Grants for Public And State Controlled Institutions Of Higher Education

New NASA Research Announcement 80JSC024NA001-FLAGSHIP2 Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions NASAs Human Research Program (HRP) has released solicited research response area NRA 80JSC024NA001-FLAGSHIP2 NASA Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions that solicits applied research in support of HRP goals and objectives. This response area is Appendix E of the Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) NRA (80JSC024NA001). Proposals are solicited by NASA in the area of: EVA Prebreathe and Exploration Atmosphere Venous Thrombosis Concern during Spaceflight Appendix E of the HERO NRA and associated documentation can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/HERO24-FLAGSHIP2 The HERO NRA including all open appendices is available through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at: https://tinyurl.com/HERO24OVERVIEW. A virtual Pre-Proposers Conference is scheduled for August 14, 2024, 2pm ET, and a Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) Workshop is scheduled for August 22, 2024, 10am ET. More details are posted alongside this solicitation on NSPIRES. Appendix E Step-1 proposals are due August 26, 2024, 5pm ET. Invited Appendix E Step-2 proposals are due November 22, 2024, 5pm ET. All categories of United States (U.S.) institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to the NRA. Principal Investigators may collaborate with universities, Federal Government laboratories, the private sector, and state and local government laboratories. In all such arrangements, the applying entity is expected to be responsible for administering the project according to the management approach presented in the proposal. NASAs policy is to conduct research with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative, no exchange-of-funds basis.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations to create after-school programs that enhance academic achievement and offer enrichment activities for children in low-income and underperforming schools.

This funding opportunity supports projects that enhance Oklahoma's grape and wine industry through research, education, product development, outreach, and marketing, specifically for higher education institutions, government agencies, and trade groups.

This funding opportunity is designed to improve pediatric emergency care by supporting accredited medical schools in enhancing training and resources for emergency medical services, particularly in rural areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to a variety of organizations to improve coordinated care and research for individuals affected by a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormal blood vessel formation.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the University Nuclear Leadership Program, Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grant, Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grant, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grant, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

This funding opportunity supports research initiatives aimed at improving health equity and reducing disparities for minority populations through innovative solutions addressing social determinants of health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to higher education institutions and tribal organizations to develop or expand maternal and child health training programs, aiming to strengthen the workforce in this critical public health area.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research institutions to analyze existing national data on maternal and child health to improve health outcomes and inform policies.

This program provides funding to colleges and universities in the U.S. to improve undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through innovative teaching practices and institutional changes.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Office of Security and Transnational Affairs (SCA/STA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to build the capacity of the four SIDS in the Indian Ocean to address the impacts of climate change. In particular, the funding will be used to increase resilience to climate driven disasters among the SIDS.

This grant provides full scholarships and support for students pursuing cybersecurity degrees at accredited U.S. colleges, in exchange for a commitment to work in government cybersecurity roles after graduation.

The surge in online media usage has surged within recent years, especially within Africa where a growing portion of the population happens to be young adults who have come to find digital technology at the forefront of their everyday lives. Because of its substantial importance in day-to-day life, theres now a major interest in ensuring security, safety, and responsible use within online mediums of communication. A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam / Bureau of African Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to create targeted exchange programs and a conference aimed at relevant Tanzanian policymakers, civil servants, and civil society to explore internet governance structures and strategies that promote a free and open internet governance policy in Tanzania to catalyze the expansion of the local digital economy and lead to economic growth. Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: This opportunity seeks to directly engage a Tanzanian civil society organization to identify a cohort of colleagues across a range of sectors, engage the cohort through multiple education and information sessions, and organize a major international conference on the theme of building resilient, open, and democratic digital systems. The conference should include U.S. experts who can advise on regulatory firewalls, policy creation and coordination, and balancing the protection of individual rights, general online safety and security with freedom of expression principles. The selected organization should have demonstrated familiarity with Tanzanias civic space and policy processes. This opportunity also seeks to provide international exchange opportunities where Tanzanian thought leaders can engage with counterparts in international fora such as the UN Internet Governance Forum and/or with American counterparts. Through these engagements, the program will help to build an ecosystem of Tanzanian innovators and champions of democracy who can effectively advocate as citizens and government civil servants to contribute to an economic growth friendly digital infrastructure. Challenges that should be addressed by proposals: Boosting civic participation and engagement Addressing the limited access to accurate and verified information in rural and underserved communities and offered in local languages. Tackling the lack of media literacy to help individuals discern credible sources of information and leveraging digital tools and platforms to build resiliency. Examine the government’s efforts to manage cybersecurity risk and assess threats to critical infrastructure. Reducing and overcoming cultural divides by promoting accessible digital literacy resources and training programs to Tanzanian communities. Providing opportunities for open discussions and exchanges for tech leaders and policy makers in a variety of fields to prepare Tanzania to be an international partner in tech innovation. Discuss efforts to secure an open interoperable secure and reliable cyberspace in accordance with U.S. security standards. Discuss strategies to collaborate and counter cyber threats. Participants and Audiences: Tech industry stakeholders, STEM students, policymakers, social media influencers/reporters, and academic experts. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 24 months Number of awards anticipated: 2 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum of $425,000 Total available funding: $495,000 Type of Funding: FY23 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: 10/01/2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding.

The U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to facilitate the launch of the Atlantic Partnership Marine and Blue Economy Hackathon. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Coastal Senegal Overview and Purpose Inadequate technological solutions and lack of coordination across Senegals marine and blue economy-related sectors have led to untapped economic opportunities, unsustainable fishing practices, plastic pollution, and environmental damage. To implement the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation Plan of Action and to bolster U.S.-Senegal relations, a selected implementing partner, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy Dakar, will launch the Marine and Blue Economy Hackathon. This two- to three-day event will bring together approximately 60 working-level government officials, private sector experts, academics, entrepreneurs, and students to crowdsource innovative technical solutions to marine and blue economy-related problems. The project will include a public outreach component to raise awareness and encourage collective action to conserve oceans and sustainably use marine resources. Defining Problem Statements, Crowdsourcing Solutions, and Measuring Results The selected implementing partner, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy Dakar, will define three marine and blue economy-focused problem statements. Problem statements should reflect local needs and the priorities established by the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation member countries including sustainable fisheries management, plastic pollution prevention, coastal community resilience, marine conservation, sustainable aquaculture management, ghost gear solutions, aquatic food technology advancement, ocean data and information gathering and analysis, and marine spatial planning implementation. The selected implementing partner will publicize the hackathon and also conduct a public awareness campaign aimed at educating and motivating communities to take collective action to preserve oceans and manage marine resources sustainably. During the hackathon, participants will: (a) translate multifaceted problems into succinct technical specifications and statements recognizable to software and technology designers; and (b) form teams to generate actionable and innovative technical solutions to the shared problem statement(s). At the end of the hackathon, a winner will be selected by a board of American and Senegalese judges for the most innovative and impactful solution developed, and a prize will be offered. After the hackathon, participants will then deploy the solutions they collaboratively design, leverage partnerships established with their counterparts across the sector, and closely coordinate with one another to ensure the solutions address the identified problems. Hackathon results can be measured by number and quality of targeted small-group sessions, the introduction of new tools and technologies, and creation of prototypes that address the problems hackathon participants tackle. The implementing partner should publicize the results of the hackathon and conduct a public awareness campaign to encourage public engagement to protect oceans and ensure the sustainable use of marine resources. In order to be considered, implementing partner applicants must demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusive participation. The selected implementing partner must reach out to potential participants from marginalized populations and communities, ensure balance among hackathon participants, and provide accessibility accommodations as needed. Participants and Audiences: This two- to three-day event will bring together approximately 60 working-level government officials, private sector experts, academics, entrepreneurs, and students to crowdsource innovative technical solutions to marine and blue economy-related problems. The public outreach component should focus on using traditional media, social media, and public engagement to raise awareness and encourage action around ocean conservation and sustainable marine resource management.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe U.S. Embassy Algiers / Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a STEM program for Algerian high school and university students at each of the U.S. Embassy American Spaces, based in Oran, Constantine, Ouergla, Bechar and Algiers. The purpose of this grant is to build on established programming that effectively combines high-impact Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM) training with market-tested employment orientation support. The Recipient will offer Algerian youth the chance to discover and increase interest in the STEM Fields. The Recipient will partner with American Corners in 4 Algerian universities, in addition to the American Cultural Center in Algiers to enrich cultural and educational programming at the American spaces through interactive, participant-led STEM activities. The program should allow about 500 middle school through university-age youth in the five project sites to develop the technology skills in high demand in the Algerian and international economy. Concurrent to technical training, participants will develop the soft-skills and job-seeking strategies necessary to identify personal pathways to launch careers in STEM related fields. Combining effective teaching approaches and interactive meeting platforms, grantee will assure seamless programming, both online and in-person, while adding dynamic activities and customized resources to the repertoire of programming available in American Spaces at Algerian universities.Priority Region: Algeria.Program Objectives: Over the course of six to 12 months, 500 youth will increase their technical skills and career readiness. Collaborating with American spaces in project sites, the project will achieve the following objectives: 1) increase local institutions capacity to implement STEM programming, 2) improve young peoples technical skills in STEM fields; and 3) increase participants awareness of STEM-related career options. The target audience for this program is Algerian high school and university students.B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATIONLength of performance period: 6 to 12 monthsNumber of awards anticipated: 1 award.Award amounts: $ 40,000.Total available funding: $ 40,000Type of Funding: FY24 FulbrightHays Act.Anticipated program start date: October 2024.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand, Public Diplomacy (PD) Section of the U.S. Department of State honors the 150th anniversary of United States New Zealand scientific collaboration and announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to advance the future of scientific collaboration between our countries in 2024 2025. Scientific collaboration in the realm of climate change, indigenous science, tech, health, Antarctica, and Space will be given priority. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: New Zealand and Antarctica. Program Objectives: PD New Zealand invites Statements of Interest (SOI) for projects in 2024 - 2025 to advance United States and New Zealand scientific collaboration for New Zealand audiences. Priority will be given to science collaboration projects in the realm of climate change, indigenous science, tech, health, Antarctica, Space, and align with the priority areas outlined below. All programs must include an American cultural element or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of United States policy and perspectives.

This grant provides funding for universities to conduct research and development in directed energy technologies, supporting innovative projects that advance military capabilities.

With this solicitation, OJJDP seeks to fund the Center for Youth Justice Transformation (CYJT) to strengthen state- and territory-level compliance with the Formula Grants Program; develop and implement training and technical assistance that supports state, territorial, Tribal, and community-level juvenile justice system reform efforts; and design and implement an online education platform for best practices in juvenile justice reform.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION This project seeks U.S. and Dominican organizations to bring U.S. artists to conduct visual storytelling workshops for at-risk youth. These workshops aim to promote human rights and empower disadvantaged communities through the arts. The workshops must include modules on human rights history, advocacy, and examples of human rights movements in both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, participants will engage in modules focused on story development and comic creation (books, graphic novels, and/or comic strips). The program will feature a competition where participants will develop their stories and publish them on an online platform for the audience to read and vote for their favorites. The top stories will be printed and distributed at the binational centers and Dominican universities, with at least 1,000 print copies. These publications will also include information on how to access EducationUSA resources, providing participants with more information about arts education in the U.S. Through this program, at least 50 Dominican youth ages 16-30, should acquire storytelling skills and exposure to U.S. arts education, deepening their understanding of human rights and associated movements in both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, the competition should impact youth in the Dominican Republic by fostering alignment with U.S. positions on issues like equality, diversity, and inclusion through alumni-shared stories. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of Performance Period: 12-18 months Program Performance Period: Must be completed in 18 months or less. This notice is subject to funding availability. C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION Eligible Applicants: Individuals and the following organizations are eligible to apply: U.S. and Dominican not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations; U.S. and Dominican public and private educational institutions; U.S. and Dominican organizations related to arts and/or human rights advocacy; U.S. artists. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is desired but not required for this award competition. Other Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have an active registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.6 for information on how to obtain these registrations. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Address to Request Application Package: Application forms required below are available on the U.S. Embassy website. Content and Form of Application Submission: Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application: Please ensure the proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. All documents must be in English, all budgets in U.S. dollars, all pages numbered, all documents formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and all Microsoft Word documents single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: Mandatory application forms: SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance organizations), SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs), SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs). Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below: Proposal Summary: A short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing the ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Program Goals and Objectives: The goals describe what the program is intended to achieve. The objectives refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and types of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening promptly, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Future Funding or Sustainability Applicants plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program. Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner. If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. Official permission letters, if required for program activities. Required Registrations: All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: www.SAM.gov registration which will generate an UEI, NCAGE/CAGE code. Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), "Debarment and Suspension". The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. SAM.gov is the Federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to register on SAM.gov. Starting April 2022, the UEI will be assigned when an organization registers or renews its registration in SAM.gov at www.sam.gov. To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organizations can create an account at https://login.gov. As a reminder, organizations need to renew their sam.gov registration annually. Foreign-based organizations must apply for an NCAGE code before registering on SAM.gov. To register, go to: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home to apply for a CAGE code. NCAGE codes must be renewed every 5 years. It is in the organization's best interest to check if their CAGE/or NCAGE codes are active. Organizations are required to register/or renew their CAGE or NCAGE codes prior to registering or renewing www.sam.gov. Both registration and renewals for both CAGE and NCAGE can take up to 10 days. The organization's legal address in NCAGE/CAGE must mirror www. sam.gov. Organizations are required to register/or renew their CAGE or NCAGE codes prior to registering or renewing www.sam.gov. Both registration and renewals for both CAGE and NCAGE can take up to 10 days. The organization's legal address in NCAGE/CAGE must mirror www. sam.gov. www.sam.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than August 15, 2024. Other Submission Requirements: All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]. E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION Criteria: Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with details about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants 25 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and the program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Budget 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable for the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it can measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. Sustainability 10 points: Program activities will continue to have a positive impact after the end of the program. Review and Selection Process: A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION Federal Award Notices: The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. Payment Method: According to the U.S. governments federal assistance policy, recipients do not receive advance payments over their immediate cash needs. Generally, up to 20% of the grant total is withheld as a final payment to ensure that final reports are submitted by grantees. All successful applicants will be provided with this information upon award of funds. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Applicants should review all terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to this award, available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/. Note the U.S. flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. Reporting: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted. Please find links to the documents below. Narrative Report Instructions SF-PPR [PDF, 269 kB], Federal Financial Report SF-425 [PDF, 575 kB], Instructions for the Federal Financial Report [PDF, 160 kB]. G. OTHER INFORMATION Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program. Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit. Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment. Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also, describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the project activities. Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All Other or Miscellaneous expenses must be itemized and explained. Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to run the organization. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) with the U.S. government, include a copy with your proposal. If your organization does not have a NICRA, you may claim indirect costs at a de minimis rate of 10% of the modified total direct costs. Cost Sharing: Explain contributions (both cash and in-kind) that your organization and other partner organizations will make towards the cost of the program. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers time and donated venues. Cost sharing is not required for this NOFO but is encouraged. Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages. For further guidance on the federal budget and federal grant policies, please review the Federal Standard Terms and Conditions and the OMB Uniform Guidance at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars/. H. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact [email protected].

To obtain a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) please go to the ARPA-E website at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. To apply to this FOA, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using ARPA-E eXCHANGE, please refer to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider concept papers submitted through other means. For problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE, email [email protected] (with FOA name and number in the subject line). Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email [email protected]. Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260): (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. ARPA-E issues this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. 16538. The FOA and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this FOA are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910. ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established learning curves where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace. The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. ARPA-E funds applied research and development. The Office of Management and Budget defines applied research as an original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledgedirected primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective and defines experimental development as creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes. Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts)1 should contact the DOEs Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity). Program Overview: The Nuclear Energy Waste Transmutation Optimized Now (NEWTON) program will support the research and development of technologies that enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel (UNF) to alleviate the impact of storage in permanent disposal facilities. This program seeks to fund the development of novel technologies that increase the overall capacity factor, power output, and efficiency of particle generation systems (including but not limited to proton, neutron, and/or photon), by reducing beam trip magnitude and duration (referred to as loss of beam). Additional technologies will focus on increasing the throughput of transmutation by developing target materials that maximize transmutation rates and are easily processible to remove the transmuted material. The United States does not currently have an active facility for the permanent disposal of used nuclear fuel derived from the civilian nuclear sector. Used nuclear fuel comprises several classes of isotopes that could be processed in different ways due to their economic value. Firstly, uranium (U), which comprises greater than 95% of the mass of UNF, can be reprocessed and converted back into fuel for light-water reactors through the addition of small amounts of uranium-235 (U-235). Secondly, plutonium (Pu) and minor actinides (MAs), such as neptunium (Np), americium (Am), and curium (Cm), which together comprise roughly 1.5% of UNF by mass, are produced from nuclear fission. Many of these isotopes are fissionable and could be incorporated into fuels designed for advanced reactor concepts. Intermediate-lived fission products (ILFPs) including strontium-90 (Sr-90) and caesium-137 (Cs-137) have relatively short half-lives of roughly 30 years and have applications in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space applications. However, ILFPs are largely destined for permanent disposal in a deep geological repository. The major long-lived fission products (LLFPs) have half-lives exceeding 200,000 years and have few commercial applications. LLFPS include selenium-79 (Se-79), technetium-99 (Tc-99), tin-126 (Sn-126), iodine-129 (I-129), and caesium-135 (Cs-135). The last class of isotopes are the stable isotopes produced from nuclear fission and resulting decay. These isotopes could be extracted from UNF, but no commercial processing of these have been undertaken. A deep geological disposal facility for the disposition of UNF in the U.S. has been estimated to cost $96.18 billion over the 150-year lifetime, after which the facility would cease to accept new waste. This facility would be able to store 70,000 metric tons (MT) of unprocessed UNF, which is insufficient for the existing volume of civilian waste. Densification of the waste can be accomplished through removal of the plutonium, minor actinides, and ILFP components of the UNF. Removal of 99.9% of these components would allow a densification factor of 225, based on current disposal requirements, thus allowing a single repository to store upwards of approximately 16 million MT of UNF. The LLFPs are responsible for many of the engineered barriers that are required to be built in the repository due to their long half-lives and environmental mobility. Removal of these LLFPs could decrease the capital expenditure of a permanent geological repository while also improving safety. To view the FOA in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.