Ornl-TT-2026-02
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology
- Place of performance
- Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
UT-Battelle, LLC, operating Oak Ridge National Laboratory under a Department of Energy prime contract, has issued Special Notice ORNL-TT-2026-02 to identify commercialization partners for multiple patent-pending technologies. The Department of Energy posted this special notice on March 11, 2026, and is classified under the Research and Development in Nanotechnology NAICS category. The opportunity seeks qualified organizations interested in licensing innovative technologies developed at ORNL in the areas of cryogenic fuel systems and immunoregulation. This is a civilian agency opportunity with no set-asides designated for specific business categories.
The primary objective of this technology transfer initiative is to license patent-pending innovations to commercial partners capable of bringing these technologies to market. Interested applicants must submit license applications to the ORNL Technology Transfer Office by the April 27, 2026 deadline. The technologies available for licensing include two cryogenic systems for fusion pellet injection and a protein domain technology for immunoregulation applicable to healthcare and biological applications. While specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in this notice, prospective licensees should demonstrate technical capability and commercial intent to develop and commercialize the offered technologies. Applicants should contact the ORNL Technology Transfer Office directly for detailed technical specifications, licensing terms, and application procedures required to participate in this opportunity.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
UT-Battelle, LLC, acting under its Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the management and operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is seeking commercialization partners for its Methods for Immunoregulation by Modulating Plasminogen-Apple-Nematode (PAN) Domain-Containing Proteins. The ORNL Technology Transfer Office will accept license applications through April 27, 2026 for the following patent pending technologies:
4200 – A PROTEIN DOMAIN MODULATING HOST-CELL INVASION
Infection by specific microbes can confer beneficial phenotypes in plants including nitrogen fixation by bacteria, for example. However, the same molecular mechanisms that lead to colonization by symbionts can facilitate infection by disease-causing microbes and parasites in plants and animals. This invention shows that the presence of a fully functional protein domain leads to suppression of host immunity to facilitate host-cell invasion by symbionts, pathogens and parasites across eukaryotic organisms. Specific modification of essential amino acids in this domain will lead to induction of defense responses to prevent host-cell invasion. Therefore, this domain and its essential amino acids can be engineered to facilitate or prevent host-cell invasion by organisms including bacteria, fungi and obligate parasites such as nematodes, Rickettsia and Plasmodium sp.
Applications and Industries
- Healthcare
- Biology
Update #1 ·
UT-Battelle, LLC, acting under its Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the management and operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is seeking commercialization partners for its Cryogenic DT Fusion Pellet Injection System. The ORNL Technology Transfer Office will accept license applications through April 27, 2026 for the following patent pending technologies:
5675 - SOLID CONVEYANCE WITH SINGLE PHASE CHANGE METHOD FOR CRYOGENIC EXTRUSION RECIRCULATION
A cryogenic extrusion recirculation system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a cryogenically-cooled extruder configured to form solid deuterium-tritium pellets and discharge the pellets through an extruder nozzle. Excess solid extrusion discharged from the extruder nozzle is received by a cryogenically-cooled auger, which conveys the excess material into a restrictive section. The excess material consolidates in the restrictive section as a solid fuel plug. A heater section is positioned downstream of the restrictive section and applies energy to the leading portion of the solid fuel plug, converting the leading portion of the solid fuel plug into a gaseous phase. This gaseous phase is then recirculated into the cryogenically-cooled extruder to support continuous pellet formation in a controlled and efficient manner. Other embodiments include one or more cryopumps in lieu of the cryogenically-cooled auger for converting the excess material into a gaseous phase for recirculation.
6044 - TRITIUM-COMPATIBLE CRYOGENIC SCREW EXTRUDER FOR PLASMA ENERGY PELLET INJECTION
A cryogenic screw extruder for the continuous production of deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion fuel pellets is provided. The cryogenic screw extruder includes a cryogenically-cooled barrel that maintains extrusion temperatures in the range of 9 K to 20 K. Hermetic separation is achieved through a tritium-compatible rotary seal, which may include a magnetic coupler seal, a ferrofluidic seal, or a labyrinth seal. In embodiments employing the magnetic seal, internal bearings are lubricated using radiation-resistant deuterated hydrocarbon-based grease. In embodiments employing a ferrofluidic seal, the ferrofluid includes a radiation-hard base oil and a tritium-compatible surfactant to ensure long-term stability. In embodiments employing a labyrinth seal, a deuterium purge gas is supplied to the seal. The cryogenic screw extruder enables reliable solidification and extrusion of fusion fuel gases at cryogenic temperatures, while maintaining tritium containment and precise control of continuous pellet formation.
6047 - TRITIUM-COMPATIBLE CRYOGENIC PELLET GAS GUN
A tritium-compatible pellet gas gun for a deuterium-tritium (D-T) pellet fueling apparatus is provided. In one aspect, the tritium-compatible pellet gas gun includes a pellet sizer assembly that provides in situ adjustment of pellet length during injector operation. The pellet sizer assembly includes a guillotine slide that is actuated by a pusher tube, the guillotine slide being operable to restrict the orifice of the extruder nozzle to reduce pellet length with fine resolution. The tritium-compatible pellet gas gun also includes dual flexible metal bellows seals that maintain hermetic separation between the D-T fuel region, a guard vacuum, and the ambient environment, while still permitting linear motion. This configuration allows the pellet length to be reduced by up to 50% without venting or warming the D-T pellet fueling apparatus.
6052 - PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FOR CRYOGENIC FUSION FUELS
A pressure relief device for use in deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion fueling systems is provided. In one aspect, the pressure relief device includes a valve body, a valve housing, and a tapered valve seal. The valve body and the valve housing are formed from tritium-compatible materials such as stainless steel or titanium, while the tapered valve seal is formed from a copper alloy. A helical compression spring allows the valve body to open under a differential pressure of at least 1 bar to relieve excess system pressure, while ensuring reliable reseating to restore a tight seal once pressures normalize. In addition, the pressure relief device supports operation as a check valve under differential pressures of 1 bar or greater. To provide redundant safety protection, the pressure relief device is configured with a burst disc in parallel, ensuring that excess pressure can be relieved even in the unlikely event of valve failure.
Applications and Industries
- Fusion energy fueling systems that handle cryogenic tritium
- Advanced nuclear and energy research facilities
- Cryogenic engineering and containment systems
Similar open opportunities
| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: NanoFET | Department of Energy | No set-aside | |
| TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Selective Separation | Department of Energy | No set-aside | |
| TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Heat Pipe Reactor Fire Mitigation and Suppression System | Department of Energy | No set-aside | |
| RELAP5-3D 4. x: Thermal-Hydraulic Nuclear Reactor Analysis, Licensing Opportunity | Department of Energy | No set-aside | |
| TIDAL: Target-Induced Droplet Assembly of Ligands | Department of Energy | No set-aside |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity