RD Program FY23 Cover Letter Final 03272023.pdf

March 27, 2023

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) NO. 31310023K0002

Dear Applicants:

Pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, as amended, and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hereby issues the above referenced Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program titled, “Research and Development Grant, Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.”

This NOFO is released on March 27, 2023, and applications are due on May 26, 2023. It is anticipated that this NOFO will result in the award of multiple grants. This is a three (3) year program. Research and Development (R&D) funds may be requested up to $500,000.00 total costs (direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) for the project period. All Applicants are required to have an active account with FedConnect, please see the Section entitled “Other Submission Requirements and Information” of the NOFO.

We would like to bring to your attention several sections in the FY2023 NOFO that were revised as follows:

1) Part I, Section titled “Additional Overview Content:”

a. Subsection “Eligible Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs)” was incorporated to define the Co-PI and to specify Co-PIs can only be proposed as such within 1 application under this announcement.

b. Subsection titled “Continuation Applications” was deleted as it was not applicable.

2) Part II, Section I. Funding Opportunity Description, subsection 1. Program Objectives revised the areas of interest. It also added language related to non-technical research.

3) Part II, Section III. Eligibility Information

a. Subsection 1. Eligible Institutions to specify that:

i. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply or receive Federal assistance under this announcement.

ii. Federal agencies, national laboratories, and Federally-funded research and development centers, and commercial entities (including NRC licensees) are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this announcement or participate in kind.

b. Subsection 2.A was renamed from “Eligible Individuals” to “Eligible Principal Investigators.” In addition, it was revised to specify that if a proposed PI or Co-PI has a professional relationship with a non-educational entity, then the PI/Co-PI

NOFO No. 31310023K0002 - 2 -must clearly state this relationship on his/her resume. It also states the NRC may require additional information in order to determine whether there could be an impermissible organizational conflict of interest if the grant application were approved.

c. Subsection 2.B. Citizenship Requirement was revised to eliminate compliance of citizenship requirement at time of application. Compliance with citizenship requirement is required for the duration of the grant period.

d. Subsection 2.C. Eligible Partnership Arrangements has been incorporated to specify applicants are not permitted to include within their applications partnerships with Federal agencies, national laboratories, Federally-funded research and development centers, or commercial entities (including NRC licensees). It also states that applicants partnering with entities other than U.S.

institutions of higher education will be deemed unresponsive and ineligible for consideration and the application will not be reviewed.

4) Part II, Section IV Application and Submission Information

a. Subsection 2. Application Content was revised to Add “References” and

“Approval documentation of the MSI Partnership and implementation plan (if applicable)” as part of the elements for applications.

b. Subsection 2.C. Project Description was revised to provide more details of the elements to be identified in this section. It also emphasizes applicants must address the evaluation criteria in this section.

c. Subsection 2.D. References specifies references is a separate attachment not to exceed two (2) pages.

d. Subsection 2.I. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS (RESEARCH GRANTS) was revised to eliminate compliance of citizenship requirement at time of application. Compliance with citizenship requirement is required for the duration of the grant period. It specifies the certification and any supporting documentation, as applicable, will be required at time of recommendation for award.

e. Subsection 6. Information on Civil Rights Compliance Requirements Imposed as a Condition of Award of NRC Federal Financial Assistance was revised to include updated language.

f. Subsection 7. Other Submission Requirements and Information was updated to remove the language referencing the Organizational Dun and Bradstreet Numbering System (DUNS).

5) Part II, Section V was renamed from “Application and Submission Information” to “Application Review Information.”

a. Subsection 2. Selection Criteria was revised to update the language of the criterions and the point assignments.

6) Part II, Section VII. Agency Contacts has been revised to specify a question period in which potential applicants/interested parties may submit questions. All questions received and their respective responses will be posted as an amendment to the NOFO.

NOFO No. 31310023K0002 - 3 -

7) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Standard Terms and Conditions for U.S.

Nongovernmental Recipients was revised to:

a. incorporate the following clauses:

i. System for Award Management (SAM)

ii. Change (Transfer) of Recipient Organization to specify the transfer of awards is not allowed. (NEW)

iii. Compliance With U.S. Immigration Laws and Regulations

iv. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance

Services or Equipment

b. Update clause titled “Debarment And Suspension.”

Thank you for your interest in the NRC Research and Development grant program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely, Aracelis Pérez-Ortiz, Grants Officer Operations Branch B Acquisition Management Division