FY25 Nuclear Safety Training Program RFI NOI - FINAL.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION &

NOTICE OF INTENT

DE-RFI/NOI-0003410

Base: July 26, 2024

Nuclear Safety Training and Workforce Development Program

Office of Nuclear Energy

1. Introduction

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet United States (U.S.) energy, environmental, and economic needs. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, to help realize the potential of advanced technology, and to leverage the unique role of the Government in spurring innovation:

1. Enable continued operation of existing U.S. nuclear reactors.

2. Enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

3. Develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles and spent nuclear fuel management options.

NE strives to promote integrated and collaborative research conducted by national laboratory, university, industry, and international partners under the direction of NE’s programs, and to deploy innovative nuclear energy technologies to the market and to optimize the benefits of nuclear energy.

The explanatory statement accompanying Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 reads as follows:

“Section 311 of the agreement provides up to $100,000,000 to implement a new nuclear safety training program. The Department is directed to make one or more cost-shared awards not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. The program shall require cost share of at least 50 percent of the total program costs. The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. In implementing the program, the Department shall give priority to universities located within 50 miles of reactors that were constructed prior to 1980 and have had significant safety issues in the last five decades. A successful applicant shall have clearly defined goals and objectives; identify and address the gap between available skilled workers and the demand for the training program; and lead to an industry recognized nuclear reactor safety credential to meet demand.”

2. Requested Information

This Request for Information (RFI)/Notice of Intent (NOI) is used solely for information capture and planning purposes and does not constitute a DOE solicitation, nor does it relate to any current solicitation. This RFI/NOI is issued with the intent of obtaining information and informing the community of NE’s anticipation to issue a future solicitation.

NE seeks ideas, input, comments, feedback, and recommendations from interested parties for future competitive workforce development programs focused on nuclear safety training for the workforce that supports the continued safe operation of existing nuclear power plants. Information received in response to this RFI/NOI may or may not be utilized to inform future DOE solicitations.

3. Cover Page

Responses should include a cover page containing the following information:

• RFI/NOI title

• Respondent name and address

• Names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for the principal points of contact

• Date of submittal

4. Funding Opportunity Announcement Recommendations

NE is requesting that participants in this RFI/NOI consider providing input to the following questions:

A. What are your current nuclear workforce gaps and how can they be addressed through the implementation of a nuclear safety training and workforce development program?

B. What future nuclear workforce gaps do you anticipate for operating existing reactors and how can they be addressed through the implementation of a nuclear safety training and workforce development program?

C. Describe the status of your regional nuclear industry, including anticipated deployments.

D. Are there specific training topics related to nuclear safety on which a workforce program should focus its efforts? Please describe.

E. Provide examples of effective nuclear safety training and workforce development programs within private industry. What are the positive attributes of such programs? Include relevant links to any identified programs.

F. Identify and describe any current industry recognized nuclear reactor safety training certification programs or any efforts to develop new safety training certifications. Include relevant links to any identified programs or efforts.

G. Recognizing that a solicitation could be structured for various approaches (i.e., industry-partnered consortia for curriculum development and certification programs; partnerships with state programs; targeted curriculum development for two-year colleges, trade schools, and career and technical education programs), please comment on considerations for a cost share requirement for awards, including roles of universities and other education providers.

Responses may include considerations of the development of programs leading to industry-valued credentials, as well as addressing recruitment and program quality, suitability, and impact.

H. If a solicitation is issued, resulting programs will be expected to endure beyond the award period. What are viable approaches to sustaining a nuclear safety training program without government cost share over the long term? What are the challenges?

5. Participant Eligibility for Response to the RFI

Information is being sought from any interested party.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

Participants are advised that RFI/NOI responses should be submitted without any restrictive markings. However, if restrictions are required to fully explain a response, the participant is responsible for marking the cover page and any and all submittal documents appropriately.

Respondents are strongly discouraged from placing any restrictive markings on submissions as they may limit NE’s ability to use the submitted information.

7. Communications Protocol

Responses must be submitted to NSTP@id.doe.gov.

NOTE: This announcement does not impose any obligation on the United States Government, nor does it signify any intent for a contract, assistance agreement, or other form of an award.

8. Schedule

Submission Time and Date Submissions are due within 30 days of posting this RFI/NOI. The RFI/NOI will close on August 26, 2024 at 5:00pm ET.

9. Disclaimers

NE does not plan to send individual acknowledgements or replies to respondents to the RFI but may conduct one-on-one meetings with respondents to this request if clarification or additional information is required to improve NE’s understanding of the comments provided. If NE decides to hold one-on-one meetings, respondents will be contacted. The decision to meet with a respondent one-on-one has no bearing on the worthiness of its RFI/NOI submittal or on any future offerings.

Any response to this RFI/NOI is voluntary and does not commit the Government to any expense or obligation. This request does not impose any obligation on the Government or signify a firm intention to enter into a contract or financial assistance award. No costs associated with responding to this RFI/NOI or participating in any subsequent meetings will be borne by the Government.

NE does not intend to publish the results of the responses to this RFI/NOI. Specific responses to this RFI/NOI will not be made public in an effort to protect any propriety company information.

Respondents are advised to clearly and properly mark any propriety or restricted data contained within their submission so it can be identified and protected.

Not responding to this RFI/NOI does not preclude participation in any future and potential solicitations.