Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II Continuation Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DE-FOA-0003539
- Agency
-
National Nuclear Security Administration
Department of Energy
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $1,200,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Energy
- Eligible applicants
-
- For Profit Organizations
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Small Businesses
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy is seeking applications from U.S. universities for the Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II Continuation Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) grant program. The funding opportunity targets nuclear energy-related research that supports four key mission priorities: maintaining existing nuclear reactors, deploying new nuclear reactors, securing the nuclear fuel cycle, and expanding international nuclear energy cooperation. Eligible projects must be direct continuations of active CINR projects concluding between January 1 and September 30, 2026, and must demonstrate strong alignment with DOE priorities. Applications will be evaluated based on technical merit, past project performance, applicant team capabilities, and relevance to nuclear energy research objectives. Critical submission dates include a Letter of Intent deadline of January 21, 2026, and a Full Application deadline of May 20, 2026, with anticipated award notifications by September 30, 2026.
The funding opportunity has a total estimated budget of $3 million, with anticipated awards ranging from 0-4 grants between $300,000 and $1,000,000 per project. An optional Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) supplement of up to $50,000 per project is available, and the performance period will span two years beginning February 1, 2027. All proposed work must be performed in the United States, with U.S. universities eligible as prime recipients and national laboratories, industry entities, and other domestic organizations permitted as subrecipients. The grant falls under the Nuclear Energy Research, Development and Demonstration program (CFDA 81.121) and requires compliance with export control regulations and research security training requirements.
Synopsis
The Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental, and economic needs. 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: • Keep existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating; • Deploy new nuclear reactors; • Secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle; and • Expand international nuclear energy cooperation. NE conducts crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R & D) and associated infrastructure support activities to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for its mission needs as stated above, while maximizing the impact of NE resources. NE strives to promote integrated and collaborative research conducted by national laboratory, university, industry, and international partners under the direction of NE's programs; deploy innovative nuclear energy technologies to the market; and optimize the benefits of nuclear energy. All applications submitted under this CINR Phase II Continuation NOFO must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of these four mission priorities and highlight how they support DOE priorities. • NE is seeking CINR Phase II Continuation applications from U.S. universities to conduct nuclear energy-related research to help meet the objectives of the major NE funded research areas. • The NOFO is focused on continuing promising research pathways by soliciting applications that directly complement and extend research that has previously been awarded research through NEUP. • CINR awarded projects, including R & D and IRPs, that conclude between January 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026, are eligible to apply. Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) Access Only projects are NOT eligible to apply to this funding opportunity. Instead, they should apply to the NSUF Access Only process under the separate FY 2026 CINR NOFO for additional access to NSUF capabilities.
Files
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity