Advanced Reactor Research and Development

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) sponsors a program of research, development, and demonstration related to advanced non-light water reactor concepts. A goal of the program is to facilitate greater engagement between DOE and industry. During FY12 DOE established a Technical Review Panel (TRP) process to identify R&D needs for viable advanced reactor concepts in order to inform DOE-NE R&D investment decisions. That process involved the use of a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit concept information from industry and engage technical experts to evaluate those concepts. Having completed this process, DOE desires to conduct a procurement action to partner with industry to conduct cost-shared R&D for selected technology needs identified by the TRP process. The intent of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to solicit proposals to conduct such cost-shared R&D activities. Program funding will be pr ovided at a minimum of 20% industry cost-share and 80% Federal cost-share to the awardee(s) for the purposes of specific needs identified through the Advanced Reactor Concepts TRP process. In this FOA nine R&D activities are identified. However, due to limited funding, only three to six of the activities will be funded from this FOA in FY13. The total Government funding available for awards under this FOA is estimated at $3 million for FY13. For FY14 additional funding is anticipated, subject to the availability of funds. It is expected that only one R&D activity per applicant will be funded from this FOA. This FOA is available at Fedconnect located at www.fedconnect.net under reference number DE-FOA-0000818. Applicants must register and acknowledge the FOA at fedconnect.net in order to submit questions and receive DOE notifications including responses to questions and submittals.The DOE intends to allow approximately 60 days from date of posting on Fedconnect for applicant's to respond to this FOA. The application due date is 16 April 2013. Letters of intent are due at the DOE no later than 20 March 2013. The DOE will conduct a Webinar on 14 March at 1:00 p.m. (EST) covering project details and FOA application instructions. Webinar login instructions are contained in appendix "D" of the FOA.