Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002516
The Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002516) is a Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) competitive grant program designed to push forward U.S. nuclear energy research, development, and enabling infrastructure. At its core, the opportunity is built around DOE-NEs three big mission priorities: keeping the current U.S. reactor fleet economically viable and competitive for the long haul, building a strong pipeline of advanced reactors moving from concept to demonstration and deployment, and strengthening the national fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure that supports nuclear energy. Proposals are expected to clearly connect to at least one of those priorities and also explain how the work supports broader DOE goals such as addressing the climate crisis, supporting good clean energy jobs (including the chance to organize and collectively bargain), and advancing equity and environmental justice through the delivery of innovative clean energy nuclear technologies.
This FOA focuses on crosscutting nuclear R and D and related infrastructure support, meaning it is not limited to a single reactor design or one narrow technical topic. DOE-NE is looking for work that can produce step-change improvements in performance, safety, capability, or cost, while making strong use of DOE resources and facilities. A major theme in the announcement is practical relevance to the advanced reactor community, especially the private sector developers that need data, materials testing, validation, and other foundational R and D to reduce technical risk. The opportunity highlights the DOE Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) effort, which works with reactor developers to identify high-value R and D objectives that DOE programs can tackle. Applicants are pointed to detailed topic areas and potential work scopes in the FOA appendices (Part IX, Appendices A through C), and the DOE explicitly encourages applications that can support measurements, materials, and test conditions useful to advanced reactor developers, including fast-spectrum concepts (lead-cooled, sodium-cooled, and gas-cooled), molten salt reactors, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
The CINR FOA represents the competitive portion of DOE-NEs broader R and D portfolio, and it is implemented largely through two major mechanisms. The first is the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which supports university-led R and D and university infrastructure in DOE-NE priority areas. The FOA notes that NEUP uses up to 20 percent of DOE-NE R and D appropriations for university-based work aligned to key program areas, including Fuel Cycle R and D, Reactor Concepts R D and D, Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS), and Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Crosscutting Technology Development (NEET CTD). The second mechanism is the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF), which provides researchers access to high-end nuclear research infrastructure. NSUF, established in 2007, offers no-cost access to capabilities like material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination facilities, enabling universities, national laboratories, and industry to perform experiments and analyses that would otherwise be difficult or prohibitively expensive.
From an applicant and award structure standpoint, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is administered by the DOE (Idaho Field Office) and categorized under the Energy funding activity area (CFDA 81.121). Eligible applicants are broad and include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with additional eligible entities as clarified in the FOA. The award ceiling is listed at $5,000,000, and DOE anticipated making about 76 awards. The FOA was created on August 30, 2021, with an original closing date of February 9, 2022.
Finally, the announcement makes clear that while the FOA lays out current and upcoming priorities, DOE-NE retains flexibility. It reserves the right to adjust to shifts in R and D priorities during FY 2022 based on external drivers like events, policy changes, or congressional and budget direction, and it also reserves the right to fund all or only part of an application. In practical terms, that signals a program that is both mission-driven and adaptive, aiming to strengthen U.S. nuclear technology readiness, accelerate advanced reactor development, and expand access to specialized national laboratory-scale infrastructure that can move nuclear innovations toward deployment.Apply for DE FOA 0002516
- The Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2022 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 Aug 30, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 09, 2022. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 76 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) funding opportunity?
The Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) funding opportunity is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) competitive program intended to advance U.S. nuclear energy research, development, and enabling infrastructure. It is issued under DE-FOA-0002516.
Which DOE office sponsors and manages this FOA?
The opportunity is sponsored by DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) and is administered by the DOE Idaho Field Office.
What kind of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity area for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Energy funding activity area and listed as CFDA 81.121.
What are DOE-NE's three mission priorities that proposals should align with?
Proposals are expected to clearly connect to at least one of DOE-NE's three mission priorities: (1) sustaining the current U.S. reactor fleet to remain economically viable and competitive long-term, (2) developing a strong pipeline of advanced reactors from concept through demonstration and deployment, and (3) strengthening national fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure that supports nuclear energy.
Are proposals required to address broader DOE goals beyond technical nuclear R&D?
Yes. Applicants are expected to explain how the work supports broader DOE goals such as addressing the climate crisis, supporting good clean energy jobs (including the chance to organize and collectively bargain), and advancing equity and environmental justice through delivery of innovative clean energy nuclear technologies.
Is the CINR FOA limited to one reactor design or a single technical topic?
No. The FOA emphasizes crosscutting nuclear R&D and related infrastructure support, and it is not limited to a single reactor design or a narrow technical topic.
What types of improvements is DOE-NE looking for from funded work?
DOE-NE is looking for work that can deliver step-change improvements in performance, safety, capability, or cost, while also making strong use of DOE resources and facilities.
How is this FOA intended to support advanced reactor developers, especially in the private sector?
A central theme is practical relevance to the advanced reactor community, including private sector developers who need foundational R&D such as data generation, materials testing, validation, and other work that reduces technical risk.
What is GAIN and how does it relate to this funding opportunity?
The FOA highlights the DOE Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) effort, which works with reactor developers to identify high-value R&D objectives that DOE programs can address. The opportunity encourages applications that align with needs relevant to advanced reactor development.
Where are the detailed topic areas and potential work scopes described?
Applicants are directed to the FOA appendices for detailed topic areas and potential work scopes, specifically Part IX, Appendices A through C.
What reactor concepts are specifically mentioned as examples of areas where measurements, materials, and test conditions may be useful?
The FOA notes that useful measurements, materials, and test conditions may support a range of advanced reactor concepts, including fast-spectrum concepts (lead-cooled, sodium-cooled, and gas-cooled), molten salt reactors, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
How does CINR fit into DOE-NE's broader R&D portfolio?
The CINR FOA represents the competitive portion of DOE-NE's broader research and development portfolio, and it is implemented largely through two major mechanisms: the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF).
What is the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) in the context of this FOA?
NEUP supports university-led R&D and university infrastructure aligned with DOE-NE priority areas. The FOA notes that NEUP uses up to 20 percent of DOE-NE R&D appropriations for university-based work aligned to key program areas.
Which program areas are explicitly listed as examples of NEUP-aligned work?
The FOA lists examples of key program areas including Fuel Cycle R&D, Reactor Concepts R&D and D, Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS), and Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Crosscutting Technology Development (NEET CTD).
What is the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program and what does it provide?
NSUF is a program established in 2007 that provides researchers no-cost access to specialized nuclear research infrastructure. It enables universities, national laboratories, and industry to conduct experiments and analyses that might otherwise be difficult or prohibitively expensive.
What kinds of facilities or capabilities does NSUF make available?
The FOA describes NSUF as providing access to capabilities such as material test reactors, beam lines, and post-irradiation examination facilities.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with additional eligible entities as clarified in the FOA.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000.
How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 76 awards under this FOA.
When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date?
The FOA was created on August 30, 2021, and the original closing date was February 9, 2022.
Does DOE-NE reserve the right to change priorities during the fiscal year?
Yes. The FOA states that DOE-NE retains flexibility and may adjust to shifts in R&D priorities during FY 2022 based on external drivers such as events, policy changes, or congressional and budget direction.
Can DOE fund only part of a proposed application?
Yes. The announcement states that DOE reserves the right to fund all or only part of an application.
What is the overall intent or practical outcome DOE is aiming for with this FOA?
The FOA signals a mission-driven and adaptive program intended to strengthen U.S. nuclear technology readiness, accelerate advanced reactor development, and expand access to specialized national laboratory-scale infrastructure that can help move nuclear innovations toward deployment.
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