Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000611

  • The NNSA in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Stewardship Science Academic Alliances Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.112 Stewardship Science Grant Program.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Feb 2, 2012 and posted on Dec 29, 2011.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 12, 2012 Applications should be received on Grants.gov by March 12, 2012 not later than 1159 PM Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $112,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 45 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
Apply for DE FOA 0000611

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Opportunity Summary:

The Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) under the U.S. Department of Energy umbrella. It supports research and academic activities that align with stewardship science, a field broadly connected to national security science and advanced energy-related research. The funding is provided through either cooperative agreements or grants, meaning some awards may involve substantial federal involvement (typical of cooperative agreements) while others may operate more like standard grants. The program is listed under CFDA 81.112 (Stewardship Science Grant Program) and, according to the opportunity details, it does not require cost sharing or matching funds.

This particular announcement is identified as Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000611. NNSA anticipated making a relatively large number of awards (an estimated 45), with an estimated total program funding level of about $112,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall within a stated range of $50,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling). Those figures communicate the typical size of an individual project award under this solicitation, while the much larger total reflects the overall scale of the program across many awards.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that category), as well as both private institutions of higher education and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education. In practice, that eligibility language indicates the program is centered on universities and related research organizations, with room for certain independent nonprofit research entities to apply as well.

A key feature of this opportunity is that applicants were instructed to rely on an official amendment: the SSAA FOA Provisions of Modification 003, posted on FedConnect. That modification is important because it rescinds and replaces some of the original Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) guidance, specifically the guidance applicable to proposed SSAA Centers of Excellence. In other words, anyone preparing a Center of Excellence application would need to treat Mod 003 as controlling for the relevant sections, rather than relying solely on earlier instructions in the FOA. The notice also states that Mod 003 includes clarifications on three practical compliance points that often affect proposal preparation and budgeting: (1) what is allowed regarding foreign travel, (2) limitations on how many applications a single organization may submit, and (3) clearer direction on when and how to submit the Financial Assistance Environmental Checklist (Attachment G). These clarifications matter because they can affect allowability of costs, whether multiple submissions from the same institution are permitted or restricted, and whether the application is considered complete and compliant at the time of submission.

In addition to narrative guidance changes, Mod 003 also references replacement forms for required attachments. Specifically, applicants were told to obtain updated versions of the Travel Estimates Summary (Attachment E) and the Equipment Quotes and Justification (Attachment F) from FedConnect. This implies that earlier versions of those forms may have been superseded and that using outdated templates could create avoidable administrative problems, such as missing required fields, using incorrect formats, or failing to provide information in the manner NNSA expects for review.

On timing and submission, the original application deadline was February 12, 2012, but the current closing date was extended to March 12, 2012. Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date. The opportunity was posted on December 29, 2011, created in the system on February 2, 2012, and later archived on May 12, 2012. Even though the opportunity is historical, the structure highlights the typical federal process: a posted FOA, subsequent modifications clarifying or changing requirements, an extension of the deadline, and a defined submission portal and cutoff time.

For applicants or organizations that had trouble accessing the full announcement materials electronically, the listed point of contact was William J. Parras, Grants Management Specialist, reachable by phone at 505-845-4021 or by email at bill.parras@doe.nnsa.gov. The announcement also points readers to FedConnect as the location for the modification and replacement forms, signaling that successful applicants needed to monitor both Grants.gov (for submission) and FedConnect (for amendments and official attachments) to stay fully compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program?

The Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It supports research and academic activities that align with stewardship science, broadly connected to national security science and advanced energy-related research.

2. Which agency administers this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

3. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000611.

4. What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The program is listed under CFDA 81.112 (Stewardship Science Grant Program).

5. What type of federal financial assistance awards are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Funding may be provided through either cooperative agreements or grants. Cooperative agreements can involve substantial federal involvement, while standard grants typically operate with less federal involvement.

6. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity details state that it does not require cost sharing or matching funds.

7. How many awards were anticipated under this announcement?

NNSA anticipated making an estimated 45 awards.

8. What was the estimated total funding level for the program?

The estimated total program funding level was about $112,000,000.

9. What was the expected funding range for individual awards?

Individual awards were expected to fall within a range of $50,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling).

10. Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included:

  • U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public/state-controlled institutions of higher education

11. Are universities specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The eligibility language includes both private institutions of higher education and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the program is centered on universities and related research organizations.

12. Can nonprofit organizations apply?

Yes, U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply, but the eligibility statement specifically excludes institutions of higher education within that 501(c)(3) nonprofit category.

13. What is SSAA FOA Provisions of Modification 003 (Mod 003), and why does it matter?

SSAA FOA Provisions of Modification 003 (Mod 003) is an official amendment posted on FedConnect that applicants were instructed to rely on. It is important because it rescinds and replaces some of the original FOA guidance, specifically guidance applicable to proposed SSAA Centers of Excellence. For those sections, Mod 003 is controlling rather than earlier FOA instructions.

14. Which applications are most affected by Mod 003?

Mod 003 specifically rescinds and replaces guidance applicable to proposed SSAA Centers of Excellence. Anyone preparing a Center of Excellence application would need to follow Mod 003 for the relevant sections.

15. What proposal and compliance topics were clarified in Mod 003?

Mod 003 includes clarifications on three practical compliance points:

  • What is allowed regarding foreign travel
  • Limitations on how many applications a single organization may submit
  • Clearer direction on when and how to submit the Financial Assistance Environmental Checklist (Attachment G)

16. Why are the Mod 003 clarifications important for applicants?

These clarifications can affect whether certain costs (such as foreign travel) are allowable, whether multiple submissions from the same institution are permitted or restricted, and whether the application is complete and compliant at the time of submission (including proper handling of Attachment G).

17. Were any required attachment forms replaced or updated?

Yes. Mod 003 references replacement forms for required attachments. Applicants were instructed to obtain updated versions of:

  • Travel Estimates Summary (Attachment E)
  • Equipment Quotes and Justification (Attachment F)

These updated forms were to be obtained from FedConnect.

18. Where were applicants instructed to obtain the updated forms and the modification?

Applicants were directed to FedConnect for Mod 003 and for the replacement versions of Attachment E (Travel Estimates Summary) and Attachment F (Equipment Quotes and Justification).

19. What could happen if an applicant used outdated attachment templates?

The announcement implies that older versions may have been superseded. Using outdated templates could create administrative problems, such as missing required fields, using an incorrect format, or failing to provide information in the manner NNSA expects for review.

20. What was the original application deadline, and what was the extended deadline?

The original application deadline was February 12, 2012. The closing date was extended to March 12, 2012.

21. How and where were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.

22. What was the submission cutoff time on the closing date?

Applications were due no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date.

23. When was the opportunity posted, created in the system, and archived?

The opportunity was posted on December 29, 2011, created in the system on February 2, 2012, and archived on May 12, 2012.

24. Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is historical and was archived on May 12, 2012.

25. If an organization had trouble accessing the full announcement materials electronically, who was the point of contact?

The listed point of contact was William J. Parras, Grants Management Specialist. Phone: 505-845-4021. Email: bill.parras@doe.nnsa.gov.

26. Which systems did applicants need to monitor to stay compliant?

The announcement indicates applicants needed to monitor both:

  • Grants.gov (for submission)
  • FedConnect (for amendments such as Mod 003 and for official replacement attachments)
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