The Department of Energy is offering this grant to conduct consolidated innovative nuclear research.

Additionally, DOE has interest in leveraging multiple needs to the extent possible. Appendix D provides a description of key data needs for validating advanced modeling and simulation tools being developed by NE. Researchers should evaluate their applications in light of these data needs and highlight any potential for capturing key data.

The definitions that apply to these different areas are as follows:

1. Program Supporting R&D – Program supporting (PS) R&D is focused more directly on programmatic needs and is defined by the statement of objectives developed by the responsible programs. This R&D is up to three years in duration and should be focused and responsive to the representative statement of objectives, which are not specific to a discipline but can be limiting as defined by the project objective.

• U.S. University Principal Investigators (PIs) may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D, NEAMS, and NEET CTD.

• National Laboratory, U.S. University, and U.S. Industry PI’s may apply in support of NEET CTD.

2. Mission Supporting (MS) R&D – Mission Supporting (MS) R&D is generally more creative, innovative, and transformative, but must also support the NE mission. Mission supporting activities up to three years in duration that could produce breakthroughs in nuclear technology are also invited in response to this FOA, including research in the fields or disciplines of nuclear science and engineering that are relevant to NE’s mission but may not fully align with the specific initiatives and programs identified in this FOA.

• U.S. University PI’S may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D and Nuclear Energy.

3. Program Directed R&D: Integrated Research Projects (IRPs) – IRPs comprise a significant element of DOE’s innovative nuclear research objectives and represent the Program Directed (PD) component of the NE strategy to provide R&D solutions that are most directly relevant to the near‐term, significant needs of the NE R&D programs. IRPs are significant projects within specific research areas. IRPs are up to three years in duration and intended to develop a capability within each area to address specific needs, problems, or capability gaps identified and defined by NE. These projects are multidisciplinary and require multi‐institutional partners. IRPs may include a combination of evaluation capability development, research program development, experimental work, and computer simulations.

IRPs bring together the skills and talents of interdisciplinary investigators to enable fundamental research of a scope and complexity that would not be possible with the standard individual investigator or small group research project. As such, the IRPs will strengthen and complement the existing portfolio of the single PI and small group research projects currently supported within NE. The IRPs will foster unique scientific collaboration that will be critical to success and must be backed by a meaningful and sustained investment. The IRPs are intended to integrate several disciplinary skills in order to present solutions to complex systems design problems that cannot be addressed by a less comprehensive team.

Although a proposing team must have a lead university and at least one other university, the proposed project team may include multiple universities and non-university partners (e.g., industry/utility, international, minority-serving institutions (MSI), national laboratory, and underrepresented groups).

Key elements for successful IRP management include: 1) A clear lead university with strong scientific leadership and central location for the IRP; 2) To the extent that there is geographic distribution of the IRP participants, a clear commitment to applying state-of-the-art technology and frequent virtual meetings to enable meaningful long distance collaboration; and most importantly 3) a clear organization and management plan for achieving the collaborative and synergistic goals of an IRP and “infusing” a culture of empowered central research management throughout the IRP.

• U.S. University PI’S may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D and Nuclear Energy.

Workscopes for the respective areas may be found in the appendices to this FOA as follows:

• Appendix A: Program Supporting and Mission Supporting workscopes for applications led by university PI’s
• Appendix B: Program Supporting workscopes for applications led by national laboratory, industry, or university PI’s
• Appendix C: Program Directed workscopes led by university PI’s

Additionally, DOE has interest in leveraging multiple needs to the extent possible. Appendix D provides a description of key data needs for validating advanced modeling and simulation tools being developed by NE. Researchers should evaluate their applications in light of these data needs and highlight any potential for capturing key data.

The definitions that apply to these different areas are as follows:

1. Program Supporting R&D – Program supporting (PS) R&D is focused more directly on programmatic needs and is defined by the statement of objectives developed by the responsible programs. This R&D is up to three years in duration and should be focused and responsive to the representative statement of objectives, which are not specific to a discipline but can be limiting as defined by the project objective.

• U.S. University Principal Investigators (PIs) may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D, NEAMS, and NEET CTD.

• National Laboratory, U.S. University, and U.S. Industry PI’s may apply in support of NEET CTD.

2. Mission Supporting (MS) R&D – Mission Supporting (MS) R&D is generally more creative, innovative, and transformative, but must also support the NE mission. Mission supporting activities up to three years in duration that could produce breakthroughs in nuclear technology are also invited in response to this FOA, including research in the fields or disciplines of nuclear science and engineering that are relevant to NE’s mission but may not fully align with the specific initiatives and programs identified in this FOA.

• U.S. University PI’S may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D and Nuclear Energy.

3. Program Directed R&D: Integrated Research Projects (IRPs) – IRPs comprise a significant element of DOE’s innovative nuclear research objectives and represent the Program Directed (PD) component of the NE strategy to provide R&D solutions that are most directly relevant to the near‐term, significant needs of the NE R&D programs. IRPs are significant projects within specific research areas. IRPs are up to three years in duration and intended to develop a capability within each area to address specific needs, problems, or capability gaps identified and defined by NE. These projects are multidisciplinary and require multi‐institutional partners. IRPs may include a combination of evaluation capability development, research program development, experimental work, and computer simulations.

IRPs bring together the skills and talents of interdisciplinary investigators to enable fundamental research of a scope and complexity that would not be possible with the standard individual investigator or small group research project. As such, the IRPs will strengthen and complement the existing portfolio of the single PI and small group research projects currently supported within NE. The IRPs will foster unique scientific collaboration that will be critical to success and must be backed by a meaningful and sustained investment. The IRPs are intended to integrate several disciplinary skills in order to present solutions to complex systems design problems that cannot be addressed by a less comprehensive team.

Although a proposing team must have a lead university and at least one other university, the proposed project team may include multiple universities and non-university partners (e.g., industry/utility, international, minority-serving institutions (MSI), national laboratory, and underrepresented groups).

Key elements for successful IRP management include: 1) A clear lead university with strong scientific leadership and central location for the IRP; 2) To the extent that there is geographic distribution of the IRP participants, a clear commitment to applying state-of-the-art technology and frequent virtual meetings to enable meaningful long distance collaboration; and most importantly 3) a clear organization and management plan for achieving the collaborative and synergistic goals of an IRP and “infusing” a culture of empowered central research management throughout the IRP.

• U.S. University PI’S may apply in support of FC R&D, RC RD&D and Nuclear Energy.

Workscopes for the respective areas may be found in the appendices to this FOA as follows:

• Appendix A: Program Supporting and Mission Supporting workscopes for applications led by university PI’s
• Appendix B: Program Supporting workscopes for applications led by national laboratory, industry, or university PI’s
• Appendix C: Program Directed workscopes led by university PI’s