Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 16 DN 130 NFRA 001
Apply for DHS 16 DN 130 NFRA 001
- The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nuclear Forensics Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.130.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 21, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 30, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA) is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding opportunity run through the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and its National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC). It is designed to strengthen U.S. nuclear forensics research and workforce development by supporting university-led efforts that are closely connected to the national and defense laboratory system. The central idea is to fund projects where a U.S. college or university forms and leads a research team of faculty and students, while also integrating technical staff and capabilities from a partnering national or defense laboratory. The program emphasizes hands-on, collaborative research in nuclear forensics, rather than purely academic work done in isolation.
This opportunity sits within NTNFCs broader national role in the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community. NTNFC has two major missions reflected in the program goals: first, to provide national-level integration, centralized planning, and stewardship for the technical nuclear forensics community; and second, to lead U.S. government efforts to build and sustain a strong pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability. In practice, that means improving the nations ability to analyze and attribute interdicted or recovered nuclear and radiological materials before any detonation occurs, using scientific signatures and forensic methods that can support security, law enforcement, and national decision-making.
A major motivation behind the NFRA is long-term workforce sustainability. DHS highlights an enduring challenge: maintaining a preeminent cadre of nuclear forensics experts and future leaders. The program therefore intentionally fosters scholastic and research collaboration across academia, national and defense laboratories, and the interagency NTNF community. By funding teams that span these environments, the award aims to create clear training pathways for students, strengthen applied research pipelines, and reinforce the professional networks that are essential in a specialized field like nuclear forensics.
Administratively, the award is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning DHS expects substantial involvement or coordination during the period of performance rather than a hands-off grant. The funding activity area is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and it is listed under CFDA 97.130. Eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, reflecting the university-centered structure of the program. The funding opportunity number is DHS 16 DN 130 NFRA 001.
In terms of scale and competitiveness, the opportunity listed an award ceiling of $500,000, with an expectation of making about two awards. The opportunity was created on September 21, 2016, and originally closed on January 30, 2017. Even though those dates are historical for this specific posting, they indicate the typical magnitude and selectivity of the program: relatively few awards, moderate project budgets, and a strong emphasis on high-impact collaboration with national or defense laboratories to advance nuclear forensics capabilities and develop the next generation of experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA)
What is the Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA)?
The Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA) is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding opportunity administered through the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and its National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC). It supports university-led nuclear forensics research projects that are tightly connected to the national and defense laboratory system.
Which DHS office runs this program?
The program is run through DHS DNDO and NTNFC (the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center).
What is the main purpose of the NFRA?
The NFRA is designed to strengthen U.S. nuclear forensics research and workforce development. It aims to fund hands-on, collaborative research efforts led by U.S. universities and carried out in close partnership with national or defense laboratories.
What kind of projects does the NFRA prioritize?
The NFRA emphasizes applied, hands-on, collaborative nuclear forensics research. The program description specifically highlights work conducted by integrated teams spanning academia and national/defense laboratories, rather than purely academic projects conducted in isolation.
How are university teams expected to be structured?
The central model is a U.S. college or university forming and leading a research team composed of faculty and students, while also integrating technical staff and capabilities from a partnering national or defense laboratory.
Is a national or defense laboratory partner required?
The opportunity description centers on projects that integrate technical staff and capabilities from a partnering national or defense laboratory, and it frames the award as supporting university-led efforts closely connected to the national and defense laboratory system.
Why does the program emphasize collaboration with national and defense laboratories?
The program is meant to strengthen applied research pipelines and ensure the work is connected to the broader National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community. It also supports training pathways and professional networks that are important in a specialized field like nuclear forensics.
How does the NFRA relate to the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community?
The NFRA sits within NTNFC's national role in the NTNF community. The program aligns with NTNFC's mission to provide integration, centralized planning, and stewardship for the technical nuclear forensics community and to lead government efforts to build and sustain pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capabilities.
What does "pre-detonation" nuclear forensics mean in this context?
In this program description, pre-detonation nuclear (and radiological) materials forensics refers to the ability to analyze and attribute interdicted or recovered nuclear and radiological materials before any detonation occurs, using scientific signatures and forensic methods that can support security, law enforcement, and national decision-making.
What are NTNFC's two major missions reflected in the program goals?
The two missions described are: (1) providing national-level integration, centralized planning, and stewardship for the technical nuclear forensics community; and (2) leading U.S. government efforts to build and sustain a strong pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability.
What is the workforce development goal of the NFRA?
A major motivation is long-term workforce sustainability. DHS identifies the need to maintain a preeminent cadre of nuclear forensics experts and future leaders, so the program fosters scholastic and research collaboration across academia, national/defense labs, and the interagency NTNF community.
What type of funding mechanism is used for the NFRA?
The award is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This indicates DHS expects substantial involvement or coordination during the period of performance, rather than a purely hands-off grant relationship.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement means DHS anticipates substantial involvement or coordination with awardees during the period of performance.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 97.130.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, reflecting the university-centered structure of the program.
Are non-university organizations eligible as lead applicants?
The eligibility listed is limited to U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, indicating universities are expected to serve as the primary applicants.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DHS 16 DN 130 NFRA 001.
How much funding is available per award?
The listed award ceiling is $500,000.
How many awards does DHS expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of about two awards, suggesting a competitive and selective process.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The posting was created on September 21, 2016, and it originally closed on January 30, 2017.
Do the dates mean this specific posting is historical?
Yes. The provided dates are historical for this specific posting, but they are still informative because they reflect the typical scale and selectivity described: relatively few awards, moderate project budgets, and high emphasis on collaboration with national or defense laboratories.
What are the key themes DHS highlights for NFRA projects?
Based on the description, the major themes are hands-on nuclear forensics research, close integration with national/defense laboratories, strengthening pre-detonation forensics capabilities, and building a sustainable workforce pipeline of students and future leaders.
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