DNN RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAM: CONSORTIA FOR NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION | DE FOA 0003180

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003180

The funding opportunity titled "DNN Research and Development University Program: Consortia for Nuclear Nonproliferation" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003180) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort administered through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), specifically its Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D). The core purpose of the program is to sponsor university-led research consortia that can push forward new ideas, methods, and technologies that help the United States detect and counter nuclear proliferation threats. In practical terms, the government is looking to strengthen the scientific and engineering base that supports nuclear nonproliferation by funding coordinated academic teams that can generate usable advances and also help train the next generation of technical experts.

At the mission level, DNN R&D is focused on innovation that can move beyond basic research and ultimately feed into operational systems. The opportunity emphasizes a pathway where new concepts are developed and tested with an eye toward eventual integration into real-world tools used by the U.S. nonproliferation enterprise. A key feature of the program is its emphasis on leveraging a broad set of national capabilities: work is expected to draw on expertise and facilities across the national laboratories, plants, and sites, while also tapping into the creativity and research depth of universities and, where appropriate, private industry. The overall theme is that nonproliferation challenges are technically complex and require coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches that no single institution can easily provide on its own, which is why the consortium model is central.

The technical scope described in the announcement centers on creating and improving capabilities to detect, identify, and characterize major categories of nuclear security threats. These include (1) foreign nuclear weapons development activities, meaning the kinds of signatures, indicators, and technical evidence that could reveal weapons-related work; (2) illicit diversion of special nuclear materials, which relates to preventing or discovering the unauthorized movement or theft of materials that could be used in nuclear weapons; (3) nuclear explosions globally, which ties to the science and technology used to detect and interpret evidence of nuclear detonations anywhere in the world; and (4) stewardship of U.S. technical capabilities in nuclear nonproliferation, which is essentially about maintaining and advancing the underlying expertise, tools, and research base that make detection and attribution possible over the long term. The wording signals that the government is interested both in near-to-mid-term technology outcomes and in sustaining national capacity, including specialized skills and research infrastructure.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. That generally indicates an expectation of substantial involvement by the sponsoring agency during the life of the award, such as technical collaboration, coordinated planning, or programmatic oversight beyond what is typical for a standard grant. The activity category is listed under energy, science and technology, and other research and development, and the associated CFDA (now often referred to under assistance listings) number is 81.113. The eligible applicants are private institutions of higher education, which frames this as a university-driven program rather than one led by federal labs or commercial entities, even though partnerships and collaboration across sectors are clearly part of the intent.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $50,000,000 and anticipates making 2 awards. That combination implies large, multi-institution consortia with significant scope, likely designed to cover a range of research thrusts rather than a single narrow project. The announcement date information indicates the opportunity was created on 2023-11-15, with an original closing date of 2024-02-06, which suggests a defined submission window and a structured selection process typical of major federal R&D programs.

Taken together, this FOA is essentially a large, university-centered investment in nonproliferation science and technology: developing advanced detection and characterization methods, strengthening the pipeline from research to operational deployment, and building a durable technical workforce and knowledge base. The program is positioned to connect academic innovation with the applied mission needs of NNSA and its national laboratory partners, with the end goal of reducing global nuclear security risks through better tools, better data, and better trained experts.

• The NNSA in the energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DNN RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAM: CONSORTIA FOR NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.113.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DE FOA 0003180

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: