Open DE-FOA-0003539 CFDA 81.121 Discretionary

Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II Continuation Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research

Posted by Idaho Field Office

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II Continuation Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research — is cataloged under number DE-FOA-0003539 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 81.121, posted by Idaho Field Office. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on December 15, 2025 and last updated on January 15, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is Up to $1,200,000. The agency has projected $3.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 4 awards. If the agency funds the expected 4 awards from the $3.0 million estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $750,000. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on May 20, 2026. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.

Award Range

Up to $1,200,000

Close Date

May 20, 2026

Posted

December 15, 2025

Est. Total Funding

$3,000,000

Expected Awards

4

Instrument

Grant

Description

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.

Eligibility

06;20;22;23

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Rebecca B. Hansen 208-526-1720<br/>hansenrb@id.doe.gov<br/> Andrew Ford 208-526-3059<br/>fordaj@id.doe.gov

Key Dates

Posted December 15, 2025
Close Date May 20, 2026
Archive Date June 19, 2026
Last Updated January 15, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II Continuation Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research", offered by Idaho Field Office. It is associated with CFDA program 81.121. 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 a...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is May 20, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is Up to $1,200,000. Total estimated funding: $3,000,000. Expected number of awards: 4.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

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