Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002264

The Integrated University Program (IUP) Nuclear Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation is a U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R and D) funding opportunity designed to strengthen and sustain the nuclear science and engineering talent pipeline in direct support of nonproliferation missions. Created under Section 313 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, the IUP structure is meant to connect universities and federal laboratories in a deliberate, long-term way, so that foundational academic research and education efforts align with the applied, mission-driven research and development work carried out at DOE and NNSA national laboratories, sites, and complexes. The basic idea is to build a durable bridge: universities focus on innovative and challenging early-stage concepts and methods, while national labs mature those ideas into mission-ready capabilities that can be adopted by operational programs or transitioned to industry for commercialization when appropriate.

The FOA (DE FOA 0002264) plans to fund one or two five-year cooperative agreements to establish and operate a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education. The consortium model is central to the opportunity. Rather than awarding many stand-alone university grants, DOE NNSA intends to fund a lead university-led organization that can receive and administer federal funds on behalf of multiple member universities and partners. DOE national laboratories are expected to participate as consortium members as well, reinforcing the program goal of tightly linking academic work with government facilities and real nonproliferation needs. Each university member is expected to have defined roles, make specific technical or educational contributions, and receive a specified portion of the overall funding, rather than participating informally.

The funding is intended to support a mix of student and faculty research as well as fellowship and scholarship activities sponsored by DOE NNSA DNN R and D. In practical terms, this means the consortium should function as both a research engine and a workforce development pipeline, cultivating students, postdocs, and faculty in nuclear science and engineering areas that matter to nonproliferation. The program emphasizes multi-year research projects, reflecting the reality that high-impact nuclear engineering and nuclear security work often requires sustained investment, specialized facilities, and continuity of expertise.

A key expectation is that research outcomes should feed back into university education. The FOA calls for research results to be incorporated into curricula so that new knowledge, methods, and tools developed through the consortium do not remain isolated in laboratories but instead become part of how the next generation of engineers and scientists are trained. Another prominent theme is mobility and collaboration: students, faculty, and researchers should be able to move across institutional boundaries between universities and DOE/NNSA facilities with minimal administrative friction, while still appropriately protecting sensitive information and materials. The consortium is also expected to build reciprocal arrangements among member universities and formal working relationships with relevant DOE national laboratories, which helps ensure that training, access to facilities, and collaborative research are organized and repeatable over the long term.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement in program direction, coordination, and oversight compared to a standard grant. The activity category is Energy under CFDA 81.113. Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, with the intent that a consortium of such institutions forms the applicant organization and governance structure.

The FOA listing includes an award ceiling of $25,000,000. While the narrative describes awarding one or two cooperative agreements for a consortium, the source data also lists expected awards as 10, which may reflect sub-awards within the consortium structure, multiple funding actions over time, or an artifact of how the opportunity was entered in the system. The opportunity was posted April 29, 2020, with an original closing date of July 29, 2020. Overall, the program is best understood as a long-duration, consortium-based partnership mechanism meant to keep the nuclear science and engineering field strong, produce nonproliferation-relevant research, and deliberately develop the skilled workforce needed to carry those capabilities forward inside government, national laboratories, and industry.

  • The Department of Energy, NNSA in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integrated University Program (IUP) Nuclear Engineering Consortium for 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 Apr 29, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 2020. (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 $25,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Integrated University Program (IUP) Nuclear Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation?

The Integrated University Program (IUP) Nuclear Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation is a U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R and D) funding opportunity designed to strengthen and sustain the nuclear science and engineering talent pipeline in direct support of nonproliferation missions.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to create a durable, long-term bridge between universities and DOE/NNSA national laboratories so that foundational academic research and education align with applied, mission-driven nonproliferation research and development. Universities are expected to pursue innovative early-stage concepts, while national labs help mature successful ideas into mission-ready capabilities that can be adopted by operational programs or, when appropriate, transitioned to industry for commercialization.

What is the FOA number for this opportunity?

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is DE-FOA-0002264.

What type of awards does DOE NNSA plan to make?

DOE NNSA plans to fund one or two cooperative agreements with a five-year period of performance to establish and operate a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education.

What is the anticipated duration of the funded project?

The planned project duration is five years, and the FOA emphasizes multi-year research projects to support sustained, high-impact work in nuclear engineering and nuclear security.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The FOA listing includes an award ceiling of $25,000,000.

How many awards are expected?

The narrative indicates DOE NNSA intends to fund one or two five-year cooperative agreements. However, the source data also lists expected awards as 10, which may reflect sub-awards within the consortium structure, multiple funding actions over time, or how the opportunity was entered in the system.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The intent is that a consortium of such institutions forms the applicant organization and governance structure.

Is this opportunity intended for a single university grant or a consortium model?

This opportunity is centered on a consortium model. Rather than awarding many stand-alone university grants, DOE NNSA intends to fund a lead university-led organization that receives and administers federal funds on behalf of multiple member universities and partners.

What role does a lead university play in the consortium?

The lead university-led organization is expected to serve as the central recipient and administrator of federal funds and to manage the consortium structure, including defined roles and funding allocations for member universities and partners.

Are DOE national laboratories involved?

Yes. DOE national laboratories are expected to participate as consortium members, reinforcing the goal of tightly linking academic work with government facilities and real nonproliferation needs.

Do consortium member universities need defined responsibilities?

Yes. Each university member is expected to have defined roles, make specific technical or educational contributions, and receive a specified portion of the overall funding, rather than participating informally.

What kinds of activities can be supported with the funding?

The funding is intended to support a mix of student and faculty research as well as fellowship and scholarship activities sponsored by DOE NNSA DNN R and D.

How does the opportunity support workforce development?

The consortium is expected to function as both a research engine and a workforce development pipeline by cultivating students, postdocs, and faculty in nuclear science and engineering areas relevant to nonproliferation missions.

Why does the FOA emphasize multi-year research projects?

The FOA emphasizes multi-year projects because high-impact nuclear engineering and nuclear security work often requires sustained investment, specialized facilities, and continuity of expertise.

Are research results expected to affect university teaching?

Yes. A key expectation is that research outcomes feed back into university education. The FOA calls for incorporating research results into curricula so new knowledge, methods, and tools developed through the consortium become part of how students are trained.

What does the FOA say about collaboration and mobility among institutions?

The FOA highlights mobility and collaboration as prominent themes. Students, faculty, and researchers should be able to move across institutional boundaries between universities and DOE/NNSA facilities with minimal administrative friction, while still appropriately protecting sensitive information and materials.

What kinds of relationships should the consortium establish?

The consortium is expected to build reciprocal arrangements among member universities and formal working relationships with relevant DOE national laboratories so that training, access to facilities, and collaborative research are organized and repeatable over the long term.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement in program direction, coordination, and oversight compared to a standard grant.

How is this opportunity categorized in federal assistance terms?

It is categorized as discretionary funding. The activity category is Energy, and it is listed under CFDA 81.113.

What legislation created the IUP structure referenced in this opportunity?

The IUP structure was created under Section 313 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.

When was this FOA posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on April 29, 2020, with an original closing date of July 29, 2020.

What is the intended long-term outcome of the consortium?

The program is intended to be a long-duration, consortium-based partnership mechanism that keeps the nuclear science and engineering field strong, produces nonproliferation-relevant research, and deliberately develops the skilled workforce needed across government, national laboratories, and industry.

Is commercialization mentioned as a possible pathway for outcomes?

Yes. The description notes that national labs may mature university ideas into mission-ready capabilities that can be adopted by operational programs or transitioned to industry for commercialization when appropriate.

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