FY21 UNLP (Education Program) NOFO (Final).pdf

31310021K0004

Part I. Overview Information

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

Title:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the University Nuclear Leadership Program (formerly the Integrated University Program), Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grant, Faculty Development Grant, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grant, Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.

Announcement Type:

New

Announcement of Opportunity Number:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:

CFDA #: 77.008

Key Dates:

Release/Posted Date: 07-27-2021 Application Due Date: 10-04-2021 Estimated Start Date: 05-01-2022

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

The recipient’s application must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m., ET on 10-04-2021. If the recipient needs information on alternate means of submitting its application, see Section IV.3.B.1.

Electronic submissions of applications through Grants.Gov is preferred. Therefore, paper applications will not be accepted, unless extenuating circumstances are documented.

Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency, established by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 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.

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

Type of Award:

It is anticipated that this NOFO will result in the award of multiple grants.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number or Awards:

The total amount of funding available for the scholarship, fellowship, faculty development and trade school and community college programs are $10,000,000.00. The number of awards will depend on the number, duration, costs, and merit of the applications received.

Budget and Project Period:

Scholarship: This is a two- (2) year program. Scholarship funds may be requested for up to $200,000.00 total costs (direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) for the project period. A scholarship student may not receive more than $10,000.00 per year or exceed $20,000.00 over a 2-year period.

Fellowship: This is a four- (4) year program. Fellowship funds may be requested for up to $400,000.00 total costs (direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) for the project period. A post graduate student may not receive funding in excess of $50,000.00 per year or exceed $200,000.00 over a 4-year period.

Faculty Development: This is a three- (3) year program. Faculty Development funds may be requested for up to $450,000.00 total costs (direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) for the project period, provided that an additional $50,000.00 per year is fully matched by the recipient. Other direct costs include but are not limited to course development, equipment, stipends, participation in professional society meetings, and preparation of papers, travel, and associated expenses. The base award is up to $300,000.00. However, the NRC may increase the award amount to the extent that a portion of the award is matched dollar for dollar by the recipient. For example, an award in the amount of $400,000.00 ($100,000 over the base award) would require a match of $100,000.00 from the recipient.

Trade School and Community College: This is a two- (2) year program. Trade School and Community College funds may be requested for up to $150,000.00 total costs (direct costs and associated facilities and administrative costs) for the project period. A scholarship student may not receive more than $5,000.00 per year or exceed $10,000.00 over a 2-year period.

Eligible Institutions:

See Section III, 1. for eligible institutions. Please note, in the context of this document, the term “institution” is used synonymously with the term “recipient;” however, in the case of a teaming arrangement or consortium, only the lead university is the recipient.

Eligible Principal Investigators (PIs):

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

Number of Applications:

An applicant/institution may submit only one application for each of the Scholarship, Fellowship, Faculty Development, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship grant programs. If applying for more than one grant program, then the applicant/institution must submit separate applications.

NOTE: Trade Schools and Community Colleges may only apply to the Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grant program. Trade Schools and Community Colleges are not eligible for Scholarship, Fellowship and Faculty Development grants.

Continuation Applications:

Not applicable.

Application Materials:

See Section IV. for application materials.

Hearing Impaired:

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired are available at: TDD: 240-428-3217.

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 program provides funding to support research and development for nuclear science, engineering, technology, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials.

The NRC is interested in technologies relevant to the programmatic mission of the objectives referenced above, with an emphasis on providing financial assistance for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities relevant to civilian advanced nuclear reactors, including, but not limited to, relevant fuel cycle technologies, advanced construction, manufacturing, and fabrication methods.

Of particular interest are projects aimed at:

• Aging/degradation of nuclear plant systems, structures, and components.

• Digital engineering/analytics, advanced sensors and controls for nuclear applications.

• Advanced materials and manufacturing for nuclear applications.

• Advanced construction techniques for nuclear builds.

• Evaluation of technical gaps and major uncertainties related to risk-informed decision- making for areas such as complex all-hazard risk models, dynamic PRAs, and PRAs for advanced reactors.

• Human and organizational factors and human reliability analysis for advanced nuclear applications, including improved models for dependency, consideration of organizational factors, and dynamic methods.

• Characterization of low frequency, high consequence natural or industrial hazards for advanced nuclear applications.

• Characterization, handling, fabrication, transportation, storage, or disposal of fresh and spent nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants (including the various advanced reactor designs that are currently under development).

• Analyses, data and evaluations that will support an understanding of the safety, technical gaps and major uncertainties for (1) operating, small modular and advanced reactor designs with emphasis in the areas of fuel performance, fuel fragmentation relocation and disposal, natural circulation, boron dilution, neutronics, source term analysis, severe accident analysis and (2) fuel cycle technologies, with an emphasis on experimental test and analytical model data to help validate the NRC’s scientific computer codes and ability to assess application of these technologies.

• Advanced technology approaches (e.g., data and text analytics and artificial intelligence) and applications (e.g., data mining, risk communication) that enhance regulatory decision-making. Some specific areas of focus could be incorporating equipment failure trends, probabilistic risk assessment, and risk-informed decision- making in licensing, inspection, and other regulatory activities.

• Health physics and related radiation-protection specialties that support safety and environmental reviews of operating and advanced reactor design/siting, decommissioning, fuel management, and novel medical and industrial applications of nuclear materials. Specialties include radiation biology, waste management, environmental health, risk communication, radiation chemistry, radiation dosimetry, radiation ecology, epidemiology, and medical physics or radiation oncology/ technology for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Scholarship The primary objective is to support scholarships for nuclear science, engineering, health physics, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials. The nuclear-related discipline supported by this funding is intended to benefit the nuclear safety and security sector broadly. A listing of topics of interest are listed in the Program Objectives section of this Announcement.

Fellowship The primary objective is to support fellowships for nuclear science, engineering, technology, health physics, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials. The nuclear related discipline supported by this funding is intended to benefit the nuclear sector broadly. A listing of topics of interest are listed in the Program Objectives section of this Announcement.

Faculty Development The primary objective is to support faculty development for nuclear science, engineering, technology, health physics, nuclear fusion (fusion energy research) and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials. Proposed faculty can only be supported under one grant for up to one 3-year period or the grant expiration date. Supported faculty cannot be supported on consecutive/multiple grants.

The objectives are to attract and retain highly qualified individuals in academic teaching early in their pre-tenured careers. The program provides support to enable newer faculty to enhance their careers as professors and researchers in the university department where they are employed. The grants specifically target probationary, tenure-track faculty who are in the first two years of their acceptance into a tenure track position in the following academic areas: Nuclear, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Fire Protection, Geotechnical, Structural and Materials Sciences Engineering, and Health Physics (or related specialties as noted above). A listing of topics of interest are listed in the Program Objectives section of this Announcement. Grants may include support for developing applications for new research or continuing research projects in their areas of expertise.

The research supported by this announcement is intended to benefit the nuclear sector broadly.

Trade School and Community College Scholarships The primary objective is to support scholarships for nuclear science, engineering, technology, health physics, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials.

See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations, for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information

1. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required. However, institutions are encouraged to cost share or match NRC funding (non-Federal funds) to enhance the benefits of the NRC grant. For purposes of this announcement, cost sharing or matching means additional contributions (either financial or in-kind) that enhance the overall goals of the scholarship, fellowship, faculty development, and trade school and community college grant programs.

Cost sharing or matching may be used to build infrastructure in nuclear and related disciplines and may include a variety of areas ranging from support of students to facility improvements or expansion. A written agreement or letter, within the last 12 months, with a cost sharing or matching commitment is required at the time the application is submitted.

See Faculty Development for voluntary cost share or matching information. See 2 CFR

200.306 for additional information.

2. Service Agreements

Service agreements must be signed by the student (including contact information), institution coordinator, and countersigned by the NRC Program Manager, prior to the student receiving financial support. If an institution disburses NRC grant funds without prior approval from the NRC of the service agreement, the institution will be required to repay those funds to the NRC, and the grant may be terminated. The recipient institution must facilitate the distribution of the service agreement to the students and submission of the signed copies to the NRC Program Manager. The recipient institution should carefully explain the terms of the service agreement to each student prior to receipt of funding. If a recipient institution becomes aware that a student will leave the institution before graduation or is in violation of the service agreement, then the institution must immediately notify the NRC. Recipient institutions are also required to maintain accurate contact information for each student at the time of the application, during the full term of the scholarship, and for at least six (6) months after each student’s graduation.

NRC requires scholarship, fellowship, and trade school and community college scholarship grant students receiving funds under the NRC Scholarship, Fellowship, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship grant program serve six (6) months in nuclear-related employment for each full or partial year of academic support. A full year of academic support would include two full semesters and consecutive summer sessions (August to July). The employment may be with NRC, other Federal agencies, State agencies, Department of Energy laboratories, nuclear-related industry, or academia in the students’ sponsored fields of study. The service obligation begins after the student has completed their degree program. Recipients cannot impose additional requirements to scholarship, fellowship, and trade school and community college scholarship students beyond the NRC Service Agreement.

Students have up to 6 months after graduation to secure nuclear related employment. If a student does not obtain nuclear related employment in the 6 months’ timeframe, the student can request a waiver, or the NRC will seek repayment of funds.

Failure to complete service for any reason is a breach of the NRC Service Agreement.

The NRC will work with students to assist them, to the extent possible, to avoid a breach and fulfill the service obligation. A recipient should immediately contact the NRC if a situation arises in which a student is potentially unable to fulfill his/her service obligation.

Individuals who breach their NRC Service Agreement contract are subject to monetary damages as follows:

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(1) Failure to complete degree program – Institutions that support students who are dismissed from school for academic or disciplinary reasons or who voluntarily terminate the degree program before graduation from the institution for which the support was awarded will be in breach of the service agreement and will be liable to the NRC for all funds received by the student.

(2) Students who for any reason fail to comply with the terms and conditions of deferring or postponing the service obligation for nuclear related employment or who for any reason fail to begin or complete their service obligation after completion of degree program, will be in breach of their service obligation contract and will be liable to the NRC for repayment for all NRC funds paid to them on their behalf.

At this time, the amount owed to the NRC is a valid debt of the Federal government subject to all laws and provisions governing the administration of the debt. In accordance with Federal regulations, if payment is not received by the NRC within 30 days from notification of indebtedness, the debt becomes past due and will be subject to interest, penalties, and administrative charges incurred by the Federal government to service the debt. After 120 days of being past due, the debt will be referred to the Department of the Treasury for collection.

An installment repayment agreement may be requested by the debtor if a single lump sum payment is not possible. An installment repayment agreement can be up to 3 years in length and will include all applicable interest, penalties, and administrative charges incurred by the Federal government to service the debt. Failure by the debtor to meet the terms and conditions of the installment agreement will result in the debt being referred to the Department of the Treasury for collection and subject to the various collection actions administered by the Department of the Treasury.

The debtor may submit a request for an installment repayment agreement to the NRC Office of the Chief Financial Officer at (301) 415-7554 or by email at Fees.Resource@nrc.gov.

The request should include a justification to establish an installment agreement to repay the debt.

If a waiver is submitted by a student, the NRC may waive, in whole or in part, the service obligation, upon determining that compliance by the student is impractical. Waiver requests must be submitted in writing and must include the reason that the waiver is being sought and 3 examples of documentation (rejection notices) showing that the student attempted to secure nuclear related employment but was unable to do so. If the requested waiver is denied, a written request for payment may be issued to the student by the NRC under the provisions found in 10 CFR 15.21. The NRCs determination on a waiver request is final and not appealable.

See Section III.2.E, for citizenship requirements.

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

Section III. Eligibility Information mailto:Fees.Resource@nrc.gov

1. Eligible Institutions

The NRC encourages diversifying its grants through effective partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions and may receive funding support from this program.

However, no funds under this announcement are reserved or otherwise set-aside for any specific entity type.

Institutional representatives may submit an application(s) if the institution has any of the following characteristics:

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

• Private Institutions of Higher Education

• Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

• Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs)

• Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPIs)

Institutional representatives may submit an application(s) if the institution is a regionally accredited U.S. public or private institution of higher education, as defined in Section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1002). Affiliates that manage externally funded programs for Institutions of Higher Education are eligible to submit applications for this NOFO on behalf of the institution; however, award funds are only provided to the institution’s project.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.

Federal agencies, national laboratories, and Federally funded research and development centers are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this announcement. Individuals and other entities may not apply directly to the NRC for these grants.

2. Eligibility Requirements

2.A. Eligible Scholarship Students

The Scholarship Program provides funding to 4-year colleges and universities to award scholarships to individuals pursuing nuclear science, engineering, health physics, and other disciplines that may be beneficial in developing and maintaining a nuclear workforce. Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program offered by an accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Institutions receiving NRC grants must implement procedures to monitor the academic progress of the scholarship students. Grant funds must be awarded to students of junior and senior status. The application must clearly describe how the funds will be applied.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria to receive a scholarship:

1. Have at the time of application and maintain a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) overall http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/pdf/20_USC_1002.pdf https://oui.doleta.gov/dmstree/gal/gal99/gal_0299a.htm and within major.

2. Maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student (as defined by the institution), in accordance with the university’s policies and practices.

3. Be matriculated in a bachelor’s degree/major program in a nuclear or specifically identified (to NRC) nuclear-related discipline (as listed above) The degree program must be outlined in the proposal.

2.B. Eligible Fellowship Students

The Fellowship Program provides funding to colleges and universities to award fellowships to individuals pursuing nuclear science, engineering and other disciplines which may be beneficial in developing and maintaining a nuclear workforce. The NRC provides funds for fellowships in the fields of Nuclear, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Fire Protection, Geotechnical, Structural and Materials Sciences Engineering, as well as Health Physics (or related specialties as noted above). The NRC has interest in topics including but not limited to Fuels, Neutronics, Thermal-hydraulics, Accident-Progression (e.g., performance of safety relief valves), Consequence, Emergency Preparedness, and Radiation Protection Analysis; Radiochemistry, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Seismology, Fire Risk Analysis, advanced reactor (non-light water reactor) safety systems, health physics and radiation protection, and other related disciplines.

Students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program offered by an accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Institutions receiving NRC grants must implement procedures to monitor the academic progress of the fellowship students. The application must clearly describe how the funds will be applied.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria to receive a fellowship:

1. Have at the time of application and maintain a 3.3 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) overall and within major.

2. Maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student (as defined by the recipient), in accordance with the university’s policies and practices.

3. Be matriculated in a graduate degree program in a nuclear or specifically identified (to the NRC) nuclear-related discipline. The degree program must be specifically outlined in the proposal.

NOTE: Trade Schools and Community Colleges are not eligible for Fellowship grants.

2.C. Eligible Faculty Development Recipients

Eligible faculty development recipients are probationary, tenure-track faculty in the first 4 years of their career, who have been determined by the recipient institution to be committed to an academic career in Nuclear, Nuclear Fusion, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Fire Protection, Geotechnical, Structural and Materials Sciences Engineering, as well as Health Physics (or related specialties as noted above).

• Aging/degradation of nuclear plant systems, structures, and components.

• Digital engineering/analytics, advanced sensors and controls for nuclear applications.

• Advanced materials and manufacturing for nuclear applications.

• Advanced construction techniques for nuclear builds.

• Evaluation of technical gaps and major uncertainties related to risk-informed decision-making for areas such as complex all-hazard risk models, dynamic PRAs, and PRAs for advanced reactors.

• Human and organizational factors and human reliability analysis for advanced nuclear applications, including improved models for dependency, consideration of organizational factors, and dynamic methods.

• Characterization of low frequency, high consequence natural or industrial hazards for advanced nuclear applications.

• Characterization, handling, fabrication, transportation, storage, or disposal of fresh and spent nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants (including the various advanced reactor designs that are currently under development).

• Analyses, data and evaluations that will support an understanding of the safety, technical gaps and major uncertainties for (1) operating, small modular and advanced reactor designs with emphasis in the areas of fuel performance, fuel fragmentation relocation and disposal, natural circulation, boron dilution, neutronics, source term analysis, severe accident analysis and (2) fuel cycle technologies, with emphasis on experimental test and analytical model data to help validate the NRC’s scientific computer codes and ability to assess application of these technologies.

• Advanced technology approaches (e.g., data and text analytics and artificial intelligence) and applications (e.g., data mining, risk communication) that enhance regulatory decision-making. Some specific areas of focus could be incorporating equipment failure trends, probabilistic risk assessment, and risk-informed decision- making in licensing, inspection, and other regulatory activities.

• Health physics and related radiation-protection specialties that support safety and environmental reviews of operating and advanced reactor design/siting, decommissioning, fuel management, and novel medical and industrial applications of nuclear materials. Specialties include radiation biology, waste management, environmental health, risk communication, radiation chemistry, radiation dosimetry, radiation ecology, epidemiology, and medical physics or radiation oncology/technology for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

The application must describe how the institution will select the faculty participant, what level of support the institution will provide, the procedures that will be used to evaluate, and the type of follow-up that will be provided for the completion of the development plan. The application must also describe how it will work toward building institutional capacity once the participant completes their faculty development activities. A C.V. is required for each proposed faculty candidate, as well as upon selection of a faculty member(s), the recipient agrees to provide to the NRC with the selected faculty’s C.V. Proposed faculty can be supported for up to one 3-year period. The PI cannot be the faculty participant selected to receive support.

2.D. Eligible Trade School and Community College Scholarship Students

The Trade School and Community College scholarship program provides funding to institutions to award scholarships to individuals pursuing certifications or Associates degrees in disciplines that are beneficial in developing and maintaining a nuclear workforce.

Institutions receiving NRC grants must implement procedures to monitor the academic progress of the scholarship recipients. The application must clearly state how the funds will be applied.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria to receive a scholarship:

1. Maintain satisfactory academic progress in the student’s field of study.

2. Maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student (as defined by the recipient), in accordance with the institution’s policies and practices.

3. Be matriculated in a Certificate or Associates degree program for the field of nuclear-related study for which the scholarship was approved.

All institutions of higher education accredited by the Department of Education are eligible for this program.

NOTE: Trade Schools and Community Colleges are not eligible for Faculty Development grants.

2.E. Citizenship Requirement

1. Scholarships and Fellowships

Pursuant to Section 243 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, a student supported by a scholarship or fellowship must be a United States citizen. Students must also have full-time status at the recipient institution (universities, colleges, community colleges, and trade schools).

2. Faculty Development Grants Pursuant to Section 31b and 141b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, faculty supported by a faculty development grant must, at the time of application and for the duration of the grant period, be either:

(a) a United States citizen; or

(2) a non-citizen national of the United States (i.e., person born in outlying possessions of the United States such as American Samoa and Swains Island); or

(3) a non-citizen of the United States who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status) at the time of application and for the term of the grant.

Individuals on temporary or student visas, as well as refugees and asylees, are not eligible.

COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS

1) Scholarships and Fellowships

Students supported by a scholarship or fellowship must be United States citizens.

2) Faculty Development Grants

For faculty supported by a faculty development grant, grant recipient institutions are responsible to ensure that their foreign faculty and personnel (including PIs or Co-PIs) are not in violation of United States immigration laws and regulations, including employment authorization documents and visa requirements. Each institution receiving a faculty development grant under this award must ensure that foreign faculty supported are lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence at the time of application and for the duration of the grant period, as evidenced by Permanent Resident Form I-551 (Green Card) or must present other evidence from the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that employment will not affect his/her immigration status. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides information to grant recipients to help them understand the employment eligibility verification process for non-US citizens. This information can be found on their website, http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.

The NRC reserves the right to take any number of administrative actions (e.g., disallow costs, termination) should the recipient violate their responsibility under this clause.

Applicants shall include a certification statement regarding compliance with the citizenship requirement of this announcement. See Section IV.H.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

The institution may download an SF424 Grant Application Package and instructions for completing the SF424 forms for this NOFO by linking to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html and following the directions provided on that Web site. Institutions must complete a one-time registration at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html)

If the institution has questions regarding Grants.gov registration, refer 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 submitting an application and award, during performance, and through the end of the project period. The institution should allow processing time of at least 48 hours, when registering with SAM. If the institution is not currently registered, the NRC recommends that it consider registering immediately to avoid delays. The institution may obtain registration information at: http://www.sam.gov.

1. Request Application Information

The institution must download the SF-424 application forms and instructions to apply for this NOFO through Grants.gov/Apply.

2. Application Forms and Content

The institution prepares its application using the SF-424 application form. Both the application form and instructions for completing it can be downloaded from http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:Support@grants.gov https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

The SF-424 application has several components. An institution’s application is complete only if it includes the following components:

Required Components:

SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance - CFDA Number: 77.008 SF-424A: Budget Information - complete Sections A, B, C, D, E and F Certificate Regarding Lobbying Form SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if applicable

Allowable Costs: Allowable costs must be consistent with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E— COST PRINCIPLES, be well documented and fully justified for the activities proposed.

These costs include but are not limited to the following: materials, supplies, travel to professional meetings, support to defray student participation expenses, such as student compensation (when appropriate) and other student costs (e.g., fees, books, tuition and lab fees) for no more than the amounts specified in the section entitled “Budget and Project Period”. The recipient must provide documentation of tuition rates, if included in the application. Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds otherwise available at the applicant institution. It is recommended that the recipient consult NRC contacts identified in Section VII, if there are any questions regarding allowable costs.

Personnel: The PI 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. If mentoring interactions and other activities with students/participants are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties, then mentoring and other interactions with students/participants are non-reimbursable from grant funds. Limited administrative and clerical salary costs associated with the program may be proposed as direct charges to the grant and must be specifically identified and adequately justified.

Program Faculty/Mentors: Participating faculty/mentors should be actively engaged in mentoring, research or other scholarly activities related to the NRC grant funded project, or related disciplines.”

For Faculty Development grants only, graduate students may be included on applications, not to exceed 2 students per faculty participant supported. No undergraduate students are eligible to be supported under faculty development grants. Graduate students should not be listed as PIs, co-PIs, or senior personnel and their participation must directly relate to the faculty development plan. PIs must be formally affiliated with an accredited institution of higher education to be involved in this application. Personnel costs to support graduate students assisting the faculty being developed under the grant may be an international student as long as the student is lawfully admitted in the United States. The PI cannot be the faculty participant selected to receive support.

Fringe Benefits The recipient must provide a copy of the applicable fringe benefit rates. A description of how the cost was computed is required. Provide an explanation for rate changes or escalation, if any.

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Travel The recipient must provide a detailed cost breakdown for travel cost. Cost needs to be itemized.

Estimate the cost of all travel for each trip by destination, number of people and days, air fare, hotel, per diem, car rental, etc.

Equipment The recipient must provide an itemized list of equipment showing the cost for each item and an explanation for why the equipment is needed. Proposals requesting to purchase equipment must include equipment quotes or vendor agreements.

Supplies The recipient must provide an itemized list of supplies which includes the cost and quantity per item.

A basis for developing the cost estimate (vendor quotes, invoice prices, purchase order history, etc.)

must be included.

Other Direct Cost This section of the cost proposal includes all other directly related costs required in support of the program. A description for each cost is required along with how the cost was computed. A basis for developing the cost estimate (vendor quotes, invoice prices, purchase order history, etc.) must be included.

Indirect Cost/Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs A copy of the recipient’s current rate agreement is required in the application with the budget justification. Applicants will use their negotiated indirect rate agreements. F&A will be allowed in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306 & 2 CFR § 200.414.

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 educational programs at the applicant institution. Travel/virtual participation to the NRC to present research results and/or attend the NRC’s Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) is an allowable expense. These expenses must be itemized, as appropriate, in the SF424A 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 SF424A and in the proposed budget justification.

Recipient Commitment and Responsibilities: The recipient must demonstrate a commitment to the purposes of this NOFO in the fields of Nuclear, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Fire Protection, Geotechnical, Structural and Materials Sciences Engineering as well as Health Physics.

The NRC has interest in topics including but not limited to Fuels, Neutronics, Thermal-hydraulics, Accident-Progression (e.g., performance of safety relief valves), Consequence, Emergency Preparedness, and Radiation Protection Analysis; Radiochemistry, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Seismology, Fire Risk Analysis, advanced reactor (non-light water reactor), safety systems and other related disciplines. The PI and the recipient institution are expected to have or to develop an administrative structure that enables faculty, academic administrators, and others involved in the project to interact productively during the award period. Recipients will provide support for scholarship, fellowship, faculty development, and trade schools and community colleges to support individuals who successfully compete in a selection process proposed by the recipient. In a cooperative or partnership arrangement the recipient receiving the NRC grant is responsible for all support provided under the grant. For scholarships, fellowships and trade and community college scholarships the recipient must clearly describe the student support structure, outline plans to manage the program, provide a description of its selection criteria and process, provide a copy of https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=c71a8ba6c3931080ecfb3ffb0045f01c&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=c71a8ba6c3931080ecfb3ffb0045f01c&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1414&rgn=div8 course listings, and agree to provide the NRC with a list of students. Recipient institutions must agree to provide compliance monitoring of students’ academic performance.

Applications Involving Multiple Institutions: When multiple institutions are involved in a cooperative or partnership arrangement, one recipient institution must be designated as the prime institution and funding for the other institution(s) must be requested via a subcontract to be administered by the prime institution. The prime institution should submit its budget using the SF- 424A Budget component, including the subcontract(s) total amount. Contractual costs for support services are occasionally sufficiently high to warrant a categorical breakdown of costs. When this is the case, provide detailed information as part of the budget narrative. Letters of commitment between multiple institutions, signed by their respective authorized organization representatives, are required as part of the application.

All other institutions (subcontractors) should complete their individual SF-424A budget forms attached separately, and information concerning the consortium/subcontract budget must be provided in their budget narrative.

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3.A. for details.

3.A. Submission and Anticipated Start Dates

Release/Posted Date: 07-27-2021 Application Due Date: 10-04-2021 Estimated Start Date: 05-01-2022

3.A.1 Application Content

The recipient must download a grant application package from http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/download-application-package.html

Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Required Elements for Applications

A. Format:

Font Size, Style, and Color

• 11 point, Arial, black color (A Symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters.). This is a requirement for all pages included in the document, i.e., table of contents, references, etc.

Page Size and Margins

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

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

• NRC requires all text attachments to the SF424 application forms to be submitted as PDF files. Adobe PDF format is preferred.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/download-application-package.html

Footer

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

Attachments

• NRC requires all text attachments to the SF424 application forms to be submitted as separate individual PDF files. Adobe PDF format is preferred.

B. Executive Summary* (one-page maximum):

Describe the proposed project’s essential elements.

• Descriptive title of proposed project: NOTE: The applicant should describe its program as the University’s program and not NRC’s program.

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

• Name(s), address, email address and affiliations of other investigator/collaborative personnel who will contribute significantly to the project.

• The project’s total funding request.

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

Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or non-responsive will not be reviewed.

C. Project Description:

Applications must include and clearly identify the following elements in the Project Description section:

Scholarship and Fellowship Program

1. Describe the proposed program including the number and size of the scholarships or fellowships and associated institutions, if any.

2. Describe the recruitment activities and specific marketing strategies designed to attract a large and diverse pool of applicants.

3. Describe the selection process that will ensure the most qualified applicants are selected based on academic merit. State the management structure and the capability for administering the program.

4. Identify an evaluation plan that will provide information on the effectiveness of the project in attracting, preparing and retaining individuals in nuclear careers. All projects are expected to include an evaluation plan to measure the project’s impact and the effectiveness of proposed strategies in attracting, preparing, and retaining students. The evaluation plan should include a mechanism for tracking the scholarship and fellowship students as they fulfill their academic obligation and reporting to the NRC.

5. Provide a schedule of tuition fees and other pertinent costs for students who would be participating in this program.

6. State whether or not these scholarships or fellowships are contemplated as an integrated element of a State or regional strategic plan including innovative approaches covering such arrangements as consortia, partnerships with other institutions, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), shared/distance learning programs, etc. Post-Secondary Minority Institutions are listed at:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

7. State any arrangements with other non-Federal entities (State, local government or private) that provide additional support, typically in the form of cost sharing or matching, to the goals of this grant. A written cost sharing or matching agreement or letter is required with the application.

8. Institutions must require individual scholarship and fellowship students to accept the service agreement terms as defined in this NOFO.

Faculty Development Program

1. Describe the proposed faculty development program. Ensure that the faculty meets the eligibility timeframe.

2. Describe the selection process that will ensure that best-qualified applicants are selected based on potential capabilities to become tenured or research professors.

3. State the management structure and the capability for administering the program.

4. Identify the evaluation plan that will provide information on the effectiveness of the project in attracting, preparing, and retaining individuals in educational careers.

This plan should include methodologies for measuring the effectiveness of the faculty development program.

5. State any arrangements with other non-Federal entities that provide additional support, usually in the form of cost sharing or matching to the goals of this project. A written agreement or letter is required from the source of the matching funds.

Trade School and Community College Scholarship Program

1. Describe the proposed program including the number and size of the scholarships and associated institutions, if any. State the management structure and the capability for administering the program. Provide a schedule of tuition fees and other pertinent costs for students who would be participating in this program.

2. Describe the recruitment activities and specific marketing strategies designed to attract a large and diverse pool of student applicants. Describe the selection process that will ensure that the most qualified student applicants are selected based on academic merit, with consideration given to financial need and the goal of promoting the participation of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

3. Identify an evaluation plan that will provide information on the effectiveness of the project in attracting, preparing, and retaining individuals in nuclear careers. This plan should include methodologies for measuring the effectiveness of the program. The evaluation plan should include a mechanism for tracking the trade school and community college scholarship students as they fulfill their academic obligation and for reporting to the NRC.

4. State whether or not these scholarships are contemplated as an integrated element of a State or regional strategic plan including innovative approaches covering such arrangements as consortia, partnerships with other institutions (including Minority Supporting Institutions), shared or distance learning programs, etc. Post-Secondary Minority Institutions are listed at:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

5. State any arrangements with other non-Federal entities that provide additional http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html support, usually in the form of cost sharing or matching, to the goals of this grant (a written agreement or letter is required with the application).

Institutions must agree to require individual trade school and community college scholarship students to accept the service agreement terms as defined in this NOFO.