Questions and Answers for Fuel Cycle Research and Development NOFO.pdf
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- Attached to
- Fuel Cycle Research and Development to Assess Options as Technologies and Economics Evolve
- Opportunity number
- DE-FOA-0003364
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document dated January 28, 2025 for the Fuel Cycle Research and Development Notice of Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003364). The document clarifies five key points about the NOFO: the maximum federal portion per award is $5M with a required 20% cost share and no limit on total project cost; FFRDC scope limitations are based on total budget pools between FFRDCs and applicants; eligibility is restricted to U.S. owned nuclear industry entities, explicitly excluding public institutions of higher education; a previously planned webinar was cancelled; and FFRDC work scope limitations are measured by comparing total FFRDC pool against total applicant pool budgets.
The associated opportunity is administered by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under the Nuclear Energy Research program (CFDA 81.121). It aims to support research and development for recycling components of irradiated nuclear fuel from current and advanced reactor designs, focusing on advancing nuclear fuel cycle technologies. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, with eligibility limited to for-profit organizations and small businesses. The program aligns with NSM-19 policy guidance and supports U.S. leadership in advanced recycling technologies while promoting clean energy transition and environmental justice goals.
Questions and Answers for Fuel Cycle Research and Development NOFO
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Questions and Answers for Fuel Cycle Research and Development NOFO
January 28, 2025
1. Please provide clarity on the words in II.D.1, “The scope of work to be performed by the FFRDC should not be more significant than the scope of work to be performed by the applicant.“ The program goals and objectives heavily lend themselves to radiological work, which at an FFRDC will generally necessitate a considerable portion of a $5M project budget. Does this requirement refer to: (1) Quantity of tasks, (2) Quantity of budget, (3) Depth of technical work and steering, or (4) Something else?
This refers to the quantity of the overall budget.
2. Please provide clarity on the project budget limits.
• As long as the minimum 20% cost share is met, is there a limit on the total project cost?
No
• Does the per-award $5M maximum refer to the federal portion, or to the total project cost?
It refers to the Federal portion.
3. Will there be a webinar on February 4th for Q&A around this solicitation? If so, is there a sign-up page?
The webinar is cancelled.
4. When the document indicates that the FFRDC scope "cannot be more significant than the applicant", does that apply to the total FFRDC pool and Applicant Pool, or does it specify only the prime recipient?
e.g. FFRDC 1 ($1m), FFRDC 2 ($1m), Prime Applicant ($1m), and Co-Applicant Customers ($1m) - would it be interpreted as which of the following:
FFRDC 1 ($1m), FFRDC 2 ($1m), Prime Applicant ($1m), Co-Applicant Customers ($1m) FFRDC ($2m) and Applicant team ($2m) FFRDC ($2m), Prime Applicant ($1m), Co-Applicant Customers ($1m) FFRDC 1 ($1m), FFRDC 2 ($1m), Applicant Team ($2m)
It would apply to the total applicant pool against total FFRDC pool. The second example listed above would be most appropriate.
5. Regarding the Fuel Cycle Research and Development to Assess Options as Technologies and Economics Evolve (FOA# DE-FOA-0003364) opportunity, are public institutions of higher education eligible to be the prime recipient? Texas A&M University manages several nuclear facilities and research centers, whose faculty may be in interested in this opportunity if the university is eligible.
No, the NOFO restricted eligibility to U.S. owned nuclear industry entities.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .