Fiscal Year 2022 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research | DE FOA 0002517

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002517

The Fiscal Year 2022 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research opportunity (DOE FOA 0002517) is a discretionary grant program run through the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), with administration tied to the Idaho Field Office. Its core purpose is to strengthen the university-based scientific infrastructure that underpins crosscutting nuclear energy research and development, especially work that could lead to major performance gains in advanced reactor designs and nuclear fuel cycle concepts. The program is framed around making smart, efficient use of DOE resources by investing in the kinds of research capabilities and training environments that universities need in order to produce both high-impact R&D and a strong pipeline of nuclear professionals.

A major theme of the announcement is that research breakthroughs do not happen in a vacuum: they depend on access to modern facilities, specialized equipment, and foundational capabilities that let faculty and students do credible, relevant work. DOE-NE is explicitly linking infrastructure support to national needs in nuclear science and engineering and to its own mission priorities. At the same time, the opportunity is meant to reinforce education and workforce development, supporting the training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy professionals through undergraduate, graduate, and two-year programs, alongside R&D that aligns with DOE needs and the broader U.S. nuclear energy industry.

The funding is offered through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which can allocate up to 20 percent of the funds appropriated to DOE-NE R&D for university-based infrastructure support and related research in key program areas. The FOA highlights three technical focus areas that are central to DOE-NE priorities: Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FC R&D), Reactor Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration (RC RD&D), and Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS). In practice, this means proposals are expected to connect the requested infrastructure to one or more of these mission-relevant areas, whether the institution is strengthening experimental capabilities, modeling and simulation capacity, or other specialized nuclear engineering and science capabilities.

What DOE is looking for on the infrastructure side is very specific: requests should be for individual, discrete, and clearly definable items or capabilities that tangibly improve an institution’s ability to educate students and conduct mission-relevant nuclear work. The FOA emphasizes three allowable outcomes for infrastructure investments: supporting, maintaining, or enhancing the institution’s ability to attract and teach high-quality students in nuclear energy-related fields; building the institution’s research or education capabilities; and enhancing the institution’s capacity to perform R&D that aligns with DOE-NE’s mission. Just as important are the constraints: the request is supposed to center on a single, synergistic goal or capability, not a shopping list of unrelated equipment. DOE also states that proposed infrastructure should not duplicate existing capabilities, which signals that applicants need to show why the investment fills a real gap and how it fits into a coherent plan.

The announcement also notes that DOE-NE may adjust to shifting priorities during FY 2022 due to events, policy changes, or Congressional and budget direction. In practical terms, applicants should understand that even well-aligned proposals can be affected by timing, funding levels, and programmatic emphasis as the fiscal year evolves. DOE indicates it will consider these external drivers when deciding the timing and scale of award announcements under this FOA.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. universities and colleges, consistent with 2 CFR 910.126(b). The eligible applicant types listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education (with “others” also referenced in the source data, but the narrative language makes clear that eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. universities and colleges). The FOA also encourages applications from underrepresented groups and Minority-Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Serving Institutions, reflecting a stated interest in broadening participation and strengthening nuclear education and research capacity across a more diverse set of institutions.

From the funding details provided, the program uses a grant instrument and is categorized under the energy funding activity (CFDA number 81.121). The award ceiling listed is $5,000,000. The original closing date shown is November 12, 2021, and the FOA creation date is August 30, 2021. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an infrastructure-focused investment intended to produce long-term payoffs: stronger university laboratories and capabilities, better training environments for students, and more capacity across the academic community to contribute to DOE-NE’s advanced reactor, fuel cycle, and modeling and simulation priorities.

• The Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2022 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-12. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0002517

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