Consortium For Nuclear Forensics

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), through the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D), is offering a substantial funding opportunity under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DE-FOA-0003567. This initiative seeks to establish or renew a single cooperative agreement with a consortium of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) for a five-year term, with a total estimated funding of up to $25 million. This funding is intended to support foundational research in nuclear forensics and to foster workforce development in support of the DOE/NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation mission. The primary purpose of this NOFO is to support basic scientific research at academic institutions that complements applied research in nuclear forensics conducted at DOE National Laboratories. Areas of focus include radiochemistry, geochemistry, nuclear physics, radiation detection, material science, modeling and simulation for nuclear applications, and related fields. The program is designed not only to generate scientific insights and technologies but also to build a robust and diverse pipeline of future experts in the field. Research conducted under this agreement is expected to feed directly into university curricula and foster collaboration across the academic, government, and laboratory sectors. The awarded consortium must include at least three U.S. IHE partners and at least one DOE National Laboratory collaborator. The IHEs must be accredited institutions that offer graduate-level programs and support students eligible to work in national security environments. Research must be unclassified, and participating students, PIs, and key personnel must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, due to security clearance and workforce integration requirements. Postdoctoral fellows and faculty are expected to participate in rotations at DOE National Laboratories, while laboratory staff may participate in academic activities such as mentoring and guest lectures. However, no DOE/NNSA personnel may receive grant funds or perform technical work under the award. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive proposal, including a project narrative, budget documents, and supporting appendices. Proposals must include a letter of support from the Vice President for Research affirming institutional commitment. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov no later than 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on June 10, 2026. The awardee will be notified by December 16, 2026, and the anticipated start date is April 14, 2027. Applications must follow strict formatting and content guidelines outlined in the NOFO, including a Statement of Objectives, Collaboration Plan, Data Management Plan, Project Management Plan, and other required elements and certifications. Evaluation of applications will be based on merit review criteria such as scientific and technical merit, relevance to program goals, applicant capabilities, project management, and proposed collaboration with DOE laboratories. DOE/NNSA will also conduct a program policy review to assess alignment with federal priorities and funding availability. The selected lead institution will be responsible for managing the full scope, schedule, and financial administration of the project, including the performance of all subrecipients. This opportunity is non-recurring and will result in a single award to one consortium. While cost-sharing is not required, applicants may include voluntary committed cost share, which becomes binding upon award and must be documented. The cooperative agreement will require annual reporting and participation in DOE/NNSA's University Program Review meetings. All research must remain unclassified and comply with federal data sharing and reporting requirements. Applicants are advised to prepare their applications with full consideration of eligibility and performance obligations described in the funding announcement.

Tightly integrate with DOE Labs early; avoid large, loosely defined consortiums; ensure all PI/Student eligibility and unclassified compliance