Inertial Confinement Fusion Program University Assistance
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
The goal of the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program is to create nuclear weapons relevant conditions in the laboratory without the need to return to underground nuclear testing. The objectives of this assistance listing are: (1) To support the U.S. scientific community in ICF and High Energy Density (HED) science through university involvement in areas of fundamental science and technology relevant to stockpile stewardship; (2) to promote and sustain scientific interactions between the academic community and scientists at the NNSA laboratories; (3) to train scientists in specific areas of long-term research relevant to stockpile stewardship; (4) to support and enable access to university-based ICF research facilities, and increase the availability of unique experimental facilities sited at NNSA's laboratories to the academic community, particularly for collaborations in areas of relevance to stockpile stewardship; and (5) to develop and maintain a long-term recruiting pipeline to NNSA's laboratories by increasing the visibility of NNSA's ICF program’s scientific activities to the U.S. faculty and student communities.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State governments
- Public nonprofits
- Other public organizations
- Private nonprofits
Institutions of higher education
Beneficiaries
- 1
- 8
- 25
U.S. public and private institutions of higher education. The Federal government will also benefit from the research.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.
Proposals should be submitted unsolicited or as specified in the funding opportunity announcement posted at http://www.grants.gov/.
Award Procedure
Applications will receive an administrative screening to determine if they are complete and in compliance with the terms of the solicitation or requirements for unsolicited applications. Proposals will be screened for stewardship relevance and then reviewed for scientific and technical merit by qualified individuals. The review and selection process for each funding opportunity are included in the solicitation. Decisions to approve are made by a DOE/NNSA Headquarters program official within the ICF Program Office. Selected proposals will be forwarded to the NNSA Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services for cooperative agreement development, negotiation, and award.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
- Renewal interval: From 90 to 120 days
Program details & compliance
Description
The nuclear weapons stockpile is a cornerstone in the foundation of U.S. national security. Ensuring that the U.S. nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, and reliable requires the best science and technology, especially in the absence of underground nuclear testing. Having top tier scientists and engineers in the areas of ICF and HED science is critical to stockpile stewardship of the present and future. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) supports this effort through the Inertial Confinement Fusion Program within the Office of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation within Defense Programs.
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Higher Education (includes Research), Science and Technology, Training
Financial support in whole or in part may be provided for such purposes as the salaries, materials and supplies, equipment, travel, publication costs, training costs, and services required for conducting research, training, related activities, and advanced technology projects or assessments. Funding is provided for basic and applied research in the field of ICF and HED science in support of the DOE stockpile stewardship program. Restrictions on use of funds depend on cooperative agreement provisions. Funding is provided for the purpose of exploring an idea that does not unnecessarily duplicate work already in progress or contemplated by DOE, is not already known to DOE, or has previously unrecognized merit. Some solicitations are open to institutions of higher education only.
Required Documentation
No Credentials or Documentation are required.
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements