Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003541
The Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003541) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), administered through the Idaho Field Office. It sits under the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which was created to concentrate and strengthen federal support for university-based nuclear energy work by linking academic research and education more tightly with DOE technical priorities. In practical terms, this opportunity is aimed at helping U.S. colleges and universities build or upgrade the specialized infrastructure needed to carry out high-impact nuclear energy research and to train the next generation of nuclear professionals.
The broader mission behind the opportunity is tied to NE's role in advancing nuclear energy science and technology in ways that support U.S. energy, environmental, and economic goals. NE frames its work around several sector-wide objectives: keeping the current fleet of U.S. reactors operating safely and economically, accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors, developing advanced fuel cycles, maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear technology, and operating as a high-performing organization. This funding opportunity is positioned as part of that strategy by strengthening the university infrastructure that makes long-term research capability and workforce development possible.
NEUP is the main mechanism NE uses to invest in university-led innovation and in the people who will staff the nuclear enterprise in the future, including engineers, scientists, and policymakers. Since its start in 2009, NEUP has awarded over $1 billion to institutions of higher education, reflecting a sustained federal commitment to rebuild and expand U.S. nuclear R&D capacity and to develop a durable pipeline of trained talent. Within NEUP, the program's overarching aim is to support cutting-edge research at U.S. universities while also enhancing the underlying ecosystem needed to do that work: partnerships across universities, national laboratories, and industry; student engagement and training; and the physical and technical infrastructure required for modern nuclear research.
This particular call emphasizes scientific infrastructure support, meaning it is focused on improving the capabilities universities rely on to conduct nuclear energy-related research and educate students. While the summary text highlights NEUP's full portfolio (R&D awards, scholarships and fellowships, and infrastructure awards), this opportunity is specifically presented as an infrastructure-oriented award track under the consolidated innovative nuclear research theme. The intent is to ensure universities have access to relevant equipment, facilities, and enabling capabilities that support nuclear energy R&D and hands-on training across fields such as nuclear engineering and related nuclear sciences, including areas like health physics, nuclear materials science, radiochemistry, and applied nuclear physics.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities. The opportunity is categorized under Energy (CFDA 81.121) and uses the grant instrument type. The application deadline listed is April 9, 2026. DOE anticipates making around 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000 per award. Taken together, those figures suggest a competitive national program intended to fund a set of substantial, campus-based infrastructure projects that can materially improve a university's ability to perform nuclear energy research and prepare students for nuclear careers.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a federal investment in the "platform" that makes nuclear innovation possible at universities: better research infrastructure, stronger training environments, and improved alignment between academic capability and national nuclear energy priorities. The expected outcome is not just improved facilities or equipment, but a more capable and connected university research base that can contribute to near-term reactor and fuel-cycle challenges while also sustaining U.S. leadership and workforce readiness over the longer term.Apply for DE FOA 0003541
- The Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research" and it has Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003541.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), administered through the Idaho Field Office.
What program is this opportunity part of?
This funding opportunity sits under the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), DOE's primary mechanism for supporting university-based nuclear energy research, education, and related infrastructure.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to help U.S. colleges and universities build or upgrade specialized scientific infrastructure needed to conduct high-impact nuclear energy research and to train the next generation of nuclear professionals.
Is this funding for research projects or for infrastructure?
Based on the description provided, this particular call emphasizes scientific infrastructure support. While NEUP has a broader portfolio (including R&D awards and scholarships/fellowships), this opportunity is specifically presented as an infrastructure-oriented award track under the consolidated innovative nuclear research theme.
What kinds of infrastructure does the opportunity aim to support?
The opportunity is focused on improving the capabilities universities rely on to conduct nuclear energy-related research and educate students. This includes access to relevant equipment, facilities, and enabling capabilities that support nuclear energy R&D and hands-on training.
What technical fields does this infrastructure support relate to?
The infrastructure is meant to support nuclear energy R&D and hands-on training across nuclear engineering and related nuclear sciences, including examples such as health physics, nuclear materials science, radiochemistry, and applied nuclear physics.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education. The information provided specifically includes public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities.
Are non-university organizations eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
The provided information states eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education. No other primary applicant types are identified in the description provided.
What is the funding instrument type?
The opportunity uses the grant instrument type.
What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Energy and references CFDA 81.121.
When is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is April 9, 2026.
How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipates making around 15 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,500,000 per award.
What does the expected scale of awards suggest about competitiveness?
With about 15 anticipated awards nationwide and a relatively high ceiling per award, the program is positioned as a competitive national opportunity intended to fund substantial campus-based infrastructure projects.
How does this opportunity connect to DOE Office of Nuclear Energy priorities?
The opportunity is positioned as part of NE's strategy to advance nuclear energy science and technology in support of U.S. energy, environmental, and economic goals. It strengthens university infrastructure that supports long-term research capability and workforce development aligned with DOE technical priorities.
What NE sector-wide objectives are referenced in the description?
The description frames NE's objectives as: keeping the current fleet of U.S. reactors operating safely and economically; accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors; developing advanced fuel cycles; maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear technology; and operating as a high-performing organization.
Why does DOE emphasize university infrastructure in nuclear energy?
The opportunity is described as a federal investment in the "platform" that enables nuclear innovation at universities: better research infrastructure, stronger training environments, and improved alignment between academic capability and national nuclear energy priorities.
What outcomes does DOE appear to be seeking?
The expected outcome is not only improved facilities or equipment, but a more capable and connected university research base that can contribute to near-term reactor and fuel-cycle challenges and sustain U.S. leadership and workforce readiness over the longer term.
How does this relate to workforce development?
The opportunity is designed to strengthen hands-on training environments and help train the next generation of nuclear professionals, including engineers, scientists, and policymakers, by ensuring universities have the specialized infrastructure needed for modern nuclear research and education.
What is NEUP and what is its track record?
NEUP was created to concentrate and strengthen federal support for university-based nuclear energy work by linking academic research and education with DOE technical priorities. Since 2009, NEUP has awarded over $1 billion to institutions of higher education.
What kinds of partnerships does NEUP aim to support (as described here)?
Within NEUP's overarching aims, the description highlights strengthening the ecosystem needed for university research, including partnerships across universities, national laboratories, and industry, along with student engagement and training and the physical and technical infrastructure required for modern nuclear research.
What does "consolidated innovative nuclear research" mean in this context?
Based on the information provided, it is presented as a theme under which this infrastructure-oriented award track is offered. The description emphasizes that the focus here is scientific infrastructure to support nuclear energy R&D and education.
Where is this opportunity administered from within DOE?
It is administered through the Idaho Field Office.
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