Opportunity Information: Apply for 31310024K0002

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is offering a FY 2024 discretionary grant opportunity under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) focused on building the nuclear workforce through education and training. The program umbrella is the University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP), and it bundles several related grant tracks: Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grants, Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grants, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grants. In practical terms, this funding is meant to strengthen the pipeline of students, faculty, and training programs that support the safe regulation and use of nuclear technology in the United States, with an emphasis on developing talent that can enter nuclear-related fields and the broader nuclear enterprise.

A key feature of this NOFO is its explicit inclusion and encouragement of applications from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The notice highlights eligibility and interest across multiple MSI categories, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Tribal Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Native American Non-Tribal Institutions (NANTIs), Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). The intent behind naming these institution types is to broaden participation in nuclear science, engineering, health physics, nuclear safety, and related skilled trades, while also strengthening educational capacity at institutions that serve communities historically underrepresented in these fields.

The opportunity is issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under CFDA number 77.008 and is categorized as an education-focused grant program. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with the listing also indicating that other types of applicants may be eligible depending on the specific track and project design. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is structured to support multiple awards rather than a single large project, which typically allows the agency to fund a mix of student support, faculty development, and training-oriented efforts across different regions and institution types.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the NOFO lists an award ceiling of $600,000 per award and anticipates making approximately 23 awards. That combination suggests the NRC is aiming to distribute funding across a meaningful number of institutions and projects, while still providing enough resources per award to support substantial activities such as multi-year scholarship cohorts, structured fellowship support, faculty professional development, curriculum improvements, lab or instructional enhancements tied to workforce preparation, and partnerships that connect education providers with employers or national needs. The overall closing date for applications is September 6, 2024, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of July 24, 2024, indicating a relatively short application window typical of many federal education and workforce NOFOs.

Each grant track targets a different part of the talent pipeline. Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grants generally center on direct student support, helping institutions recruit, retain, and graduate students in nuclear-related disciplines by offsetting educational costs and potentially supporting experiential learning that strengthens career readiness. Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grants are usually aimed at strengthening instructional and research leadership by supporting faculty development, recruitment/retention initiatives, or activities that increase an institution's ability to deliver high-quality nuclear education and mentorship. The Trade School and Community College Scholarship component is designed to expand pathways into nuclear and radiological fields through two-year programs and skilled trades training, recognizing that the nuclear sector depends not only on engineers and scientists but also on technicians and specialized craft professionals who can work safely in regulated environments.

Overall, this FY 2024 NRC funding opportunity is best understood as a workforce and capacity-building effort tied to national nuclear safety and technology needs. It seeks to invest in students, faculty, and training programs that can produce job-ready graduates and strengthen institutional capability, while explicitly encouraging participation by a wide range of Minority Serving Institutions to help diversify and expand the future nuclear workforce.

  • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the University Nuclear Leadership Program, Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grant, Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grant, and Trade School and Community College Scholarshi" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 77.008.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-24.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-06. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 23 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity?

This is a FY 2024 discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It focuses on building the nuclear workforce through education and training under the University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP).

What is the program name and what does it include?

The umbrella program is the University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP). This NOFO bundles multiple related grant tracks: Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grants, Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grants, and Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grants.

What is the main purpose of the funding?

The funding is intended to strengthen the pipeline of students, faculty, and training programs that support the safe regulation and use of nuclear technology in the United States. The goal is to develop talent for nuclear-related fields and the broader nuclear enterprise.

Which areas or disciplines does the NOFO emphasize?

The NOFO is described as supporting education and workforce development in nuclear science, nuclear engineering, health physics, nuclear safety, and related skilled trades tied to safe work in regulated environments.

Who is the funding agency?

The funding agency is the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 77.008.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized as an education-focused grant program, centered on workforce development through education and training.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The listing also indicates that other types of applicants may be eligible depending on the specific track and project design.

Are Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) encouraged to apply?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly includes and encourages applications from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and lists several MSI categories.

Which MSI categories are specifically named in the NOFO?

The NOFO highlights interest in applications from: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Tribal Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Native American Non-Tribal Institutions (NANTIs), Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Why does the NOFO call out MSI participation?

The stated intent is to broaden participation in nuclear-related fields and strengthen educational capacity at institutions serving communities historically underrepresented in these disciplines, helping diversify and expand the future nuclear workforce.

What are the grant tracks included under UNLP in this NOFO?

The NOFO includes three tracks: (1) Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grants, (2) Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grants, and (3) Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grants.

What is the focus of the Scholarship and Fellowship Education Grants track?

This track generally centers on direct student support, helping institutions recruit, retain, and graduate students in nuclear-related disciplines by offsetting educational costs. It may also support experiential learning that strengthens career readiness.

What is the focus of the Distinguished Faculty Advancement Grants track?

This track is usually aimed at strengthening instructional and research leadership by supporting faculty development, faculty recruitment/retention initiatives, or activities that increase an institution's ability to deliver high-quality nuclear education and mentorship.

What is the focus of the Trade School and Community College Scholarship Grants track?

This component is designed to expand pathways into nuclear and radiological fields through two-year programs and skilled trades training, recognizing the sector's need for technicians and specialized craft professionals who can work safely in regulated environments.

Does the NOFO support more than one award?

Yes. The opportunity is structured to support multiple awards rather than a single large project.

What is the maximum award amount?

The NOFO lists an award ceiling of $600,000 per award.

How many awards does the NRC expect to make?

The NOFO anticipates approximately 23 awards.

What does the award ceiling and number of anticipated awards suggest about the program?

It suggests the NRC intends to distribute funding across a meaningful number of institutions and projects while still providing enough resources per award to support substantial education and workforce-building activities.

What types of activities might be supported with these awards?

Based on the NOFO description, supported activities may include multi-year scholarship cohorts, structured fellowship support, faculty professional development, curriculum improvements, lab or instructional enhancements tied to workforce preparation, and partnerships connecting education providers with employers or national needs.

What is the application deadline?

The closing date for applications is September 6, 2024.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record shows a creation date of July 24, 2024.

What does the timeline suggest about the application window?

The creation date (July 24, 2024) and closing date (September 6, 2024) indicate a relatively short application window, which is typical for many federal education and workforce NOFOs.

Is this opportunity tied to nuclear safety and national needs?

Yes. The NOFO is described as a workforce and capacity-building effort tied to national nuclear safety and technology needs, aiming to produce job-ready graduates and strengthen institutional capability.

Is the program only for engineers and scientists?

No. The NOFO explicitly recognizes the need for both traditional academic pathways (such as nuclear science and engineering) and skilled trades and technician pathways, particularly through the trade school and community college component.

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