Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Idaho Operations Office, has released the Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research grant opportunity (DE-FOA-0003541) as part of its long-standing commitment to advancing nuclear energy science, education, and infrastructure. This initiative is administered through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which was established in 2009 to integrate university research with DOE’s broader nuclear energy mission. NEUP has awarded over $1 billion to U.S. institutions of higher education to date, aiming to bolster national leadership in nuclear technologies and cultivate the next generation of nuclear engineers and scientists. This funding opportunity is designed to support U.S. universities and colleges by strengthening their nuclear science and engineering capabilities through two distinct topic areas: Reactor Upgrades (RU) and General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI). Topic Area 1 is restricted to 24 pre-identified universities operating research reactors, while Topic Area 2 is open to all U.S. institutions of higher education. The overarching goals of the program are to enhance institutional capacity to train students in nuclear energy disciplines, improve research infrastructure, and ensure alignment with the strategic mission of the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). The specific objectives include upgrades to research and training reactors, acquisition of instrumentation that advances nuclear-related R&D, and general improvements to support nuclear engineering infrastructure. Funding under this announcement totals approximately $5 million for FY 2026, split equally between the two topic areas. Awards for Reactor Upgrades may range up to $1.5 million per project, while awards under the General Scientific Infrastructure area are generally capped at $250,000, unless cost sharing is proposed. A 1:1 cost match is required for requests exceeding $250,000 in the GSI category, but cost sharing remains encouraged even when not mandatory. The anticipated number of awards is between 15 across both areas, with projects typically expected to span 12 months, beginning February 1, 2027. While cost sharing is optional for most applicants, proposals are expected to adhere to any commitments made during the application process. Applicants must submit their complete applications through NEUP.gov by April 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. There is no pre-application phase, but registration with both NEUP.gov and SAM.gov is required. The application must include a detailed technical volume (limited to eight pages), resumes for covered individuals, a budget, justification materials, and documentation such as cost-sharing letters if applicable. The technical volume should clearly outline goals, project schedule, expected impact, and the institutional and personnel capacity to implement the work. For infrastructure-related purchases, applicants must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act requirements, which apply to equipment procurement. Applications will undergo a compliance review followed by a technical merit evaluation. Criteria for evaluation include the relevance to NE mission areas, safety and operational improvements for research reactors (RU), utilization and educational impacts, and feasibility of execution. GSI applications will also be evaluated for research and educational innovation, with bonus points available for projects that support or enhance the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program. Applications that propose duplicative capabilities or are composed of unrelated equipment requests will be rejected. The program explicitly prohibits applications involving fusion energy, medical physics, or nuclear forensics. For inquiries related to this opportunity, applicants are directed to contact the NEUP program at [email protected]. Additional support is available by phone at 208-526-4854. Applicants may also consult the NEUP.gov website for templates, resources, and ongoing Q&A updates. Award notifications are expected around September 30, 2026, with project work anticipated to commence by February 1, 2027. This opportunity is not subject to intergovernmental review. The grant is part of a recurring annual program and is expected to be offered in future cycles.

Ensure equipment requests are directly tied to NE mission; avoid duplicating existing capabilities; align with NSUF priorities for bonus points.