Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003437
The Nuclear Science and Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation (DE-FOA-0003437) is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), specifically the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D). Its core aim is to strengthen the United States' ability to detect and counter nuclear proliferation by funding university-based basic research that directly supports and complements the more applied, mission-driven R&D conducted at DOE National Laboratories and other DOE sites. In practical terms, the program is designed to push forward new science, methods, and enabling technologies that can help identify foreign nuclear weapons development, uncover illicit diversion of special nuclear material, and detect and characterize nuclear explosions worldwide.
A central theme in the opportunity is the deliberate pairing of roles between universities and the national labs. Universities are expected to tackle the hardest foundational and exploratory research problems, proving out new concepts, techniques, and approaches in areas where basic science breakthroughs are still needed. National laboratories, in turn, are positioned to take those concepts and drive them toward mission-specific capability improvements, including integration into operational systems or eventual transfer to industry for commercialization. The FOA emphasizes transparency and strong linkages between Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and DOE labs as the mechanism for turning early-stage ideas into usable, real-world nonproliferation tools.
The technical scope of the work spans a set of disciplines that are foundational to nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear security. The opportunity explicitly calls out nuclear physics; nuclear science and engineering; radiation detection; nuclear materials science; radiochemistry; and mass spectrometry. These fields map directly onto the kinds of measurements and analyses needed to detect signatures of nuclear activities, discriminate benign sources from threat-relevant sources, and build credible technical assessments for decision-makers. The research is framed as "basic" research at universities, but it is expected to be tightly aligned with DNN R&D mission needs and complementary to lab programs focused on applied development and fieldable capability.
Beyond the science itself, the FOA places major weight on workforce development as a strategic outcome. A key secondary benefit of the funded research is to develop a diverse, highly skilled pipeline of students and early-career professionals who can become the next generation of technical leaders across nuclear mission areas. The opportunity highlights roles such as scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational personnel, and it connects the training value of the consortium to future work in nonproliferation, arms control, incident response, intelligence, and energy. While DOE National Laboratories are described as the primary beneficiaries in terms of future hiring and research staffing, the program is also intended to strengthen capability across academia, private industry, and other federal agencies involved in national security and nuclear-related missions, including the Departments of Energy, State, Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice, as well as the Intelligence Community.
Structurally, NNSA intends to fund this effort through a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial programmatic engagement from the federal sponsor compared to a standard grant. The NOFO states an intent to award one five-year cooperative agreement to a consortium of accredited IHEs that will serve as the vehicle to receive and administer federal financial assistance for student and faculty research, fellowships, and scholarships supported by DNN R&D. DOE National Laboratories are expected to participate as consortium members, and the member universities are expected to have defined contributions and receive defined portions of the total funding. The consortium may include student and research fellows and is expected to operate with a long-term objective of building and sustaining expertise in scientific disciplines that are directly relevant to nuclear nonproliferation.
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. The opportunity also makes clear that NNSA particularly encourages applications that include or support a broad range of institution types, including Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions. This emphasis aligns with the workforce-development purpose of the program and the broader goal of building a diverse national talent base for nuclear security missions.
Key administrative details provided include the activity category (Science and Technology and other Research and Development), the funding instrument (Cooperative Agreement), and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number (81.113). The opportunity was created on 2025-01-03, with an original closing date of 2025-04-04. The listed award ceiling is $25,000,000. The posting also notes "ExpectedAwards: 25," but the narrative description emphasizes awarding one five-year cooperative agreement to a consortium; taken together, that suggests the consortium award may distribute funding across multiple subawards, projects, or participating institutions and supported researchers, even if the prime award mechanism is a single overarching cooperative agreement.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a large, multi-institution university consortium model designed to (1) accelerate foundational research in areas that underpin nonproliferation detection and characterization, (2) tightly connect university innovation to national lab mission execution and operational transition pathways, and (3) build a sustained pipeline of trained experts who can carry these technical capabilities forward across the U.S. nuclear security enterprise.Apply for DE FOA 0003437
- The NNSA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND 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 2025-01-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-04. (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 25 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 Nuclear Science and Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation (DE-FOA-0003437)?
DE-FOA-0003437 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) funding opportunity focused on creating and supporting a university-based consortium to advance basic research that strengthens U.S. nuclear nonproliferation capabilities. The work is sponsored within NNSA by the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D).
Which office is sponsoring this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by DOE/NNSA, specifically the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D).
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The core aim is to strengthen the United States' ability to detect and counter nuclear proliferation by funding university-based basic research that directly supports and complements applied, mission-driven R&D conducted at DOE National Laboratories and other DOE sites.
What kinds of national security problems is the research intended to address?
The program is intended to advance science, methods, and enabling technologies that can help identify foreign nuclear weapons development, uncover illicit diversion of special nuclear material, and detect and characterize nuclear explosions worldwide.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research or applied development?
The university work is framed as basic research, but it is expected to be tightly aligned with DNN R&D mission needs and complementary to national laboratory programs that focus on applied development and fieldable capability.
How are universities and DOE National Laboratories expected to work together?
The FOA emphasizes a deliberate pairing of roles. Universities are expected to pursue foundational and exploratory research, including proving new concepts and approaches. DOE National Laboratories are positioned to take successful concepts and drive them toward mission-specific capability improvements, including integration into operational systems or transfer to industry for commercialization.
What does the FOA emphasize about collaboration and transparency?
The FOA emphasizes transparency and strong linkages between Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and DOE laboratories as the mechanism for turning early-stage ideas into usable, real-world nonproliferation tools.
What technical research areas are included in the scope?
The technical scope explicitly includes nuclear physics; nuclear science and engineering; radiation detection; nuclear materials science; radiochemistry; and mass spectrometry.
Why are these technical fields relevant to the program goals?
These fields support the measurements and analyses needed to detect signatures of nuclear activities, distinguish benign sources from threat-relevant sources, and produce credible technical assessments for decision-makers.
Does the opportunity include workforce development goals?
Yes. Workforce development is a major emphasis. A key expected benefit is developing a diverse, highly skilled pipeline of students and early-career professionals who can become future technical leaders across nuclear mission areas.
What kinds of roles or career paths does the opportunity highlight?
The opportunity highlights workforce needs spanning scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational personnel, with relevance to future work in nonproliferation, arms control, incident response, intelligence, and energy.
Which organizations are expected to benefit from the workforce pipeline?
DOE National Laboratories are described as primary beneficiaries for future hiring and research staffing. The program is also intended to strengthen capabilities across academia, private industry, and other federal agencies involved in national security and nuclear-related missions, including DOE, the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice, as well as the Intelligence Community.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
NNSA intends to fund the effort through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award will be a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity notes that a cooperative agreement typically implies substantial programmatic engagement from the federal sponsor compared to a standard grant.
How many awards does NNSA intend to make under this opportunity?
The narrative description states an intent to award one five-year cooperative agreement to a consortium of accredited IHEs.
Why does the posting mention "ExpectedAwards: 25" if there is one cooperative agreement?
The information provided includes both "ExpectedAwards: 25" and a narrative intent to make one five-year cooperative agreement to a consortium. Taken together, this suggests the single prime consortium award may distribute funding across multiple subawards, projects, participating institutions, or supported researchers, even though the prime award mechanism is one overarching cooperative agreement.
What is the period of performance for the award?
The opportunity describes an intent to make one five-year cooperative agreement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
Are certain types of institutions encouraged to participate?
Yes. NNSA particularly encourages applications that include or support a broad range of institution types, including Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
What is the consortium expected to do?
The consortium is expected to serve as the vehicle to receive and administer federal financial assistance for student and faculty research, fellowships, and scholarships supported by DNN R&D, while building and sustaining expertise in scientific disciplines directly relevant to nuclear nonproliferation.
Are DOE National Laboratories expected to be part of the consortium?
Yes. DOE National Laboratories are expected to participate as consortium members.
How is funding expected to be distributed among universities?
The member universities are expected to have defined contributions and receive defined portions of the total funding.
Does the consortium include support for students and fellows?
Yes. The consortium may include student and research fellows, and it is described as administering support for research, fellowships, and scholarships.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 81.113.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $25,000,000.
When was the opportunity created and what is the closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2025-01-03, with an original closing date of 2025-04-04.
What is the overall program model described by the opportunity?
It is a large, multi-institution university consortium model designed to accelerate foundational research underpinning nonproliferation detection and characterization, connect university innovation to national laboratory mission execution and transition pathways, and build a sustained pipeline of trained experts across the U.S. nuclear security enterprise.
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