National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program Nuclear Forensics Research Award | DHS 22 DN 130 NFRA 001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NNFEDP Nuclear Forensics Research Award?

The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP) Nuclear Forensics Research Award is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discretionary funding opportunity focused on nuclear forensics research and, just as importantly, long-term workforce development in the nuclear forensics field.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The core goal is to strengthen the national nuclear forensics workforce by growing recognized technical experts and future leaders. The program is designed to build lasting expertise and capacity through structured collaboration, not simply to fund a standalone research project.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. This typically means DHS expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, often including closer coordination on technical direction, milestones, deliverables, and alignment with broader National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) priorities.

Who is the sponsoring federal agency?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Which DHS office administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered through the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 97.130.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is DHS 22 DN 130 NFRA 001.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities.

Are partnerships required as part of the application?

Yes. Academic applicants are expected to partner with either a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory or a Department of Defense (DoD) laboratory. This expectation is a central feature of the solicitation.

Why does the program expect university applicants to partner with a DOE or DoD laboratory?

The partnership expectation supports access to unique capabilities often needed for nuclear forensics work, such as specialized instrumentation, reference materials, secure facilities, and mission-experienced staff. It also helps ensure the work aligns with real-world nuclear forensics needs and supports the workforce development mission by creating pathways into national-security-focused laboratory environments.

What kinds of organizations does the program emphasize connecting?

The program emphasizes connections between universities, DOE national laboratories, DoD laboratories, and the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) interagency community, reflecting the multidisciplinary and mission-driven nature of nuclear forensics.

What is the NTNF interagency community in this context?

In this opportunity, the NTNF interagency community is referenced as a broader mission context that nuclear forensics research and workforce development should align with, since DHS expects coordination and alignment with NTNF priorities during performance.

How many awards did DHS expect to make under this solicitation?

DHS anticipated making a single award (Expected Awards: 1).

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $1,395,000.

How would you describe the overall funding approach (single project vs. multiple small projects)?

The solicitation was structured as a relatively large, single-project investment intended to produce meaningful research outputs and serve as a focal point for training and collaboration that can seed future expertise in nuclear forensics.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 14, 2022.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was August 30, 2022.

Is this opportunity focused only on research outputs?

No. While it funds research, the stated purpose also emphasizes deliberately building long-term expertise and capacity through structured collaboration, with a strong workforce development focus.

What does DHS "substantial involvement" typically imply for project execution?

Because it is a cooperative agreement, it commonly implies closer coordination with DHS during the period of performance on items like technical direction, milestones, deliverables, and ensuring alignment with broader NTNF priorities (as described in the opportunity overview).