U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Physics Offers Grant for Isotope Production R&D and Workforce Training

Proposals submitted by DOE Laboratories to the companion announcement will be evaluated competitively with applications submitted to this FOA. If an applicant proposes to collaborate with one or more DOE Laboratories, a separate proposal must be submitted by each collaborating Laboratory. The narrative in the Laboratory proposal must clearly describe the scope, schedule and budget for the Laboratory work. Both the applicant and the collaborating Laboratory must clearly indicate the linkage between the two proposals in the narrative of their respective applications.

NOTE 1: The significant needs for methods of Mo-99 production are recognized. However, development of new production modalities for this isotope is currently being pursued under programs sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Thus, applications exclusively involving proposed modes of Mo-99 production are excluded from this call. Technologies associated with the production and recovery of other isotopes resulting from the fission of uranium, are NOT excluded from this call.

NOTE 2: The importance of He-3 to many areas of research and application is clearly recognized. The Department of Energy?s supply of He-3 is also under the purview of NNSA, so applications exclusively involving proposed modes of He-3 production are excluded from this call.

Projects under this FOA will be funded under the auspices of the Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications Program operating in the Office of Nuclear Physics in the United States Department of Energy?s Office of Science. Contingent upon the availability of FY 2013 appropriated funds, it is anticipated that a total amount of about $2,800,000 will be available under this opportunity. It is anticipated that at least two projects will be selected for funding for FY2013. Furthermore, if a sufficient number of quality applications are received additional applications may be selected for funding to begin in FY2014. In that case, at least two additional awards may be made contingent upon the availability of FY2014 appropriated funds of about $2,800,000. Awardees will be selected guided by a peer review conducted in accordance with 10 CFR Part 605.10. The specific evaluation criteria are presented later in this FOA.

The general goal of this funding opportunity is to support efforts that will improve or develop new production and processing techniques of stable and radioactive isotopes in short supply, and to train the next generation workforce involved in the production, processing and distribution of isotopes. In establishing priorities for the program, the Office of Nuclear Physics considers guidance from the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee on Isotopes (NSACI) as documented in the following two reports:

Compelling Research Opportunities using Isotopes, NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee, April 23, 2009 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/pdf/NSACI_Final_Report_Charge1.pdf)

Isotopes for the Nation’s Future A Long Range Plan, NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee, August 27, 2009 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/nsac/pdf/docs/nsaci_ii_report.pdf)

Other background information pertinent to the purposes of this FOA may be found in:

The Frontiers of Nuclear Science?a Long Range Plan, DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee, December, 2007 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/nsac/pdf/docs/nuclear_science_low_res.pdf)

Workshop on the Nation?s Needs for Isotopes: Present and Future, August, 2008 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/pdf/program/docs/workshop_report_final.pdf)

Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation, National Academy of Sciences (2007), National Academies Press (http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Advancing-Nuclear-Medicine-Through-Innovation-2007/11985)

Proposals submitted by DOE Laboratories to the companion announcement will be evaluated competitively with applications submitted to this FOA. If an applicant proposes to collaborate with one or more DOE Laboratories, a separate proposal must be submitted by each collaborating Laboratory. The narrative in the Laboratory proposal must clearly describe the scope, schedule and budget for the Laboratory work. Both the applicant and the collaborating Laboratory must clearly indicate the linkage between the two proposals in the narrative of their respective applications.

NOTE 1: The significant needs for methods of Mo-99 production are recognized. However, development of new production modalities for this isotope is currently being pursued under programs sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Thus, applications exclusively involving proposed modes of Mo-99 production are excluded from this call. Technologies associated with the production and recovery of other isotopes resulting from the fission of uranium, are NOT excluded from this call.

NOTE 2: The importance of He-3 to many areas of research and application is clearly recognized. The Department of Energy?s supply of He-3 is also under the purview of NNSA, so applications exclusively involving proposed modes of He-3 production are excluded from this call.

Projects under this FOA will be funded under the auspices of the Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications Program operating in the Office of Nuclear Physics in the United States Department of Energy?s Office of Science. Contingent upon the availability of FY 2013 appropriated funds, it is anticipated that a total amount of about $2,800,000 will be available under this opportunity. It is anticipated that at least two projects will be selected for funding for FY2013. Furthermore, if a sufficient number of quality applications are received additional applications may be selected for funding to begin in FY2014. In that case, at least two additional awards may be made contingent upon the availability of FY2014 appropriated funds of about $2,800,000. Awardees will be selected guided by a peer review conducted in accordance with 10 CFR Part 605.10. The specific evaluation criteria are presented later in this FOA.

The general goal of this funding opportunity is to support efforts that will improve or develop new production and processing techniques of stable and radioactive isotopes in short supply, and to train the next generation workforce involved in the production, processing and distribution of isotopes. In establishing priorities for the program, the Office of Nuclear Physics considers guidance from the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee on Isotopes (NSACI) as documented in the following two reports:

Compelling Research Opportunities using Isotopes, NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee, April 23, 2009 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/pdf/NSACI_Final_Report_Charge1.pdf)

Isotopes for the Nation’s Future A Long Range Plan, NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee, August 27, 2009 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/nsac/pdf/docs/nsaci_ii_report.pdf)

Other background information pertinent to the purposes of this FOA may be found in:

The Frontiers of Nuclear Science?a Long Range Plan, DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee, December, 2007 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/nsac/pdf/docs/nuclear_science_low_res.pdf)

Workshop on the Nation?s Needs for Isotopes: Present and Future, August, 2008 (http://science.energy.gov/~/media/np/pdf/program/docs/workshop_report_final.pdf)

Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation, National Academy of Sciences (2007), National Academies Press (http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Advancing-Nuclear-Medicine-Through-Innovation-2007/11985)