Fiscal Year 2024 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research

Description

A. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESThe Office of Nuclear Energy (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• Expand international nuclear energy cooperationCollectively, all NE-sponsored activities support the Department’s priorities to combat the climate crisis, create clean energy jobs with the free and fair chance to join a union and bargain collectively, and promote equity and environmental justice by delivering innovative clean energy technologies for nuclear energy systems.The development of nuclear energy-related infrastructure and basic capabilities in the research community is necessary to promote Research and Development (R&D) that supports nuclear science and engineering (NS&E), NE’s mission, and the nation’s nuclear energy challenges. Accordingly, DOE intends to facilitate the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy-makers through graduate and undergraduate study, two-year programs, and R&D that is relevant to the Department and the U.S. nuclear energy industry in general.Within Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), the specific goals of this Infrastructure FOA are:• To support, maintain, or enhance the institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;• Build the institution’s research or education capabilities; and• Enhance the institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to NE’s mission.The following targeted objectives within this Infrastructure FOA will aide in achieving these goals.(1) Upgrade and improve U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors. Upgrades for a research reactor that include the acquisition of equipment and/or instrumentation for activities related to safety, performance, control, or operational reliability. For example, equipment acquired for security/safety enhancements required by the federal/state/local regulatory agencies is permitted.(2) Obtain equipment and instrumentation that significantly improves or expands the research, instruction, training capabilities, and/or operating capabilities related to NE program missions (e.g., utilization or handling of radiological or radioactive materials). For example, this may include radiation detection and measurement equipment.(3) Contribute to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure.Requests should focus on individual, discrete, definable items or capabilities. An applicant must demonstrate the educational or R&D connection between requested pieces of equipment to support the NE mission. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest. A request should not duplicate existing capabilities. To review existing NE R&D capabilities in the United States, refer to the Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database (NEID), available at https://nsuf-infrastructure.inl.gov (account login required). Information on current NE research programs can be found at NE’s website: https://energy.gov/ne.NE reserves the right to respond to potential shifts in priorities during FY 2024 that may be driven by events, policy developments, or Congressional/budget direction. NE will factor such considerations into decisions related to the timing and scale of award announcements associated with this FOA.

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