR, B and E) and Federal Financial Report (SF-425) are required within 90 days after the award has expired, been relinquished, or terminated; to include the submission of a final SF-428, Tangible Property Report, if applicable.

Section VII. Agency Contacts We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Contact:

NRC Grants Office M’Lita Carr Grants Officer Phone: 301–415-6869 E-mail: MLita.Carr@nrc.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

1. Required Federal Citations

Program Authority: Section 31b, 141b, and 243 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

2. Authority and Regulations

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372, amended by E.O. 12416 and supplemented by E.O. 13132. Financial assistance awards are made under the authorization 42 U.S.C. § 2051. All awards are subject to the cost principles and other considerations described in 2 CFR Part 200, (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).

3. Non-Delinquency on Federal Debt The Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act, 28 U.S.C. 3201 (e), provides that an organization or individual that is indebted to the United States, and has a judgment lien filed against it, is ineligible to receive a Federal grant. NRC cannot award a grant unless the authorized organizational official of the applicant organization certifies, by means of his/her signature on the application, that the organization is not delinquent in repaying any Federal debt. If the applicant discloses delinquency on a debt owed to the Federal Government, NRC may not award the grant until the debt is satisfied or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to which the debt is owed.

4. Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR) Compliance (Civil Rights, Handicapped Individuals, Sex Discrimination, Age Discrimination) Before a grant award can be made, a domestic applicant organization must complete the NRC SBCR pre-award compliance review. (See Section IV.5.) Organizations must certify compliance in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88352, as amended), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112, as amended), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicaps; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-318, as amended), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-135), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Standard Terms and Conditions for U.S. Nongovernmental Recipients

Preface

This award is based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under the authorization 42 USC 2051(b) -pursuant to section 31b and 141b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and is subject to the terms and conditions incorporated either directly or by reference in the following:

· Grant program legislation and program regulation cited in this Grant and Cooperative Agreement.

· Restrictions on the expenditure of Federal funds in appropriation acts, to the extent those restrictions are pertinent to the award.

· Code of Federal Regulations/Regulatory Requirements – 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).

Any inconsistency or conflict in terms and conditions specified in the award will be resolved according to the following order of precedence: public laws, regulations, applicable notices published in the Federal Register, Executive Orders (E.O.), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars, the NRC’s Mandatory Standard Provisions, special award conditions, and standard award conditions.

Certifications and Representations: These terms incorporate the certifications and representations required by statute, executive order, or regulation that were submitted with the SF-424B application through GRANTS.GOV.

I. Mandatory General Requirements The order of these requirements does not make one requirement more important than any other requirement.

1. Applicability of 2 CFR 200 All provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 and all Standard Provisions attached to this grant/cooperative agreement are applicable to the Recipient and to sub-recipients which meet the definition of “Recipient” in 2 Part §200.86, unless a section specifically excludes a sub-recipient from coverage. The Recipient and any sub-recipients must, in addition to the assurances made as part of the application, comply and require each of its sub-awardees employed in the completion of the project to comply with Subpart D of 2 CFR 200 and include this term in lower-tier (sub-award) covered transactions.

Recipients must comply with monitoring procedures and audit requirements in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F—AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.

2. Award Package The Recipient is obligated to conduct project oversight as may be appropriate, to manage the funds with prudence, and to comply with the provisions outlined in 2 CFR Part 200. Within this framework, the Principal Investigator (PI) named on the award face page, is responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project and for preparation of the project performance reports. This award is funded on a cost-reimbursement basis, not to exceed the amount awarded as indicated on the face page, and is subject to a refund of unexpended grant funds to the NRC.

The non-Federal entity alone must be responsible, in accordance with good administrative practice and sound business judgment, for the settlement of all contractual and administrative issues arising out of procurements related to its grant award. These issues include, but are not limited to, source evaluation, protests, disputes, and claims. These standards do not relieve the non-Federal entity of any financial or fiduciary responsibilities or obligations arising under its grant, including sub-contracts and sub-awards, or any other contractual or financial obligation. The Federal awarding agency will not substitute its judgment for that of the non-Federal entity unless the matter is primarily a Federal concern. Violations of law will be referred to the local, State, or Federal authority having proper jurisdiction. See 2 CFR § 200.318(k), General Procurement Standards.

Subawards Appendix II to Part 200 Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards

Sub-recipients, sub-awardees, and contractors have no relationship with NRC under the terms of this grant/cooperative agreement. All required NRC approvals must be directed through the Recipient to NRC. See 2 CFR § 200.318.

Nondiscrimination This provision is applicable when work under the grant/cooperative agreement is performed in the U.S. or when employees are recruited in the U.S.

The Recipient agrees to comply with the non-discrimination requirements below:

· Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

· Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

· Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

· The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 6101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in any program receiving federal financial assistance.

· The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.), which prohibits recipients from discriminating on the basis of disability in employment (Title I); State and local government services (Title II); and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (Title III).

· Parts II and III of E.O. 11246, as amended by E.O.11375, 11478, 12086, 12107, 13279, 13665, and 13672, which prohibits federal contractors and federally assisted construction contractors and subcontractors, who do over $10,000 in Government business in one year, from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and requires that government contractors take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment.

· E.O.13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” which clarifies that national origin discrimination under Title VI includes discrimination on the basis of limited English proficiency (LEP) and requires that the recipient take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to programs and activities.

· Any other applicable non-discrimination law(s).

Generally, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq, provides that it shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discharge any individual or otherwise to discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. However, Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-1(a), expressly exempts from the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of religion, a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, educational institution, or society of its activities.

Modifications/Prior Approval NRC’s prior written approval may be required before a Recipient makes certain budget modifications or undertakes particular activities. If NRC approval is required for changes in the grant or cooperative agreement, it must be requested and obtained from the NRC Grants Officer in advance of the change or obligation of funds. All requests for NRC prior approval, including requests for extensions to the period of performance, should be made, in writing (which includes submission by e-mail), to the designated Grants Officer 30 days before the proposed change. The request should be signed by the authorized organizational official. Failure to obtain prior approval, when required, from the NRC Grants Officer, may result in the disallowance of costs, or other enforcement action within NRC's authority.

Lobbying Restrictions The Recipient will comply, as applicable, with provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the political activities of employees whose principal employment activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.

The Recipient will comply with provisions of 31 USC § 1352. This provision generally prohibits the use of Federal funds for lobbying in the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in connection with the award, and requires disclosure of the use of non-Federal funds for lobbying.

The Recipient receiving in excess of $100,000.00 in Federal funding shall submit a completed Standard Form (SF) LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,” regarding the use of non-Federal funds for lobbying within 30 days following the end of the calendar quarter in which there occurs any event that requires disclosure or that materially affects the accuracy of the information contained in any disclosure form previously filed.