The DOE/NNSA is offering the MSIPP Community and Junior College Trade Occupation Program to develop a diverse nuclear security workforce.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has a vital national security mission to protect the American people by maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons stockpile. The science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities resident within the nuclear security enterprise underpin NNSA’s ability to conduct stockpile stewardship, solve the technical challenges of verifying treaty compliance, combat nuclear terrorism, detect, and counter proliferation, and guard against the threat posed by nuclear technological surprise. NNSA’s ability to meet its many national security missions is dependent upon the ability to recruit, train, and retain its world class workforce.

NNSA works with educational institutions and industry partners from across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) to achieve this mission priority through three major pathways: collaborative research; capacity building/pipeline development; and recruitment, retention, and development of a world class workforce. As part of the strategy to address future workforce needs, DOE/NNSA has implemented multiple collaborative programs to develop, recruit, and retain high-quality individuals. The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) and the MSIPP Tribal Education Partnership Program (TEPP) are two crucial programs within the DOE/NNSA Management and Budget, Learning and Career Management. These Programs align investments in institution capacity and workforce development with DOE/NNSA mission areas to develop the needed skills and talent for DOE/NNSA’s technical workforce and to enhance processes and educational resources at MSIs. The programs’ primary mission is to create and foster a sustainable pipeline that prepares a diverse workforce of world class talent through strategic partnerships between Minority Serving Institutions, TCUs and the DOE/NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). To execute this mission, MSIPP builds a network of NSE ready students through enrichment activities from K-20 to post-doctoral level; institution-lab consortia partnerships, and by exposing students to cutting-edge research and activities in relevant fields.

The MSIPP recognizes a unique and compelling need to fill trade employment opportunities in the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) while promoting diversity in the nuclear workforce. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for the Community and Junior College Trade Occupation Program (CJCTOP). MSIPP expects that this program will recruit and train a diverse and highly skilled workforce; improve the quality of the educational and training environment of Junior and Community colleges; meet the immediate and ongoing needs of traditional and emerging technician positions at the NSE; improve the ability to recruit students from minority and underrepresented populations; and to improve the Nation’s capacity to secure our nuclear stockpile.

The scope of this funding opportunity is to encourage grant applications from Minority Serving and Tribal Community and Junior Colleges to diversify student and faculty populations, enhancing training programs in the disciplines outlined below and increase the capacity of the NSE workforce. Proposals must align with the mission of MSIPP and identify achievable goals that will successfully build workforce capacity of the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Program directors from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups, are urged to work with the listed NSE Collaborators to apply.