Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003244
The Glovebox Manufacturing Expansion Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003244) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) intended to strengthen and expand domestic capability to produce nuclear gloveboxes. Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means the government anticipates an active role in overseeing or collaborating on key aspects of the funded work. The program sits at the intersection of business and commerce, energy, and science and technology, reflecting its practical manufacturing focus alongside national security and nuclear enterprise needs. The posted closing date for submissions was April 5, 2024, and the opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $5,000,000 per award with an expectation of around 10 total awards.
At its core, the funding is specifically limited to projects that expand or modernize glovebox manufacturing facilities. Expansion or modernization is defined in practical, capacity-driven terms: either significantly enlarging an existing facility or increasing the production capacity of an existing facility through material capital investment. In other words, the program is not aimed at minor process tweaks or routine maintenance. Proposals are judged on how substantial the investment is compared to what the applicant currently produces, so applicants need to show that the requested funds will meaningfully move the needle in throughput, capability, or facility scale relative to their baseline operations.
Eligibility is tightly focused on domestic nuclear glovebox manufacturers that can successfully perform the work under federal assistance rules (including 2 CFR Part 200). To qualify as a domestic entity, the applicant must be organized under U.S. state or territorial law, be majority domestically owned and controlled, and maintain a physical place of business in the United States. The opportunity also clearly excludes any entity that is barred from doing business with the federal government, including those that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible for federal programs.
The solicitation also builds in quality and supply chain requirements tied to nuclear work. Funding is available to glovebox manufacturers that can demonstrate they have fabricated gloveboxes certified to nuclear NQA-1 standards or certified under ISO 9001. In addition, the program can support manufacturers that are contributing to the nuclear security enterprise through a partnership with an existing NQA-1 nuclear glovebox manufacturer, which provides a pathway for capable firms that may not yet hold NQA-1 credentials themselves but are working closely with a qualified partner.
On the administrative side, applicants must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) before applying and must keep that registration current. A valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) must be included in the application. Finally, the opportunity includes a cybersecurity expectation: applicants must have implemented, or be actively implementing, the requirements in NIST Special Publication 800-171, which is the common federal benchmark for protecting controlled unclassified information in non-federal systems. This means applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their cybersecurity posture and compliance trajectory as part of being considered a responsible recipient.
Overall, this initiative is designed to increase U.S.-based glovebox manufacturing capacity and resilience by investing in significant facility upgrades or expansions, while ensuring recipients meet domestic presence and ownership rules, are qualified to build to relevant nuclear or industrial quality standards, and can meet federal cybersecurity expectations.Apply for DE FOA 0003244
- The NNSA in the business and commerce, energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Glovebox Manufacturing Expansion Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.258.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-05. (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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
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Glovebox Manufacturing Expansion Initiative (DE FOA 0003244) - FAQs
What is the Glovebox Manufacturing Expansion Initiative (DE FOA 0003244)?
The Glovebox Manufacturing Expansion Initiative is a discretionary funding opportunity from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) intended to strengthen and expand domestic capability to produce nuclear gloveboxes.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0003244.
What type of award is expected?
Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements. This typically means the government anticipates an active role in overseeing or collaborating on key aspects of the funded work.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is designed to increase U.S.-based nuclear glovebox manufacturing capacity and resilience by investing in significant facility upgrades or expansions.
What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?
Funding is specifically limited to projects that expand or modernize glovebox manufacturing facilities. Expansion or modernization is framed as capacity-driven work: either significantly enlarging an existing facility or increasing the production capacity of an existing facility through material capital investment.
Does this program fund minor improvements, routine maintenance, or small process changes?
The opportunity is not aimed at minor process tweaks or routine maintenance. Proposals are judged on how substantial the investment is compared to what the applicant currently produces, so the requested funds need to meaningfully increase throughput, capability, or facility scale relative to baseline operations.
How will proposals be evaluated in terms of the size of the investment?
Proposals are judged on how substantial the investment is compared to what the applicant currently produces. Applicants should be prepared to show that the requested funds will meaningfully increase throughput, capability, or facility scale relative to their existing baseline operations.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is tightly focused on domestic nuclear glovebox manufacturers that can successfully perform the work under federal assistance rules, including 2 CFR Part 200.
What does "domestic" mean for eligibility purposes?
To qualify as a domestic entity, an applicant must be organized under U.S. state or territorial law, be majority domestically owned and controlled, and maintain a physical place of business in the United States.
Are entities with federal exclusions allowed to apply?
No. The opportunity excludes any entity that is barred from doing business with the federal government, including those that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible for federal programs.
What quality standards are relevant for applicants?
Funding is available to glovebox manufacturers that can demonstrate they have fabricated gloveboxes certified to nuclear NQA-1 standards or certified under ISO 9001.
Is there a pathway for manufacturers that do not yet have NQA-1 certification?
Yes. The program can support manufacturers that are contributing to the nuclear security enterprise through a partnership with an existing NQA-1 nuclear glovebox manufacturer, creating a pathway for capable firms that may not yet hold NQA-1 credentials themselves.
What is the award ceiling per award?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $5,000,000 per award.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of around 10 total awards.
When was the posted closing date for submissions?
The posted closing date for submissions was April 5, 2024.
What registrations are required before applying?
Applicants must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) before applying and must keep that registration current.
Is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required?
Yes. A valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) must be included in the application.
Are there federal assistance compliance requirements?
Yes. Applicants must be able to successfully perform the work under federal assistance rules, including 2 CFR Part 200.
What cybersecurity requirements or expectations apply?
Applicants must have implemented, or be actively implementing, the requirements in NIST Special Publication 800-171. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their cybersecurity posture and compliance trajectory as part of being considered a responsible recipient.
What areas does this opportunity relate to?
The program sits at the intersection of business and commerce, energy, and science and technology, reflecting a practical manufacturing focus alongside national security and nuclear enterprise needs.
What is the program trying to strengthen in the United States?
The initiative is intended to strengthen and expand domestic capability to produce nuclear gloveboxes, improving capacity and resilience in U.S.-based glovebox manufacturing.
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