Scientific Infrastructure Support for Nuclear Energy Research
Summary
The DOE Idaho Field Office announced a $1.5 million funding opportunity under the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) for FY2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research. U.S. public and private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for infrastructure awards to advance nuclear energy-related R&D and student education.
What changed
The Department of Energy's Idaho Field Office posted a $1.5 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for scientific infrastructure support at U.S. colleges and universities conducting nuclear energy research. The program falls under Assistance Listing 81.121 (Nuclear Energy Research, Development and Demonstration) and continues NE's mission to advance nuclear energy technology through university partnerships. Since 2009, NE has awarded over $1 billion through NEUP to U.S. institutions of higher education.
Eligible applicants include both public and private institutions of higher education. Prospective applicants should review the full NOFO documentation (Part 1 and Part 2 PDFs) available on Grants.gov and submit applications through the Grants.gov portal. Grantor contacts are Jacob Lingard (208-526-5820, lingarjn@id.doe.gov) and Andrew Ford (208-526-3059, fordaaj@id.doe.gov). Application deadlines and specific submission requirements are detailed in the NOFO attachments.
What to do next
- Review NOFO documentation (Part 1 and Part 2) on Grants.gov
- Verify institutional eligibility as a U.S. college or university
- Submit application through Grants.gov before the deadline
Source document (simplified)
Fiscal Year 2026 Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research
Agency: Idaho Field Office
Assistance Listings: 81.121 -- Nuclear Energy Research, Development and Demonstration
Last Updated: March 3, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) program purpose is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental and economic needs. NE enables innovation, supports unique research infrastructure, and solves crosscutting challenges facing the nuclear energy sector through research, development and demonstration. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:
• Enable continued operation of existing U.S. nuclear... reactors.
• Enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.
• Develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles.
• Maintain U.S. leadership in nuclear energy technology.
• Enable a high-performing organization.
Investing in the next generation of nuclear energy leaders and advancing university-led nuclear innovation is vital to fulfilling NE's mission, which is primarily accomplished through NE’s Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). NEUP was established in 2009 to consolidate NE’s university support and enable the integration of university research within NE’s technical programs. Through various competitive award opportunities, the program engages with U.S. universities and colleges to conduct research and development (R&D), enhance infrastructure, and support student education, thereby contributing to the development of a world-class nuclear energy and workforce capability. Since its inception, NE has awarded more than $1 billion to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education through the NEUP program to continue American energy leadership and to train the next generation of nuclear engineers, scientists and policymakers.
The NEUP overarching goal is to support outstanding, cutting-edge, and innovative research at U.S. colleges and universities through the following:
• Administering NEUP R&D awards to support NE’s goal of integrating R&D at universities, national laboratories, and industry to revitalize nuclear education and support NE’s R&D program objectives;
• Attracting the brightest students to the nuclear professions and supporting the nation’s intellectual capital in nuclear energy-related engineering and relevant nuclear science, such as health physics, nuclear materials science, radiochemistry, and applied nuclear physics through broad outreach, scholarships, and fellowships awards; and
• Improving relevant college and university infrastructure for conducting nuclear energy-related R&D and educating students through infrastructure awards. Show full description
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
Additional information
Grantor contact information
Description
Jacob Lingard 2085265820
lingarjn@id.doe.gov
Andrew Ford 208-526-3059
fordaj@id.doe.gov
Click to email contact
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FY26ScientificInfrastructureSupportforCINRNOFOPart1-FINAL_12DEC2025.pdf | FY26 Scientific Infrastructure Support Part 1 | Dec 15, 2025 09:20 PM UTC |
| FY26ScientificInfrastructureSupportforCINRNOFOPart2-FINAL_12DEC2025.pdf | FY26 Scientific Infrastructure Support NOFO Part 2 | Dec 15, 2025 09:20 PM UTC |
| FY26ScientificInfrastructureSupportforCINRNOFOPart1-Amendment1-_03MAR2026.pdf | FY26 CINR NOFO Part 1 - Amendment 1 | Mar 3, 2026 07:43 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
--
Closing: April 9, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$5,000,000
Program Funding
15
Expected awards
$--
Award Minimum
$1,500,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
DE-FOA-0003541
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Energy
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
2
Posted date:
December 15, 2025
Archive date:
May 9, 2026
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