Unleashing American Energy Dominance and Expediting Responsible and Secure U.S. Small Modular Reactor Deployment through the FIRST Program

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction within the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation has announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity DFOP0017227 under its Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program. This opportunity supports projects that advance global deployment of U.S. small modular reactors (SMRs) in a manner that upholds international standards for nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. The FIRST program was launched in 2019 and aligns with U.S. energy policy objectives as stated in President Trump's Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy. It leverages the capabilities of U.S. public-private partnerships to support countries pursuing civil nuclear energy solutions with an emphasis on safe, secure, and responsible deployment. With up to $19.5 million in total funding expected (pending notification), individual awards may range from $50,000 to $4,000,000, supporting up to 10 projects. These may be structured as grants, cooperative agreements, or inter-agency agreements, with cooperative agreements involving substantial government involvement in implementation. Projects must be completed within 12 to 24 months and are expected to begin as early as January 1, 2026. Funding will come from the FY 2025/2026 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) and other related accounts. The primary focus of this grant is to support bilateral and regional cooperation with nuclear energy newcomer countries or those interested in deploying SMRs. Target regions include Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. Activities supported under this funding include high-level engagements, technical workshops, feasibility studies, simulator deployments, regional training, licensing support, SMR roadmaps, and nuclear workforce development initiatives. All proposals must reflect the highest international standards in nuclear policy implementation and should align with the IAEA Milestones Approach. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (both public and private), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), Foreign Public Entities (FPEs), and foreign nonprofit and academic institutions. While cost-sharing is not a requirement and will not affect competitive ranking, any voluntary contributions must adhere to 2 CFR §200 cost principles. The application deadline is July 30, 2025, and all materials must be submitted via Grants.gov unless applying through an Inter-Agency Agreement, in which case submissions should be directed to first@state.gov and ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov. Required components include SF-424 forms, project narratives, budget documents, personnel information, and monitoring and evaluation plans. Each proposal may include multiple projects, each evaluated independently. All materials must be in English and formatted to specific font and margin requirements. Review criteria include quality of the project idea (25 points), organizational capacity and past performance (20 points), program planning and feasibility (15 points), financial capacity and cost-effectiveness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation plans (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Final award decisions will be made by senior officials at ISN/CTR, and all applicants will be notified of their selection status by October 15, 2025. Recipients are expected to submit quarterly financial and programmatic reports through MyGrants and the Payment Management System. Compliance with U.S. anti-discrimination laws, anti-trafficking provisions, and terrorism-related restrictions is mandatory.