FY24 NFRA NOFO FAQs 05August2024.pdf

August 5, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP) Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Q1: On page 6 of the NFRA NOFO it is stated: “Multi-university proposals with a collaborative laboratory partner are allowable under the NFRA structure.” Is this incorrect?

A1: This is correct. The NOFO was amended and has been posted on Grants.gov. Specifically, clarifying language was added on page 6 (paragraph A.10.b.2.) which now reads:

Multi-university proposals with a collaborative national or defense laboratory partner are allowable under the NFRA structure. The multi-university proposals are intended to allow multiple universities to collaborate with one another and with one national or defense laboratory partner. Thus, universities interested in the multi-university proposals must submit individual proposals and reference other collaborating universities and the national or defense laboratory partner with which they intend to work. As an example, a multi-university proposal may include University A, which proposes undergraduate student scholarship, and University B, which proposes graduate fellowship. Both University A and B submit their individual proposals referencing their collaboration, as well as their collaboration with a national or defense laboratory.

Another amendment was made on page 22 (paragraph D.10.a. “SF-424A Research & Related (R&R) Budget.”)

Q2: We are moving forward with a collaborative proposal but have an additional question regarding the length requirement. The NOFO states that the collective sections (Narrative, Mentoring Plan, Key Personnel (biosketch) sections) should not exceed 15 pages. Can you confirm that this submission, in total, is limited to 15 pages?

A2: That is indeed correct. As stated in Section D.10.b of the NOFO, “High-risk proposals with the potential for high impact are encouraged. The Project Narrative (i.e., Proposed Research, Management Plan, and References Cited sections), the Mentoring Plan, and the Key Personnel sections collectively should not exceed a total of fifteen (15) pages.” This means only the sections cited must not exceed a total of 15 pages, but the whole NOFO application will be much longer. As stated in Section D.10.a of the NOFO, there are other online forms that need to be submitted with the application. For example, in previous years, NOFO applications were 80- 90 pages but the sections you referenced were limited to 15 pages.

August 5, 2024

Q3: Is it a requirement that the graduate students must already be selected by the academic institution at the time of application or are we able to select and name them later?

A3: The students must be identified and named at the time of application. However, the student can sign the Terms of Appointment at the time of award. (See Section C.4.I, Eligibility Information/Other Eligibility Criteria / Restrictions /Terms of Appointment (TOAs).

Q4: What occurs if the students have not been named at the time of award?

A4: If the students have not been named, then the application will not be considered.