FY26 Scientific Infrastructure Support for CINR NOFO Part 1 - Amendment 1 - 03MAR2026.pdf

Financial Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity

Part 1

Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho Operations Office Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0003541

Application due: April 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Modifications to this NOFO will be posted on NEUP.gov and Grants.gov. Grants.gov will automatically notify applicants when a NOFO modification is processed. Applicants must be registered to this NOFO in Grants.gov to receive email notifications. See Registration Requirements in Part 2 of this NOFO.

Modifications:

Mod.

No.

Date Description of Modification

001 03/03/26 Clarify and revise the bullet points in Section 3E (Program Description – Applications Specifically Not of Interest).

Table of Contents

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Key Facts

1. Funding Details

2. Period of Performance

B. Executive Summary C. Agency Contact Information

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

1. Restricted Eligibility

2. Domestic Entities

3. Foreign Entity Participation

4. Participant Limitations

5. Performance of Work in the U.S

6. Ineligible Participants

7. Entity of Concern Prohibition

B. Limitation on Number of Applications Eligible for Review C. Cost Sharing

1. Cost Share Requirements

2. Unallowable Cost Share Sources

D. FFRDC Eligibility Criteria

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Program Purpose B. Program Goals and Objectives C. Expected Performance Goals D. Topic Areas E. Applications Specifically Not of Interest F. Statutory Authority

IV. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORM

A. Summary B. Application Content Requirements

1. Covered Individual Definition, Designation, and Responsibility

2. Summary of Application Requirements

3. Technical Volume

C. Funding Restrictions

1. Build America Requirement for Infrastructure Projects

V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

A. Required Registrations

1. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

2. NEUP.gov

B. Application Package C. Submission Date and Times D. Intergovernmental Review

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Standards for Application Evaluation B. Responsiveness Review C. Review Criteria

1. Compliance Criteria

2. Technical Review Criteria

D. Other Selection Factors

VII. SELECTION AND AWARD NOTICES

VIII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Real Property and Equipment

2. Rights in Technical Data

3. Cost Share Payment

B. Questions and Support

1. Questions

2. Support

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

Notice of Funding Opportunity Part 1 Before You Begin

Before You Begin

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity To reduce the burden on applicants in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process and limit the length of the NOFO information requests, DOE has separated the NOFO into two parts.

The NOFO Part 1 describes the specific DOE programmatic goals and evaluation criteria, eligibility, and other components that are specific to each funding opportunity. The NOFO Part 2 includes the fixed DOE requirements that generally do not change from NOFO to NOFO, including standard information for the application phase, expectations for award negotiations, and post-award requirements. Applicants must review both the NOFO Part 1 and the NOFO Part 2 prior to applying. To facilitate navigation, you will find links throughout this document to additional information found in Part 2.

There are several required one-time actions applicants must take before applying to this NOFO. Some of these actions may take several weeks, so it is vital applicants build in enough time to complete them.

Failure to complete these actions could interfere with application or negotiation deadlines or the ability to receive an award if selected. If you have previously completed the necessary registrations, make sure your registration is active and up to date. All registrations are free. Please refer to NOFO Part 2, Get Registered, for additional information.

This announcement is published in conjunction with NOFO Part 2 Version 2.0.

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Section I: Basic Information

I. Basic Information

A. Key Facts

Issuing Agency

Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office

Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research

Announcement Type

Initial

Funding Opportunity Number

DE-FOA-003541

Instrument

Grant

Assistance Listing Number

81.121

Opportunity Description

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research. It is referred to in this document as the “CINR Infrastructure NOFO.”

Program Goals & Objective(s)

The goals of this NOFO include: (1) Supporting, maintaining, or enhancing an institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies; (2) building an institution’s research or education capabilities; and (3) enhancing an institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to NE’s broader mission.

The objectives of this NOFO shall establish and/or enhance nuclear research capabilities at U.S. universities and colleges, especially in support of:

(1) Upgrading and improving U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors;

(2) Obtaining equipment and instrumentation that significantly improves or expands the research, instruction, training capabilities, and/or operating capabilities; and

(3) Contributing to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure.

KEY DATES

Notice of Funding Opportunity Issue Date:

December 15, 2025

Application Deadline:

April 9, 2026

Anticipated Selection Notification Date:

September 30, Anticipated Award Date:

February 1, 2027

Estimated Period of Performance:

Anticipate 1 year

Topic Areas • Topic Area 1: Reactor Upgrades (RU)

• Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)

Eligible Applicants

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126 (b), Competition, DOE is restricting applicant eligibility for this NOFO to:

• Specific U.S. Universities and Colleges with a research reactor (listed in the table below) under Topic Area 1:

Reactor Upgrades (RU)

• All U.S. Universities and Colleges under Topic Area 2:

General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)

1 Idaho State University 13 The Ohio State University

2 Kansas State University 14 University of California, Davis

3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 15 University of California, Irvine

4 Missouri University of Science & Technology 16 University of Florida

5 North Carolina State University 17 University of Maryland, College Park

6 Oregon State University 18 University of Massachusetts, Lowell

7 Pennsylvania State University 19 University of Missouri, Columbia

8 Purdue University 20 University of New Mexico

9 Reed College 21 University of Texas at Austin

10 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 22 University of Utah

11 Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center 23 University of Wisconsin, Madison

12 Texas A&M University 24 Washington State University

Application Site and Helpdesk

Application Site: https://proposals.inl.gov Helpdesk: NEUP@inl.gov https://proposals.inl.gov/ mailto:NEUP@inl.gov

1. Funding Details

Multiple Topic Areas Approximate total available funding including all topic areas: $5,000,000 in FY 2026.

Topic Area 1: University Research Reactor Upgrades (RU) Infrastructure Support

• Approximate total available funding: $2,500,000 in FY 2026.

• Approximate number of awards: 3 to 5.

• Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $0 - $1,500,000.

• Minimum cost share required: Cost Sharing is not required, but is encouraged.

• Approximate award project period: 12 months (longer project periods are allowable).

• Anticipated length of budget periods: 12 months.

Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI) Support for Universities

• Approximate total available funding: $2,500,000 in FY 2026.

• Approximate number of awards: no less than 1 to 10.

• Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $250,000.

• Minimum cost share required: Cost Sharing is not required, but is encouraged, for requests less than or equal to $250,000; a 1-to-1 Cost Match is required for requests greater than $250,000.

• Approximate award project period: 12 months (longer project periods are allowable).

• Anticipated length of budget periods: 12 months.

DOE reserves the right to make more or fewer (or even no awards) depending on funding availability and/or the quality of the applications.

2. Period of Performance DOE anticipates making awards with an estimated project performance period of 1 year, beginning February 1, 2027. Additional time, if needed, may be requested, and justified in the application.

B. Executive Summary The development of nuclear energy-related infrastructure and basic capabilities in the research community is necessary to promote Research and Development (R&D) that supports nuclear science and engineering (NS&E), the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) mission, and the nation’s nuclear energy challenges. Through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), the Department of Energy (DOE) intends to facilitate the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policymakers through graduate and undergraduate study, two-year programs, and R&D that is relevant to the NE and the U.S. nuclear energy industry in general.

The specific goals of the Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research NOFO (referred to as “CINR Infrastructure NOFO”) are:

• To support, maintain, or enhance the institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;

• Build the institution’s research or education capabilities; and

• Enhance the institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to NE’s mission.

The following targeted objectives within this CINR Infrastructure NOFO will aid in achieving these goals:

1. Upgrade and improve U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors. Upgrades for a research reactor that include the acquisition of equipment and/or instrumentation for activities related to safety, performance, control, or operational reliability. For example, equipment acquired for security/safety enhancements required by the federal/state/local regulatory agencies are permitted.

2. Obtain equipment and instrumentation that significantly improves or expands the research, instruction, training capabilities, and/or operating capabilities related to NE program missions (e.g., utilization or handling of radiological or radioactive materials). For example, this may include radiation detection and measurement equipment.

3. Contribute to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure.

Requests should focus on individual, discrete, definable items, or capabilities. An applicant must demonstrate the educational or R&D connection between requested pieces of equipment to support the NE mission. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest.

Additionally, requests should not result in the duplication of existing capabilities. To review existing NE R&D capabilities in the U.S., refer to the Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database (NEID), available at https://nsuf.inl.gov under Resources (account login required). Information on current NE research programs can be found at NE’s website: https://energy.gov/ne.

C. Agency Contact Information U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83415

For questions relating to this specific NOFO, please send emails to NEUP@inl.gov.

DISCLAIMER: Applicants are discouraged from submitting information considered proprietary unless it is deemed essential for proper evaluation of the application. If the application contains information that the applicant organization considers to be trade secrets, information that is commercial or financial, or information that is privileged or confidential, the pages containing that information must be identified as specified in the application instructions. When such information is included in the application, it will be withheld from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information Act, with the understanding that the information will be used or disclosed only for evaluation of the application. The information contained in the application will be protected by DOE from unauthorized disclosure, consistent with the need for merit review of applications of financial assistance awards to assure the integrity of the competitive process and the accuracy and completeness of the information. If a federal financial assistance award is made as a result of or in connection with an application, the federal government has the right to use or disclose the information to the extent authorized by law. This restriction does not limit the Federal Government’s right to use the information if it is obtained without restriction from another source.

https://nsuf.inl.gov/ https://energy.gov/ne

Section II: Eligibility

II. Eligibility

To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation and ineligible for any award. DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this NOFO must be submitted. The decision whether to apply in response to this NOFO lies solely with the applicant. The information included here is specific to eligibility requirements for this NOFO. For eligibility requirements applicable to all NOFOs, please consult the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility.

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

1. Restricted Eligibility In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126 (b), Competition, DOE is restricting applicant eligibility for this NOFO as follows:

• Topic Area 1: Reactor Upgrades (RU): Specific U.S. Universities and Colleges1 with a research reactor (listed below) are eligible to submit applications for Topic Area 1. This restriction ensures the NEUP supports the continued safe and secure operations of university research reactors in support of university research, collaborations with industry and national laboratories, and training and educating the next generation nuclear workforce.

# University # University 1 Idaho State University 13 The Ohio State University 2 Kansas State University 14 University of California, Davis 3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 15 University of California, Irvine

4 Missouri University of Science & Technology 16 University of Florida

5 North Carolina State University 17 University of Maryland, College Park 6 Oregon State University 18 University of Massachusetts, Lowell 7 Pennsylvania State University 19 University of Missouri, Columbia 8 Purdue University 20 University of New Mexico 9 Reed College 21 University of Texas at Austin

10 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 22 University of Utah 11 Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center 23 University of Wisconsin, Madison 12 Texas A&M University 24 Washington State University

1 “U.S. Universities and Colleges” is defined consistent with the meaning of “institution of higher education” as set forth in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a).

• Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI): All institutions of higher education2 are eligible to submit applications for Topic Area 2. This restriction ensures the NEUP supports university research, collaborations with industry and national laboratories, and training and educating the next generation nuclear workforce.

2. Domestic Entities Domestic entities are eligible to apply as recipients. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a prime recipient of this NOFO:

• U.S. Universities and Colleges.

There are no subrecipients allowed for this NOFO, as defined by 2 CFR 200.331.

To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States or under the laws of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.

3. Foreign Entity Participation Foreign entities are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient. No U.S. Government funding will be provided to entities incorporated outside of the U.S. or to a foreign government or any entity owned or controlled by a foreign government. Foreign government ownership means direct ownership of the applicant entity, its parent organization (e.g., trust, holding company, corporation, etc.), and any and all other entities in the corporate structure regardless of the applicant entity’s place of incorporation and operation. NE will evaluate the benefit and contribution of any such proposed partnerships as part of its evaluation of the relevancy to the NE mission.

4. Participant Limitations DOE FFRDCs3, Non-DOE FFRDCs, and Federal agencies and instrumentalities are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

5. Performance of Work in the U.S.

All work for awards under this NOFO must be performed in the U.S.

6. Ineligible Participants The following entities are ineligible for participation in this NOFO as a recipient or subcontractor.

• In accordance with 2 CFR 200.214, entities banned from doing business with the U.S.

Government such as entities debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participating in federal programs.

• Entities identified on Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control Treasury’s Sanctions Program Specially Designated Nationals list are prohibited from doing business with

2 “Institution of higher education” is defined in 34 CFR 600.4. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part- 600/subpart-A/section-600.4 3 FFRDCs are public-private partnerships that conduct research for the U.S. Government. A listing of FFRDCs can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-600/subpart-A/section-600.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-600/subpart-A/section-600.4 http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/ the U.S. Government and are not eligible. See OFAC - Sanctions List Service (https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList).

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

7. Entity of Concern Prohibition

Entities of Concern are prohibited from participating in projects selected under this NOFO (see NOFO Part 2, Eligibility, Other Eligibility Information, Entity of Concern Prohibition section for details and definitions).

B. Limitation on Number of Applications Eligible for Review Topic Area 1: Reactor Upgrades (RU) An eligible applicant may submit only one application to this topic area per research reactor for this NOFO. If an entity submits more than one full application, the DOE will only review the last submission.

Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI) An eligible applicant may submit only one application to this topic area. If an entity submits more than one full application, the DOE will only review the last submission.

C. Cost Sharing Applicants are expected to follow through on estimated cost share commitments proposed in their applications if selected for award negotiations. Please refer to the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility for more information on Cost Sharing.

1. Cost Share Requirements If cost share is proposed under this NOFO, the cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.

Topic Area 1: RU Cost sharing is encouraged but not required for this topic area. Any cost sharing proposal must be included in the application. Applicants are bound by the cost share proposed in their application if selected for award negotiations.

Topic Area 2: GSI Cost sharing is required for applications that propose project costs that exceed $250,000 on a 50% (e.g., 1-to-1 cost match) basis for every dollar above $250,000. For applications requesting less than $250,000 in total project costs, cost sharing is encouraged but not required. Any cost sharing proposal must be included in the application. Applications that do not meet the minimum required cost share will be deemed ineligible during the initial compliance review and will not be further reviewed. Applicants are bound by the cost share proposed in their application if selected for award negotiations.

If cost-share is proposed, the cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. The cost share percentage is calculated by dividing the cost share by the total allowable project costs for the award where the total allowable project costs include government share and cost share https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList

To help applicants calculate proper cost share amounts, DOE has included a cost share information sheet and sample cost share calculation in the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility—Cost Sharing, Cost Share Calculation Examples.

2. Unallowable Cost Share Sources The unallowable cost share sources identified here are specific to this announcement. Refer to NOFO Part 2, Eligibility-Cost Sharing, Unallowable Cost Share Sources for unallowable cost share sources applicable to all NOFOs.

D. FFRDC Eligibility Criteria DOE AND Non-DOE FFRDCs are not eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient.

Section III: Program Description

III. Program Description

A. Program Purpose The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) program purpose is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental and economic needs. NE enables innovation, supports unique research infrastructure, and solves crosscutting challenges facing the nuclear energy sector through research, development and demonstration. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:

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

• Enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

• Develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles.

• Maintain U.S. leadership in nuclear energy technology.

Investing in the next generation of nuclear energy leaders and advancing university-led nuclear innovation is vital to fulfilling NE's mission, which is primarily accomplished through NE’s Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). NEUP was established in 2009 to consolidate NE’s university support and enable the integration of university research within NE’s technical programs. Through various competitive award opportunities, the program engages with U.S. universities and colleges to conduct research and development (R&D), enhance infrastructure, and support student education, thereby contributing to the development of a world-class nuclear energy and workforce capability.

B. Program Goals and Objectives DOE has initiated a priority effort to develop and maintain a national R&D framework to achieve NE’s missions, requiring an integrated approach involving people, tools, facilities, and knowledge, tied to strategic partnerships. Experimental infrastructure (i.e., tools and facilities) is a critical piece of this framework. The development of nuclear energy-related infrastructure and basic capabilities in the research community is necessary to promote R&D that supports nuclear science and engineering (NS&E), NE’s mission, and the nation’s nuclear energy challenges. Accordingly, the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) intends to facilitate the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policymakers through graduate and undergraduate study, two-year programs, and R&D that is relevant to the DOE and the U.S. nuclear energy industry in general.

This NOFO is seeking applications that address the following key goals:

• Supporting, maintaining, or enhancing an institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;

• Build an institution’s research or education capabilities; and

• Enhancing an institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to NE’s broader mission.

The objectives of this NOFO are to establish and/or enhance nuclear research capabilities at U.S.

universities and colleges, especially in support of:

(1) Upgrade and improve U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors. Upgrades for a research reactor that include the acquisition of equipment and/or instrumentation for activities related to safety, performance, control, or operational reliability. For example, equipment acquired for security/safety enhancements required by the federal/state/local regulatory agencies are permitted.

(2) Obtain equipment and instrumentation that significantly improves or expands the research, instruction, training capabilities, and/or operating capabilities related to NE program missions (e.g., utilization or handling of radiological or radioactive materials). For example, this may include radiation detection and measurement equipment.

(3) Contribute to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure.

Detailed technical descriptions of the specific Topic Areas are provided in the Program Goals and Objectives section below.

C. Expected Performance Goals Applications for both Topic Areas should focus on individual, discrete, definable items, or capabilities.

An applicant must demonstrate the educational or R&D connection between requested pieces of equipment toward a key objective or outcome in support of the NE mission. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest. Additionally, requests should not result in the duplication of existing capabilities. To review existing NE R&D capabilities in the U.S., refer to the Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database (NEID), available at https://nsuf.inl.gov under Resources (account login required). Information on current NE research programs can be found at NE’s website:

https://energy.gov/ne.

Specific quantitative performance goals are dependent on each eligible applicant’s proposed capabilities. However, the expected qualitative performance goals for each Topic Area are as follows:

Topic Area 1: Reactor Upgrades (RU)

• Improvements to the safety, security, and operational reliability of university research reactors.

Applications addressing those needs will be given highest priority.

• Procurement of spare parts and associated hardware for research reactor control consoles.

These systems are vital for continued safe and reliable reactor operation. Replacements often take months from order to delivery. Applications to support the continued long-term operation of the university research reactor by purchasing spare parts, subsystems, channels, and detectors are encouraged.

• Procurement of reactor infrastructure that supports the sharing and use of equipment and instrumentation by multiple campuses of a university or multiple universities is encouraged.

Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)

• Procurement of equipment, software, instrumentation, and associated non-reactor upgrade requests that support nuclear energy-related R&D or education.

• Procurement of equipment and instrumentation for specialized facilities, classrooms, and teaching laboratories, and non-reactor NS&E research.

• Procurement of infrastructure that supports the sharing and use of equipment and instrumentation by multiple campuses of a university, multiple universities, or with national laboratories is encouraged.

https://energy.gov/ne

• Procurement of infrastructure that supports existing or future Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) capabilities at institutions of higher education is encouraged.

NE reserves the right to respond to potential shifts in priorities that may be driven by events, policy developments, or Congressional/budget direction. NE will factor such considerations into decisions related to the timing and scale of award announcements associated with this NOFO.

D. Topic Areas Topic Area 1: Reactor Upgrades (RU)

E. Applications Specifically Not of Interest The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered (Please also refer to the Responsiveness Review section below):

• Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in the Program Goals and Objectives section above

• Applications including several uncorrelated equipment procurement, installation and/or upgrade requests

• Applications that describe performing actions that result in duplicating existing capabilities

• Applications involving the planning or construction of new university nuclear reactors will not be considered

• Applications including costs for the following activities will not be allowed:

o Routine operation and maintenance of equipment o Upgrades to increase operational profit or support for commercial activities o Indirect costs o Hiring or other human capital costs o Installation costs for equipment beyond vendor’s standard installation o Institution specific costs not specific to the equipment/instrumentation (e.g. costs for vendor safety/health requirements)

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

• Applications submitted under Topic Area 1: RU requesting equipment and associated upgrades not directly related to the eligible applicant’s research reactor.

• Applications submitted under Topic Area 2: GSI requesting equipment and associated upgrades directly related to the eligible applicant’s research reactor.

F. Statutory Authority The programmatic authorizing statute is Section 951(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16271(a). Additionally, 42 U.S.C. § 16274 and 31 U.S.C. § 6304 apply to this NOFO.

Awards made under this announcement will fall under the purview of 2 CFR Part 200 as adopted and supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910.

Section IV: Application Content and Form

IV. Application Content and Form

This section includes application information specific to this NOFO Part 1. Refer to the NOFO Part 2, Application Content and Form for standard information that applies to all DOE NOFOs such as formatting and content requirements, and funding restrictions.

A. Summary The application process includes one submission phase: Full Application. Neither letters of intent nor concept papers are required.

Application Submission Phase Eligibility for Submission

Application Must be submitted by the specified due date and time to be eligible for comprehensive merit review.

B. Application Content Requirements Each application must be limited to a single concept. Applications must conform to the following requirements and must not exceed the stated page limits. Please refer to the NOFO Part 2, Application Content and Form for a complete list of application requirements. Detailed guidance on the content and form of NOFO-specific requirements is provided following the Summary of Application Requirements table below.

1. Covered Individual Definition, Designation, and Responsibility Several of the Application Content Requirements listed below and in the NOFO Part 2 are required of covered individuals.

For the purposes of this NOFO, a Covered Individual means an individual who (a) contributes in a substantive, meaningful way to the development or execution of the scope of work of a project proposed for funding by DOE, and (b) is designated as a covered individual by DOE. Often, these individuals have doctoral or other professional degrees, although individuals at the master’s level may be considered covered individuals if their involvement meets this definition. Consultants, graduate students, and those with a postdoctoral role also may be considered covered individuals if they meet this definition.

DOE designates as covered individuals any principal investigator (PI); project director (PD); co-principal investigator (Co-PI); co-project director (Co-PD); project manager; and any individual regardless of title that is functionally performing as a PI, PD, Co-PI, Co-PD, or project manager.

The applicant is responsible for assessing the applicability of (a) above, against each person listed on the application. Further, the applicant is responsible for identifying any such individual to DOE for designation as a covered individual, if not already designated by DOE as described above.

The applicant’s submission of a current and pending support disclosure and/or biosketch/resume for a particular person serves as an acknowledgement that DOE designates that person as a covered individual.

DOE may further designate covered individuals during award negotiations or the award period of performance.

2. Summary of Application Requirements The table below summarizes the required application documents.

Component File Format

Page Limit

File Name

Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement N/A n/a Checkbox acknowledgement Application for Federal Assistance

(SF-424)

PDF n/a FY26 SF424 [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Project/Performance Site Location(s) PDF n/a FY26 LOW [TRACKING ID#].pdf Project Summary/Abstract PDF 1 FY26 Abstract [TRACKING ID#].pdf Project Summary Slide PDF 1 FY26 Slide [TRACKING ID#].pdf Technical Volume (previously referred to as Project Narrative)

PDF 8 pages FY26 Technical Volume [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Resumes (for each covered individual)

PDF 3 pages each

FY26 Resume [LAST NAME] [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

MS

Excel n/a FY26 Budget SF424A [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Cost Sharing Letters of Commitment PDF 1 page each

FY26 Cost Share LOCs [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Budget Justification PDF n/a FY26 Budget Justification [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Vendor Quotes PDF n/a FY26 Vendor Quotes [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Current & Pending Support (for each covered individual)

PDF n/a FY26 Support [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice PDF n/a FY26 PDFN [TRACKING ID#].pdf Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (if applicable)

PDF n/a FY26 SF-LLL [TRACKING ID#].pdf

Transparency of Foreign Connections PDF n/a FY26 TFC [TRACKING ID#].pdf Impacted Indian Tribe Documentation PDF n/a FY26 Impacted Indian Tribes

[TRACKING ID#].pdf

3. Technical Volume The Technical Volume must conform to the following content and form requirements. This volume must address the technical review criteria as discussed in the Technical Review Criteria section below.

Applicants must provide sufficient citations and references to justify the claims and approaches made in the Technical Volume (e.g., specific reactor Technical Specifications, 10 CFR 50.59 justifications, etc.).

However, DOE and reviewers are under no obligation to review cited sources.

The Technical Volume to the application may not be more than 8 pages, including the cover page, table of contents, and all citations, charts, graphs, maps, photos, or other graphics, and must include all information below. The applicant should consider the weighting of each of the technical review criteria (see Technical Review Criteria section) when preparing the Technical Volume.

Technical Volume Content Requirements Overview

Section Approximate Percent Content of the Technical Volume

Cover Page and Table of Contents N/A

Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

N/A

Project Goals and Objectives 30%

Schedule and Task Descriptions 40%

Relevance and Outcomes/Impacts 20%

Roles of Participants 5%

Facilities, Complementary Equipment, and Other Resources

5%

NOTE: Each technical review criterion is identified in the following recommended (but not required) technical volume outline and content percentages by volume below:

(1) Cover Page:

The cover page must include all the following:

• The project title;

• Specific NOFO topic areas (if applicable);

• Technical and business POCs (e-mail addresses and telephone numbers);

• The project team, including the names of the PI and key personnel, entity type and names of all team member organizations where applicable;

• The project location(s);

• The proposed total federal funding level, cost share and period of performance;

• The proposed federal funding level and cost share for each project participant; and

• Statements regarding confidentiality, if applicable.

(2) Table of Contents: Applicant to capture, at a minimum, all the required sections identified in this table. The Table of Contents can be included on the Cover Page.

(3) Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects. On or before the second (2) page of the narrative, include a short statement on whether the project will involve the construction, alteration, maintenance, and/or repair of public infrastructure in the United States. See Build America, Buy America (https://www.energy.gov/management/build-america-buy-america) for applicable definitions and other information to inform this statement. NOTE: The applicant must assume that the Build America, Buy America Act requirements are applicable to the purchase of equipment.

https://www.energy.gov/management/build-america-buy-america

(4) Project Goals and Objectives (30%): This introductory section should provide a clear, concise statement of the specific objectives/aims of the proposed project. A "goal" is an outcome the proposed team would like to achieve, while an objective is an action or outcome related to a metric.

Depending on Topic Area relevance, this section will form the basis for the (1) Safety, Security, and/or Operations, (2) Impact, and (3) Utilization, and/or (4) Education and/or Research Innovation review criteria (see Technical Review Criteria section). Goals and objectives should encompass the following where applicable (in no particular order):

(a) How the request fills institutional and/or national infrastructure gaps and complements existing infrastructure and personnel capabilities.

(b) How the proposed effort outcome or process will tie into the NE mission and/or NSUF (if applicable).

(c) How procurement of equipment will enable the university’s learning mission, especially in support of NS&E R&D and education. This may include a description of existing programs or establishment of a new program. If proposing procurement of equipment, describe comparable equipment, if any, already at your organization or within the DOE complex and explain why it cannot be used. NOTE: Address any proposed equipment described in the Budget Justification document in the narrative.

(d) How the utilization of the upgrades and/or equipment by researchers or educators within and external to your organization can benefit. NOTE: It is recommended to include target metrics of utilization by the proposing institution and others in the research community. If there is a preexisting capability, provide a description of how the upgrade or equipment will improve utilization.

(e) (FOR GSI TOPIC AREA, IF APPLICABLE) Applicants targeting infrastructure upgrades for an existing or prospective NSUF partner facility are required to specifically address how the upgrades will enhance the NSUF program. Additionally, the applicant must address how the upgrades will maintain ongoing relevance at an NSUF partner facility.

i. Visit the NSUF website (https://nsuf.inl.gov) and contact nsuf@inl.gov for information on becoming an NSUF partner.

ii. If the NSUF determines the new equipment/capability adds significant value to DOE, the equipment/capability may be invited to join the NSUF, so the equipment is available to other researchers. Information about existing capabilities within the NSUF can be found on the website (https://nsuf.inl.gov) or a more general overview of capabilities throughout the world can be found in the NEID available at https://nsuf.inl.gov under Resources.

(5) Schedule and Task Descriptions (40%): This section should include a scope of work and execution plan with detail appropriate to the complexity of the project. This will form the basis for the Execution review criteria (see Technical Review Criteria). In addition, this section should describe, in detail, the individual tasks and their connection to the overall effort. Successful applicants must use their proposed project timetable to report progress. Include the following:

(a) An overall timeline and key milestones of the proposed tasks (e.g., Gantt chart, timeline, etc.).

(b) Applicants must demonstrate the NS&E R&D or educational connection between requested upgrades or equipment. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest.

(c) Applicants should elaborate on integration of the requested upgrades or equipment into NS&E R&D or educational connection between requested upgrades or equipment.

https://nsuf.inl.gov/ mailto:nsuf@inl.gov

(6) Relevance and Outcomes/Impacts (20%): This section is a justification for the proposed effort and should explain the relevance of the effort to the mission of NE and connect with the goals and objectives. This section should include a clear statement of the importance of the project in terms of the utility of the outcomes and the target community of beneficiaries. Depending on Topic Area relevance, this will form the basis for the (1) Impact and (2) Education and/or Research Innovation review criteria (see Technical Review Criteria). List all applicable NE funded R&D projects in this section and any NE R&D program relevance, if applicable.

(7) Roles of Participants (5%): Describe the capabilities and qualifications of the PI and key personnel involved to accomplish the proposed effort. This should include descriptions of specific personnel expertise required to accomplish the proposed effort. Specific individuals and skillsets should be referred to throughout the technical volume where appropriate and highlighted in this section.

Directly state whether there is any expertise that must be acquired to complete the project and the plan to acquire the expertise (e.g., new hires, consultants, etc.).

(8) Facilities, Complementary Equipment, and Other Resources (5%): Identify the facilities (e.g., office, laboratory, computer, etc.), equipment (computers, oscilloscopes, etc.), and other resources (machine shops, electronic shops, etc.) to be used at each performance site. Describe utilization of facilities, equipment, and other resources that are directly applicable to the proposed work. Include pertinent capabilities, capacities, relative proximity, and extent of availability to the project.

C. Funding Restrictions Program-specific funding restrictions applicable to awards funded under this NOFO are identified below.

Standard funding restrictions are described in the NOFO Part 2, Funding Restrictions section.

Applicable Funding Restrictions

Title Location Additional Information

Allowable Costs NOFO Part 2 Applicable to awards made under this NOFO

Pre-Award Costs NOFO Part 2 Applicable to awards made under this NOFO

Foreign Travel NOFO Part 2 Foreign Travel is not allowed for awards made under this NOFO.

Lobbying NOFO Part 2 Applicable to awards made under this NOFO

Equipment and Supplies NOFO Part 2 Purchasing American-made equipment and supplies is applicable to this award.

Davis-Bacon Act Requirements NOFO Part 2 Applicable to awards made under this NOFO

Build America Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

NOFO Part 1 Applicable to awards made under this NOFO

1. Build America Requirement for Infrastructure Projects Awards funded through this NOFO that are for, or contain, construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of public infrastructure in the U.S. undertaken by applicable recipient types, require that:

• All iron, steel, and manufactured products used in the infrastructure project are produced in the United States; and

• All construction materials used in the infrastructure project are manufactured in the United States.

Please refer to the NOFO Part 2, Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects; Required Use of American Iron, Steel, Manufactured Products, and Construction Materials and 2 CFR Part 184 to determine whether the Buy America Requirement applies and if they should consider the application of the Buy America Requirement in the proposed project’s budget and/or schedule. (Note that the Buy America Requirement does not apply to prime recipients that are For-Profit Entities.)

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-184

Section V: Submission Requirements and Deadlines

V. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

There are several one-time actions applicants must take before applying to this NOFO. Some of these may take several weeks, so it is vital applicants build in enough time to complete them. Failure to complete these actions could interfere with application or negotiation deadlines or the ability to receive an award if selected. These requirements are outlined in detail in the NOFO Part 2, Get Registered.

A. Required Registrations

1. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management

(SAM)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

Each applicant must:

1. Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an application;

2. Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier in the application; and

3. Continue to maintain an active registration in SAM.gov with current information at all times during which you have an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal agency.

DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, the DOE will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

2. NEUP.gov Register and create an account at www.NEUP.gov. Electronic applications and instructions are available at the NEUP.gov website. To access these materials: (1) go to www.NEUP.gov; (2) select “Sign In” from the top right-hand corner of the screen; (3) enter your user credentials; (4) select “Applications” from the menu; and (5) click on “Create New Application” for the type of application you are creating.

If you have any questions about NEUP.gov site registration, application processes, eligibility, or application document requirements contact the Nuclear Energy External Innovation Integration Office at 208-526-4854 or at NEUP@inl.gov.

Each organization or business unit, whether acting as a team or a single entity, should use only one account as the contact point for each submission. Applicants must also designate backup points of contact. This step is required to apply to this NOFO.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.neup.gov/ https://www.neup.gov/ mailto:neup@inl.gov

Section V: Submission Requirements and Deadlines

B. Application Package The application package requirements are outlined in the Application Content and Form section above.

Several templates for application requirements are included at NEUP.gov. To access these materials, select the appropriate call under “My Applications” once logged into NEUP.gov.

Electronic Authorization of Applications and Award Documents Submission of an application and supplemental information under this NOFO through electronic systems used by the DOE, including NEUP.gov, constitutes the authorized representative’s approval and electronic signature.

C. Submission Date and Times All required submissions must be submitted via the NEUP.gov application site no later than 5 p.m. ET on the dates provided on Key Facts section.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required application documents at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadline. Under normal conditions (i.e., at least 48 hours before the submission deadline), applicants should allow at least one hour to submit application documents. Once the application documents are submitted via the NEUP.gov application site, applicants may revise or update that submission until the expiration of the applicable deadline. If changes are made to any of these documents, the applicant must resubmit them before the applicable deadline. DOE will not extend the submission deadline for applicants that fail to submit required information by the applicable deadline due to server/connection congestion.

D. Intergovernmental Review This NOFO is not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Section VI: Application Review Information

VI. Application Review Information

A. Standards for Application Evaluation Applications that are determined to be eligible will be evaluated in accordance with this NOFO and the guidance provided in the “DOE Merit Review Guide for Financial Assistance,” effective October 1, 2020, which is available at: https://energy.gov/management/downloads/merit-review-guide-financial-assistance-and-unsolicited-proposals-current.

B. Responsiveness Review The following applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered:

• Project concepts or approaches not based on established scientific principles.

• Project concepts or approaches identified specifically as NOT of interest (see the Applications

Specifically Not of Interest section above).

C. Review Criteria

1. Compliance Criteria Prior to a comprehensive technical merit review, NE will perform an initial…