NNSA MSIPP CGP NOFO April 1 2024.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIP AND ACQUISITION SERVICES

MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MSIPP)

CONSORTIA GRANT PROGRAM (CGP)

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) NUMBER:

DE-FOA-0003285

NOFO Issue Date January 5, 2024 Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) January 6, 2024 Informational Webinars (See Section XI for details)

January 12, Annually, 11:00 am EST February 12, Annually, 3:00 pm EST February 26, Annually, 2:00 pm EST April 8, Annually, 3:00 pm EST April 22, Annually, 11:00 am EST May 29, Annually, 2:00 pm EST

Submission Deadline for Applications March 15, Annually June 15, Annually

Expected Date for Selection Notifications August, Annually December, Annually i

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS TO NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

(NOFO) NUMBER:DE-FOA-0003285

Effective April 5, 2024

OVERALL DOCUMENT

• Editorial changes have been made to either clarify or enhance the intended meaning of a sentence and/or section or ensure consistency with data contained in DOE, NNSA, or Government-wide systems and/or policy and regulation documents.

• Significant changes are identified and described below, and are annotated in the document with MAR 2024

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, CLARIFICATIONS AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE NOFO

• Section I.A Summary: Estimated Total Funds Available is removed. Amount is determined annually by Congress.

Authorizing Statue is removed. Not required under 2CFR.200.204. Link to Eligibility Matrix changed to webpage to access most recently authorized institutions.

• Section I.C.1 Consortium Model has been revised to clarify the minimum and maximum required number of MSI sub-recipients.

• Section I.C.2 Topic Areas. The restriction to one topic area has been restated.

• Section II.D Expected Number of Awards. Estimate of total awards per funding cycle is restated.

• Section III.A Link to Eligibility Matrix changed to webpage to access most recently authorized institutions.

• Section IV.D Required Standard Forms: Included SF424 Research and Related Budget form referenced in section

IV.E.6. Restated sub-applicant submission of Lobbying Disclosure and Form.

• Section IV.E.6 Other Attachments: Clarify file requirements apply to both prime and all sub-applicants. SF424A

Detailed Budget Information Form removed and updated to form SF424 Research and Related Budget.

• Section IV.E.9 Requirements for Pass-Through Entities: Addition of the mandatory sub-applicant risk assessment and the mandatory if selected for award sub-applicant budget evaluation.

• Section IV.F Summary of Required Forms: Updated to exclude SF424A, include SF424, correct attachment information, sub-applicant budgets and justification narratives, sub-applicant risk assessment and budget evaluation. Added identifier of forms required by both prime and sub-applicants.

• Section V.A.2.a Merit Review Criteria: Word changed from “evaluation” to “performance management.”

• Section VIII.B Agency Contacts: Contact information has been updated.

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OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Participating Organization: National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Components of Participating Organizations: Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: MSIPP Consortia Grant Program (MSIPP CGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number: DE-FOA-0003285 Funding Announcement Type: New and Renewal Applications Assistance Listing Number: 81.123

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY PURPOSE

This funding opportunity invites new or renewal grant applications from consortia partnerships consisting of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) with a focus on building and supporting the workforce capacity of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) by (1) expanding scientific and technical knowledge in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or Nuclear Security, (2) providing experiential learning opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines, (3) building and strengthening research and education capacities of the participating institutions, and (4) promoting collaborations with the Department of Energy (DOE) NNSA NSE.

KEY DATES

Application Due Dates 2024-2026 Merit Review Cycle Earliest Award Notice FY Due Date March 15* March - April August FY Due Date June 15* June - July December

*All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST through GRANTS.gov.

No late applications will be accepted for this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

REQUIRED APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• It is critical that applications follow all instructions in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

• Conformance to all requirements is required and strictly enforced.

• Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS

Date Time January 22 11:00 am EST February 12 3:00 pm EST February 26 2:00 pm EST April 8 3:00 pm EST April 22 11:00 am EST May 29 2:00 pm EST

The webinars are recurring until the NOFO expires. Webinar information can be found in Section XI. Attendance is not mandatory and will not positively or negatively impact the overall review of any applicant submissions. During the webinars, attendees should refrain from asking questions or communicating information that would reveal confidential and/or proprietary information specific to their project.

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SECTION I - FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ______________________________________________________ 1

A. SUMMARY __________________________________________________________________________________ 1

B. HISTORY AND PURPOSE ________________________________________________________________________ 2

C. TECHNICAL SCOPE ____________________________________________________________________________ 2

1. Consortium Model __________________________________________________________________________ 2

2. Topic Areas ________________________________________________________________________________ 3

SECTION II - AWARD INFORMATION __________________________________________________________________ 5

A. FUNDING INSTRUMENT ________________________________________________________________________ 5

B. MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AWARD SIZE _________________________________________________________ 5

C. ESTIMATED FUNDING__________________________________________________________________________ 5

D. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS ________________________________________________________________ 5

E. ANTICIPATED AWARD SIZE _____________________________________________________________________ 5

F. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE _____________________________________________________________________ 5

G. TYPE OF APPLICATION _________________________________________________________________________ 5

SECTION III - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION _______________________________________________________________ 6

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS __________________________________________________________________________ 6

B. RESTRICTED ELIGIBILITY ________________________________________________________________________ 6

C. OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ______________________________________________________________ 6

1. DOE Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites ___________________________________________________ 6

2. Authorization for DOE Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites’ Participation _________________________ 6

3. NSE Facilities _______________________________________________________________________________ 7

4. Applicant Responsibility ______________________________________________________________________ 7

D. COST SHARING {OR MATCHING} _________________________________________________________________ 7

SECTION IV - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION _____________________________________________ 8

A. REQUIRED REGISTRATIONS _____________________________________________________________________ 8

B. APPLICATION SPECIFICS ________________________________________________________________________ 8

1. Number of Applications ______________________________________________________________________ 8

2. Type of Applications Accepted _________________________________________________________________ 8

3. Electronic Delivery __________________________________________________________________________ 8

4. Eligibility Review ____________________________________________________________________________ 8

C. ACCESSING THE APPLICATION PACKAGE __________________________________________________________ 9

D. REQUIRED STANDARD FORMS __________________________________________________________________ 9

1. SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance ________________________________________________________ 9

E. FORMAT AND CONTENT OF APPLICATION _________________________________________________________ 9

1. Format Requirements ________________________________________________________________________ 9

2. Content Requirements ______________________________________________________________________ 10

3. Project Summary/Abstract ___________________________________________________________________ 10

4. Project Narrative and Appendices _____________________________________________________________ 10 iv

5. Other Narrative Attachments _________________________________________________________________ 12

6. Other Attachments _________________________________________________________________________ 13

7. Assurances and Certifications in SAM.GOV [MANDATORY] _________________________________________ 14

8. Data Management Plan [MANDATORY, IF SELECTED FOR AWARD] ___________________________________ 14

F. SUMMARY OF REQUIRED FORMS/FILES __________________________________________________________ 15

G. SUBMISSIONS FROM SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ___________________________________________________ 16

H. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES ________________________________________________________________ 16

1. Application Due Dates ______________________________________________________________________ 16

2. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Open Until Determined Date _________________________________ 16

I. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW _________________________________________________________________ 16

J. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS (DECEMBER 2014) _______________________________________________________ 16

K. OTHER SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS __________________________________________ 16

1. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov ____________________________________________________ 17

2. How to Submit an Application to DOE/NNSA via Grants.gov ________________________________________ 17

3. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission ______________________________________ 18

SECTION V - APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION _____________________________________________________ 19

A. CRITERIA ___________________________________________________________________________________ 19

1. Initial Review Criteria _______________________________________________________________________ 19

2. Merit Review Criteria _______________________________________________________________________ 19

3. Other Selection Factors _____________________________________________________________________ 20

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS ______________________________________________________________ 20

1. Merit Review ______________________________________________________________________________ 20

2. Selection _________________________________________________________________________________ 20

3. Government Discussion with Applicant _________________________________________________________ 20

4. Anticipated Notice of Selection and Award Dates _________________________________________________ 20

SECTION VI - AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION _________________________________________________ 21

A. AWARD NOTICES ____________________________________________________________________________ 21

1. Notice of Selection _________________________________________________________________________ 21

2. Notice of Award (DECEMBER 2014) ____________________________________________________________ 21

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS __________________________________________ 21

1. Administrative Requirements (December 2014) __________________________________________________ 21

2. Special Terms and Conditions, and National Policy Requirements (December 2014) _____________________ 21

3. Interim Conflict of Interest Policy for Financial Assistance Policy _____________________________________ 22

4. Marking Requirements - Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) ___________________________________ 22

5. Communicating and Acknowledging Federal Funding ______________________________________________ 23

C. REPORTING _________________________________________________________________________________ 23

1. Other Reporting Requirements _______________________________________________________________ 23

2. Types of Appointments ______________________________________________________________________ 24

3. Statement of Appointment __________________________________________________________________ 24

SECTION VII - QUESTIONS/AGENCY CONTACTS _________________________________________________________ 24

A. QUESTIONS _________________________________________________________________________________ 24 v

B. AGENCY CONTACTS __________________________________________________________________________ 24

SECTION VIII – OTHER INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________ 24

A. AMENDMENTS ______________________________________________________________________________ 24

B. GOVERNMENT RIGHT TO REJECT OR NEGOTIATE __________________________________________________ 25

C. COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS _______________________________________________________________ 25

D. PROPRIETARY APPLICATION INFORMATION ______________________________________________________ 25

E. EVALUATION AND ADMINISTRATION BY NON-FEDERAL PERSONNEL __________________________________ 25

F. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPED UNDER THIS PROGRAM _______________________________________ 25

G. NOTICE OF RIGHT TO REQUEST PATENT WAIVER __________________________________________________ 26

H. NOTICE REGARDING ELIGIBLE/INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES _______________________________________________ 26

I. PROTECTED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION _____________________________________________ 26

J. ANNUAL COMPLIANCE AUDITS _________________________________________________________________ 26

SECTION IX – KEY TERMS AND ACRONYMS ____________________________________________________________ 27

SECTION X – REFERENCE MATERIAL __________________________________________________________________ 28

SECTION XI – INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS ____________________________________________________________ 28

SECTION I - FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. SUMMARY (MAR 2024)

The intent of this funding opportunity is to award new or renewal grant awards to consortia consisting of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) with a focus on building and supporting the workforce capacity of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) by (1) expanding scientific and technical knowledge in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or Nuclear Security, (2) providing experiential learning opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines, (3) building and strengthening research and education capacities of participating institutions, and (4) promoting collaborations with the NNSA NSE.

Funding Opportunity Title MSIPP Consortia Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003285

Due Dates for Applications Cycle 1: March 15 11:59 pm EST; Cycle 2: June 15 11:59 pm EST

Estimated Number of Awards Per Cycle Minimum of 5

Estimated Award Range $500,000 - $5,000,000

Length of Project Period 5 years

Collaboration Required Yes, DOE/NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise Facility

Anticipated Review Dates Cycle 1: April; Cycle 2: July

Anticipated Award Dates Cycle 1: August; Cycle 2: December

Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for award is restricted to accredited Institutions of Higher Education meeting the requirements as Minority Serving Institutions recognized by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR’s Department of Education U.S. accredited postsecondary minorities institution at Eligibility Matrix.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) All awards are subject to 2 CFR Part 200.

Before You Apply: The DOE/NNSA participates in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. To respond to this opportunity, you must:

• Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

• Be actively registered in System for Award Management (SAM)

• Be registered through Grants.gov and with FedConnect.net

For registration instructions refer to “Other Submission and Registration Requirements” found in Section IV.K.

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#tips

B. HISTORY AND PURPOSE

The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) was established by Congress in 2000 and is responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.

The NNSA is focused on strengthening, expanding, and diversifying its rapidly evolving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. In 2016, the Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) was created to build a career pathway focused on preparing a diverse student workforce to make immediate contributions to the DOE/NNSA’s Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). To achieve this objective, MSIPP supports strategic partnerships between Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and the NSE, aligning investments in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) capacities and workforce development with the NNSA mission to develop needed skills and talent for the NSE’s technical workforce.

The MSIPP Consortia Grant Program (MSIPP CGP) improves the Nation’s capacity to enhance national security by:

• Growing the number of MSI and TCU students that graduate with STEM degrees

• Increasing the number of MSI and TCU students hired into the NSE’s STEM workforce

• Building and strengthening research and educational capacities of MSIs and TCUs

• Targeting collaborations and increasing interactions between MSIs and TCUs, and DOE/NNSA laboratories, plants, and other sites to increase direct access to NSE STEM resources

C. TECHNICAL SCOPE (MAR 2024)

Successful proposals will identify a team of Minority Serving Institution IHEs (the consortium) that are prepared to partner with the DOE/NNSA Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites to conduct research activities in NNSA topic areas that allow student and faculty to develop their skills and knowledge, merging academic study with practical work experience.

1. Consortium Model The DOE/NNSA Consortium-based model fosters the collaboration of otherwise independent institutions to pool knowledge, practical experience, and skills during the performance period of the awarded project.

Consortium Structure

• One (1) MSI Lead IHE

• At least one (1) but not more than (2) MSI sub-recipient IHEs

Throughout this document, the term Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) is used to collectively refer to the DOE/NNSA Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites.

The consortium is required to partner with at least one (1), but not more than three (3), NSE collaborators in accordance with the “Other Eligibility Requirements” found in Section III.C. The NSE is a collaborator and not a consortium member. A list of participating NSE collaborators with contact information, can be found under the Grants.gov Related Documents tab of the NOFO, as Attachment A.

Expectations DOE/NNSA expects the consortium to:

• Attract undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students

• Provide experiential opportunities for students and faculty that expand scientific and technical knowledge in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or Nuclear Security

• Mentor students and prepare them for leadership and management roles

• Collaborate with the NSE on the strategic direction of related research activities and associated gaps within their industries

Roles and Responsibilities The prime award recipient is the lead IHE (“Lead”). The Lead is the responsible authority for managing the scope, schedule, and cost of the project, including but not limited to, program and administrative reporting requirements, oversight of other consortium members, and disputes or claims from collaborators and other consortium members.

The Principal Investigator (PI) is the researcher, scientist or other individual designated by the Lead Institution to direct the research and development aspects of the project. The PI is responsible for the management of the project, conduct of all individuals supported by the project, and the reporting and monitoring requirements of all consortia members.

Sub-recipients are responsible for reviewing all terms and conditions of the award with the Lead, maintaining effective project performance, and providing standards of performance in compliance with federal requirements of the award.

The NSE collaborator facilitates the coordination of research being conducted, promotes and sustains scientific interactions, increases unique experimental opportunities sited at the NSE, and develops and maintains a long-term recruiting pathway to the NSE in partnership with all consortium members.

2. Topic Areas All proposed work to be funded through this announcement is to be UNCLASSIFIED. No proposals for CLASSIFIED work will be accepted. Only one topic area may be selected. Sub-topical areas of interest are not limited.

Topic Area # 1: Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing has come to the forefront as one of the most promising approaches to improve the agility and efficiency of the manufacturing process while significantly reducing the prototypical stage of product development. The following are specific sub-topical areas of interest; additional sub-topics that align with Advanced Manufacturing are also encouraged.

Metrology Powder production Physical property testing Modeling and simulation

Ceramics Characterization Enhancing design Surface finishes

Composites Diagnostics Material science Polymers

Materials at extreme conditions

3D Printing for nuclear application

Additive manufacturing and coating

Topic Area # 2: Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the protection of physical and virtual infrastructure from theft or damage to its hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from disruption or misdirection of the services it provides. The following are specific sub-topical areas of interest; additional sub-topics in Cybersecurity are also encouraged.

Machine learning Information technology System administration Vulnerability assessment

Embedded programming Quantum computing Protecting digital evidence Host based forensics

Application forensics Network forensics Cloud-based forensics Data science

Cyber and Network analytics

Counter-intrusion software development

Software and hardware reverse engineering

Topic Area # 3: Engineering

Engineers are a vital component of the Nuclear Security Enterprise. It is essential that MSIs and TCUs have established and accredited engineering programs to ensure their students are competitive. Engineers are an integral partner for all components of the nuclear security mission from needs assessment to design and delivery. The NNSA complex is comprised of engineers supporting various aspects of the mission. The following are specific sub-topical areas of interest; additional sub-topics in Engineering are also encouraged.

Computer engineering Chemical engineering Electrical engineering Mechanical engineering

Material science Microelectronics Microsystems Photonics

Nuclear engineering Nanotechnology engineering

Topic Area # 4: Nuclear Security

Nuclear Security is the prevention, detection, and response to theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer, or other malicious acts involving nuclear material, other radioactive substances, or their associated facilities. The following are specific sub-topical areas of interest; additional sub-topics in Nuclear Security are also encouraged.

Radiation Nuclear science Nuclear security Nuclear technology

Fissionable fuels Nuclear power Nuclear forensics Nuclear physics

Radiation detection systems

SECTION II - AWARD INFORMATION

A. FUNDING INSTRUMENT

Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

B. MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AWARD SIZE

• Ceiling (the maximum amount for a single award made under this NOFO): $ 5,000,000

• Floor (the minimum amount for a single award made under this NOFO): $ 500,000

C. ESTIMATED FUNDING

Funding for all awards and future budget periods are contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program and the availability of future-year budget authority.

D. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS (MAR 2024)

The number of awards is contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program. It is estimated that there will be up to five (5) awards per funding cycle.

E. ANTICIPATED AWARD SIZE

Each award will be between $500,000 to $5,000,000, contingent upon the availability of appropriated Federal government funds.

F. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The project period of each award is five (5) years.

G. TYPE OF APPLICATION

DOE/NNSA will accept new and renewal applications under this announcement. Renewal applications are requests for additional funding for a period after the current award period. Renewal applications compete with all other applications and must meet all application requirements and deadlines. The application should be developed as fully and thoroughly as possible. Applicants should assume reviewers will not have access to previous applications.

SECTION III - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS (MAR 2024)

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, competition, eligibility for award is restricted to accredited IHEs that meet the requirements as Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) recognized by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR's Department of Education Eligibility Matrix. All applicants, both prime and sub-recipient, must appear on this list.

B. RESTRICTED ELIGIBILITY

CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT: These grant agreements require that individuals involved with the project are legally able to interact with and/or access DOE laboratories, plants, and other field sites. In conformity with the Department of Energy Order 142.3A, any individual person providing support, funded or unfunded, under this grant agreement must be a U.S. Person, defined as an individual that is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (22 CFR 120.62). The NOFO further restricts the eligibility of salaries and fringe benefits, participant support, consultant, contracting, tuition, and other direct costs to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Non-U.S. Persons are prohibited from supporting and/or collaborating under this grant agreement.

The Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI/s for the grant must be a U.S. Person/s and be an active member of the teaching/research faculty of the associated recipient or sub-recipient U.S. university or academic institution of higher learning. Adjunct professors, visiting professors, and post-doctoral fellows are ineligible to be PIs.

Upon notification of award, the Lead Institution must certify compliance with the Citizenship Requirement of this announcement. The certification statement must be provided on institution letterhead entitled “Citizenship Certification” and must include the name and citizenship status for each individual on the award.

C. OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. DOE Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites DOE Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites (NSE facilities) are not eligible to compete as the prime or sub-applicant under this NOFO; however, the prime applicant must propose a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) NSE facilities as collaborating partners subject to the below guidelines. See Attachment A for a list of the NSE.

2. Authorization for DOE Laboratories, Plants, and Other Field Sites’ Participation The NSE Facility Management Contractors participating as collaborating partners must receive prior authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer for NSE Facility Management Contractors, subject to the guidelines for Authorization for NSE Facility Management Contractors, stated below.

• Application Submission: The application must include a letter from the cognizant Contracting Officer for the NSE Facility that authorizes the use of an NSE Facility Management Contractor(s) on the proposed project. This letter must outline understanding and role in the collaboration effort and indicate that no funds will be provided to the NSE Facility from the grant recipient except for reimbursement for use of facilities that require “user fees.”

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-910/subpart-B/section-910.126 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#tips https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#tips https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/100-series/0142.3-BOrder-b/@@images/file https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/100-series/0142.3-BOrder-b/@@images/file https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-120/subpart-C/section-120.62

• At Selection: The cognizant Contracting Officer for the NSE Facility must authorize in writing the participation of the NSE Facility on the proposed project. This authorization is requested at selection and must be submitted upon request. The following language is acceptable for this authorization:

“Authorization is granted for the [Name] Facility to participate in the proposed project. The work proposed for the facility is consistent with or complimentary to the missions of the facility, will not adversely impact execution of the DOE/NNSA assigned programs at the facility, and will not place the facility in direct competition with the domestic private sector."

3. NSE Facilities

• The portion of work effort to be performed by the individual NSE Facility shall not exceed 35% of the total project cost per collaboration application. In addition, the NSE Facility effort should be well thought out rather than issuing generic partnership letters to all university applicants. The NSE Facility may not play a role comprising most of the collaboration arrangement and work effort.

• NSE Facilities are not eligible to receive any direct funding associated with this NOFO, except for reimbursement for use of facilities that require “user fees” in accordance with the institution’s written policies or procedures.

• Funding for any work being done by NSE Facilities will be funded directly by the program office and may not exceed 35% of the budget per facility per application. Funding will be transmitted to the laboratory via a Federal Work Authorization (FWA) Implementation Plan (IP) process from the NNSA to the facility. A budget estimate for fund of Site Facility Management Contractors should be submitted separately to the NNSA MSIP Program Office at the time of this application submission. If the applicant is selected for award, the industry partner will be required to submit a Statement of Work and detailed budget to support the request.

4. Applicant Responsibility

• The amount of funds the NSE Facilities use in collaborating with the consortium will not be factored into the total amount awarded. The value of, and funding for, the NSE Facilities’ portion of the project should not be included in the application budget.

• If selected for award, the recipient is responsible for contacting the appropriate NSE Facility collaborating partner(s) who should, in turn, obtain prior written authorization from the Facility Contracting Officer.

• If selected for award, the Lead Institution will be the responsible authority regarding the settlement and satisfaction of all contractual and administrative issues, including but not limited to, disputes and claims arising out of any agreement between the consortia members and the NSE Facility Contractor.

D. COST SHARING {OR MATCHING}

Cost sharing is not required.

SECTION IV - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. REQUIRED REGISTRATIONS

Applicants must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF-424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

Registrations include the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), FedConnect, and Grants.gov.

B. APPLICATION SPECIFICS

1. Number of Applications Multiple applications may be submitted by an Institution (MSI or TCU); however, applications should be mutually exclusive and there should be no duplication of effort for resources requested.

2. Type of Applications Accepted DOE/NNSA will accept new and renewal applications under this announcement. Renewal applications are requests for additional funding for a period after that provided by a current award. In preparing a renewal application, applicants should assume that reviewers will not have access to previous applications. The application should be developed as fully as though the applicant were applying for the first time. The application must include all the information required for a new project, plus the project narrative section should discuss the results from prior work.

3. Electronic Delivery The Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. Applicants must submit their applications online through Grants.gov.

4. Eligibility Review DOE/NNSA performs an initial eligibility review of applicant submissions to determine compliance with the eligibility requirements of the NOFO. All submissions must conform to form and content requirements and must be submitted as specifically stated and on the required due date (DOE/NNSA does not allow grace periods for submission of applications). DOE/NNSA will not review or consider applications submitted through means other than specifically stated in the NOFO. DOE/NNSA will not extend deadlines for applicants who fail to submit required information and documents due to server/connection congestion.

Problems with computer systems at the applicant organization, Adobe compatibility settings issues, failure to follow instructions in the NOFO, or failure to attach documents to the application package correctly are not considered system issues. Grants.gov may be contacted at 1-800-518-4726, Option 6, and a customer service representative will assist you if you have any issues with your application submission. It is best to complete the application package a minimum of 24 to 48 hours prior to the due date, to ensure there is sufficient time to resolve any submission issues.

Failure to meet the eligibility requirements and failure to provide the required application documents will deem the application as non-responsive and dropped from further consideration or review.

https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Default.htm https://www.grants.gov/

C. ACCESSING THE APPLICATION PACKAGE

Grants.gov Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access the application package, go to Grants.gov: 1) Select the “Search Grants” tab, 2) Enter the Funding Opportunity ID, and 3) Select the “Package” tab. The Package tab offers opportunities to “preview” the materials and “apply” for the opportunity. To begin a grant application, click the Apply button near the top right of the page. Follow the prompts in to complete the application package.

Complete the SF-424 Research & Related (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance first. The form is used in all grant applications and is designed to fill in commonly required fields across other forms, such as applicant name, address, and UEI number.

D. REQUIRED STANDARD FORMS (MAR 2024)

The Standard Forms (SF) used for Research and Related (R&R) applications are located on the website at grants.gov.

Each required SF should be completed in the Grants.gov Workspace. Each form has an attached instructional page and can be viewed and printed. All instructions applicable to R&R must be followed. (The full list of required forms and files can be found in Section IV.F Summary of Required Forms/Files.)

Files that are attached to the appropriate forms must be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) unless otherwise specified in this announcement. Attached PDF files must be plain files consisting of text, numbers, and images without editable fields, signatures, passwords, redactions, or other advanced features available in some PDF-compatible software. Do not use PDF portfolios or binders.

1. SF 424 Research & Related (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance Mandatory for prime applicant and all sub-applicants. All instructions must be followed.

2. Research and Related Other Project Information Mandatory for prime applicant. All instructions must be followed.

3. SF424 Research and Related Budget Mandatory for prime applicant and all sub-applicants. All instructions must be followed.

4. Project/Performance Site Locations V4.0 Mandatory for prime applicant and all sub-applicants. All instructions must be followed.

5. Attachments V1.2 Mandatory for prime applicant. All instructions must be followed.

6. Disclosure of Lobbying SF-LLL V2.0 Mandatory for prime applicant and all sub-applicants. All instructions must be followed.

7. Certification of Lobbying Form V1.1 Mandatory for prime applicant and all sub-applicants. All instructions must be followed.

E. FORMAT AND CONTENT OF APPLICATION

1. Format Requirements Standard 8.5" by 11" paper with 1" margins (top, bottom, left and right), single spaced, with minimum 11 Point font.

Files and/or documents that are attached to the forms must be in Portable Document Format (PDF) unless otherwise specified in this announcement.

https://www.grants.gov/

2. Content Requirements Attached PDF files must be plain files consisting of text, numbers, and images without editable fields, signatures, passwords, redactions, or other advanced features available in some PDF-compatible software. Do not use PDF portfolios or binders.

3. Project Summary/Abstract Mandatory for Prime applicant. This document will be the attachment to the Project Summary Abstract form in Grants.gov Workspace. The project summary document may not exceed five (5) pages and must be saved as a PDF. The file is to be named “Summary.”

This document must contain a summary of the proposed activity and must be suitable for dissemination to the public. It must identify the following:

• Name of Lead Institution

• Principle Investigator

• Project title

• Relevance, intended outcomes/impacts

• Milestones of the project listed by year

• Description of the project, including methods to be employed, the potential impact of the project (i.e., benefits, outcomes), and key participants

4. Project Narrative and Appendices The Project Narrative may not exceed ten (10) pages. The cover page, project narrative and appendices 1-6 (cover page and appendices are not included in page count) must be saved as one single document in PDF format and be named “Project”. This document will be the attachment to Project Narrative Attachment Form in Grants.gov Workspace.

PROJECT

The 10-page limit applies to text, tables, and visual materials (e.g., charts, graphs, maps, photographs). EVALUATORS WILL ONLY REVIEW THE FIRST TEN PAGES. Do not include bibliography information for references cited as part of the Project Narrative. These should be supplied in Appendix 4. Links to websites will not be reviewed. See Section VIII.D for instructions on marking proprietary application information. The project document must include:

a) Cover Page (Does not count towards the Project Narrative page limitation and must not exceed one page) must include the following components:

• NOFO Number

• Topic Area

• Application Title

• Type of organization (i.e., U.S. university/academic institution of higher learning or not-for-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organization)

• Institution of Higher Education Tier Identification o Tier 1: Public/Private 2-4 year Community/Junior College, Student enrollment > 15K o Tier 2: Public/Private 2-4 year Community/Junior College, Student enrollment < 15K o Tier 3: Public/Private 4+ year College or University, Student enrollment > 25K o Tier 4: Public/Private 4+ year College or University, Student enrollment < 25K

• Type of Proposed Award: New or Renewal (if renewal, specify award number for existing award)

This document must not include any proprietary or sensitive business information.

The DOE/NNSA reserves the right to make applications available to the public after awards are made.

• Name of Lead Institution

• Contact Information for Principal Investigator for Lead Institution o (name, title, mailing address, telephone number, email address)

• Contact Information for Lead Institution Business Office/Grants Office o (Name for business point of contact, title, email address, and telephone number)

• Institution, name(s), mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses of sub-applicants

• Previous DOE/NNSA Grant numbers. If applicable, provide DOE grant number for projects currently funded under the MSIPP Grant Program

• Name(s), telephone numbers, and email addresses of any NSE Facility collaborating personnel.

b) Project Narrative (not to exceed ten pages)

1) PROJECT OBJECTIVES: Provide a clear, concise statement of the specific objectives of the proposed project.

2) ALIGNMENT WITH MSIPP OBJECTIVES: Describe the extent to which the project addresses the objectives of the MSIPP program as it relates to the topical area selected and the nuclear security enterprise workforce development. This should include a solid understanding of the current state of proposed research (if applicable) or education programs, an analysis of any competing or supplementary efforts, and an understanding of how proposed research is aligned to existing gaps in the field and/or literature.

3) STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT:

a. Describe the recruitment activities and specific marketing strategies designed to attract a diverse pool of student applicants. Describe the selection process that will ensure qualified students are selected based on academic merit, with consideration given to underrepresented populations.

b. Describe the proposed project including the function and associated curriculum. State the course structure and faculty capability for administering the program. Provide a schedule of completion dates, faculty members involved, and participant costs for students involved in this program.

c. Describe the plan to include opportunities for students to participate in internships, summer research programs, fellowships and other education and career advancement activities, and the mechanism to for tracking students as they fulfill their academic obligation and attain jobs within the NSE.

c) Appendices to Project Narrative Both the prime applicant and sub-applicants must complete the following appendices and attach them to the final Project Narrative document. The appendices do not count towards the Project Narrative page limitation.

1) APPENDIX 1 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Provide a biographical sketch for the Principal Investigator (PI) and each senior/key person listed in Section A on the R&R Budget form, including sub-applicant senior/key persons. The biographical sketch is an appendix to your Project Narrative. Do not attach a separate file. The biographical information for each person must not exceed two (2) pages and must include:

• Education and Training: Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training, provide institution, major/area, degree, and year.

• Research and Professional Experience: Beginning with the current position list, in chronological order, professional/academic positions with a brief description.

• Publications: Provide a list of up to 10 publications most closely related to the proposed project. For each publication, identify the names of all authors (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article title, book or journal title, volume number, page numbers, year of publication, and website address if available electronically.

• Other: Patents, copyrights, and software systems developed may be provided in addition to or substituted for publications.

2) APPENDIX 2 – CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT: Provide a list of all current and pending support (both

Federal and non-Federal) for the PI and senior/key persons, for ongoing projects and pending applications.

For each organization providing support, show the total award amount for the entire award period (including indirect costs) and the number of person-months per year to be devoted to the project by the senior/key person. Concurrent submission of an application to other organizations for simultaneous consideration will not prejudice its review.

3) APPENDIX 3 – IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR BIAS IN SELECTION OF

REVIEWERS: This appendix requires the below information:

• Collaborators and Co-editors: List, in alphabetical order, all persons and current organizational affiliations who are or have been collaborators or co-authors with you on a research project, book or book article, report, abstract, or paper during the 48 months preceding the submission of this application. Also, list any individuals who are currently or have been co-editors with you on a special issue of a journal, compendium, or conference proceedings during the 24 months preceding the submission of this application. If there are no collaborators or co-editors to report, state “None.”

• Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors and Advisees: List the names and current organizational affiliations of your graduate advisor(s) and principal postdoctoral sponsor(s) during the last 5 years. List the names and current organizational affiliations of your graduate students and postdoctoral associates.

4) APPENDIX 4 – BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES CITED: Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the

Project Narrative. Each reference must include the names of all authors (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication. Include only bibliographic citations. Applicants should be especially careful to follow scholarly practices in providing citations for source materials relied upon when preparing any section of the application. To reduce the number of files attached to your application, please provide the Bibliography and References Cited information as an appendix to your project narrative.

5) APPENDIX 5 – FACILITIES & OTHER RESOURCES: This information is used to assess the capability of the organizational resources, including sub-applicant resources, available to perform the effort proposed.

Identify the facilities to be used (Laboratory, Animal, Computer, Office, Clinical, and Other). If appropriate, indicate their capacities, pertinent capabilities, relative proximity, and extent of availability to the project.

Describe only those resources that are directly applicable to the proposed work. Describe other resources available to the project (e.g., machine shop, electronic shop) and the extent to which they would be available to the project.

6) APPENDIX 6 – EQUIPMENT: List major items of equipment already available for this project and, if appropriate identify location and pertinent capabilities.

5. Other Narrative Attachments Attach the following mandatory files (Project Management Plan and Letters of Collaboration) to the Other Attachments Form in Grants.gov Workspace:

a) Project Management Plan (The file is to be named “PMP”) This plan should be formatted to include the following sections with each section including the information as described below. This plan should describe the structure of the proposed partnership and roles of each member organization including DOE/NNSA NSE Facility collaborator. This section should also include mechanisms for verifying completed milestones.

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Provide a description of the project that includes the objective, project goals, and expected results. This information is requested in the Project Narrative and should also be copied to this summary. The Project Management Plan is a stand-alone document.

• RISK MANAGEMENT: Provide a summary description of the proposed approach to identify, analyze, and respond to perceived risks associated with the proposed project.