Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DE-FOA-0003541
- Agency
-
National Nuclear Security Administration
Department of Energy
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $1,500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Energy
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy seeks applications from U.S. universities and colleges for infrastructure improvements supporting nuclear energy research, education, and operational capabilities through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). This funding opportunity prioritizes discrete equipment and infrastructure enhancements that advance nuclear energy science and technology while supporting the development of the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers. Eligible applicants must be higher education institutions organized under U.S. law with domestic ownership and control, and all work must be performed in the United States. Applications will be evaluated using merit-based criteria that vary by topic area: Topic Area 1 (Reactor Upgrades) emphasizes safety, security, and operations (40%), impact (20%), utilization (20%), and execution (20%); Topic Area 2 (General Scientific Infrastructure) equally weights impact, utilization, execution, and education/research innovation (25% each), with up to 3 bonus points for Nuclear Science User Facilities partnership. The application deadline is April 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with anticipated award notifications by September 30, 2026, and awards commencing February 1, 2027.
Total available funding for this opportunity is approximately $5,000,000, distributed across two topic areas. Topic Area 1 (Reactor Upgrades) offers approximately $2,500,000 for 3-5 awards ranging from $0-$1,500,000 each, restricted to 24 specific universities with research reactors. Topic Area 2 (General Scientific Infrastructure) offers approximately $2,500,000 for 1-10 awards of approximately $250,000 each, open to all U.S. institutions of higher education, with cost sharing required only for requests exceeding $250,000 (1-to-1 match). The estimated project performance period is 12 months, beginning February 1, 2027, with all work to be performed in the United States.
Synopsis
The Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) program purpose is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental and economic needs. NE enables innovation, supports unique research infrastructure, and solves crosscutting challenges facing the nuclear energy sector through research, development and demonstration. 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: • Enable continued operation of existing U.S. nuclear reactors. • Enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. • Develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles. • Maintain U.S. leadership in nuclear energy technology. • Enable a high-performing organization. Investing in the next generation of nuclear energy leaders and advancing university-led nuclear innovation is vital to fulfilling NE's mission, which is primarily accomplished through NE's Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). NEUP was established in 2009 to consolidate NE's university support and enable the integration of university research within NE's technical programs. Through various competitive award opportunities, the program engages with U.S. universities and colleges to conduct research and development (R & D), enhance infrastructure, and support student education, thereby contributing to the development of a world-class nuclear energy and workforce capability. Since its inception, NE has awarded more than $1 billion to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education through the NEUP program to continue American energy leadership and to train the next generation of nuclear engineers, scientists and policymakers. The NEUP overarching goal is to support outstanding, cutting-edge, and innovative research at U.S. colleges and universities through the following: • Administering NEUP R & D awards to support NE's goal of integrating R & D at universities, national laboratories, and industry to revitalize nuclear education and support NE's R & D program objectives; • Attracting the brightest students to the nuclear professions and supporting the nation's intellectual capital in nuclear energy-related engineering and relevant nuclear science, such as health physics, nuclear materials science, radiochemistry, and applied nuclear physics through broad outreach, scholarships, and fellowships awards; and • Improving relevant college and university infrastructure for conducting nuclear energy-related R & D and educating students through infrastructure awards.
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