Physical Sciences & Engineering

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 1 (Lead Applicant) // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
You can submit only one application for this NOFO. If you submit more than one, we will only review the last timely submission. Any other submissions listing the same entity as the applicant for the same topic area will not be eligible. This limitation does not prohibit you from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) if you are not listed as the applicant on more than one application for each topic area of this NOFO.

Executive Summary
The goal of this award is to develop a potentially revolutionary Light Water Reactor (LWR) Silicon Carbide (SiC) cladding material that can withstand significant accident and transient conditions. This program seeks to support research and development of SiC cladding technology, including mechanical, thermal-hydraulic, high temperature, and corrosion testing for both unirradiated and irradiated SiC cladding samples. This will provide the useful performance data to enable future commercial lead test rods (LTRs) irradiation testing. Irradiation campaigns in research reactors (e.g., INL ATR, ORNL HFIR, MITR) and Post Irradiation Evaluations (PIEs) are expected to provide irradiation performance data for fuel vendor licensing and accident analyses methods needed for NRC licensing review. Improvements in SiC/SiC composite cladding fabrication methods are expected to be made.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 3* 

For additional information, please contact Marie Teemant. 

Limiting Language
Each institution may submit up to three nominations, one in each disciplinary category of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences.

Program Overview
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists recognize the United States' most promising faculty-rank researchers in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. One Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in each disciplinary category will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, and additional nominees will be recognized as Finalists, and will receive $15,000 in unrestricted funds.

Eligibility
The nominee must:

• Have been born in or after 1985*.
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Currently hold a tenured or tenure-track academic faculty position, or equivalent, at an eligible institution in the United States.
• Currently conduct research as a principal investigator in one of the disciplinary categories in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, or Chemical Sciences.

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 50 (five per topic area) // Tickets Available: 50

Limiting Language 
Please note that we are limiting each university to five total applications per RFI.

Program Description

Full sponsor guidelines are available at this box link (NetID login required). 

The RTX University Research Program provides funding for academic research that aligns with RTX strategic technology priorities and long-term development objectives and its three industry-leading businesses: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. These projects help to strengthen and extend our collaborative research relationships with our select university partners.  Please read all the information below regarding the process and the timeline for awards. 

The ten topics are as follows: 

1. Sensing Systems
2. Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
3. Microelectronics
4. Autonomy
5. Advanced Propulsion
6. Artificial Intelligence
7. Digital Lifecycle
8. Integrated Battlespace
9. Intelligent Aviation
10. Integrated Power and Thermal Systems

Who can apply?

We accept applications from Principal Investigators (PIs) who meet the eligibility criteria:

• PI’s institution: PIs must belong to a university or educational institution.
• PI’s position: PIs must be a full-time professor (adjunct professors and adjunct researchers are not eligible) or researcher and be eligible to supervise Ph.D. students at the PI’s institution.
• Full professors, associate professors, and assistant professors are eligible to apply.

Limit: 5 (one per topic) // Tickets Available: 3

Topic Areas

1. Vertical Solar Array - open
2. In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Oxygen from Regolith Production System - open
3. Radioisotope Stirling Generator System - open
4. In Space Advanced Manufacturing - H.J. Kim (Civil Engineering)
5. Innovative Nanomaterial Production - Q. Hao (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)

Limiting Language 
Each Topic constitutes a separate competitive opportunity under this solicitation authority. All eligible Offerors under this solicitation will be permitted to submit one proposal per Topic as the prime. Offerors submitting proposals under more than one topic shall submit a separate, complete proposal for each individual topic.

Overview
The purpose of this solicitation is to acquire technology maturation, risk reduction, and capability demonstration efforts in five technology areas that address lunar and cislunar infrastructure technology gaps. These efforts are intended to generate the knowledge foundation NASA needs to support informed technical and programmatic decisions. The scope of this solicitation is derived from NASA Space Technology’s Civil Space Shortfalls and focuses on near-term mission-relevant lunar and cislunar technology priorities. 

The Government is seeking innovative solutions in the following five technology areas (hereafter referred to as “Topics”): 

• Topic 1: Vertical Solar Array 
• Topic 2: In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Oxygen from Regolith Production System 
• Topic 3: Radioisotope Stirling Generator System 
• Topic 4: In Space Advanced Manufacturing 
• Topic 5: Innovative Nanomaterials Production 

Each Topic constitutes a separate competitive opportunity under this solicitation authority. All eligible Offerors under this solicitation will be permitted to submit one proposal per Topic as the prime. Offerors submitting proposals under more than one topic shall submit a separate, complete proposal for each individual topic. 

These Topics are focused on technology and manufacturing maturation, as well as ground-based demonstration activities, to advance capabilities toward Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 5–6 and reduce technical, programmatic, integration and operational risk associated with future mission applications. 

Through this acquisition, industry partners will be expected to design, develop and demonstrate prototype systems and generate validated performance data, analytical models, and operational insights through testing and demonstration activities. These efforts should provide evidence necessary to assess system performance and reduce technical, programmatic, integration and operational risks.

NASA anticipates active collaboration with selected Offerors through ongoing Government insight and oversight activities to evaluate technical progress and support achievement of program objectives. Offerors are expected to apply independent scientific and engineering judgment in selecting approaches that best satisfy the objectives and outcomes identified for the Topic(s) to which they are proposing. 

Topic-specific attachments provide additional technical objectives, desired performance outcomes, scope considerations, and reference requirements (see Section 11 Attachments). Offerors are strongly encouraged to review the applicable attachment(s) in their entirety prior to preparing and submitting proposals.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
You can submit only one application to this NOFO.

Executive Summary
The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Recipient is to facilitate engagement among Tribal government officials from federally recognized Tribes with DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Storage and Transportation (DOE-S&T), and DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), Office of Packaging and Transportation (DOE-OPT) for planning and coordination for Departmental radioactive materials shipments, both ongoing DOE shipments of radioactive wastes and materials and for future large-scale DOE transportation of commercial used nuclear fuel (UNF)1, high-level radioactive waste (HLW), and other radioactive materials. This facilitation is an essential component of developing and implementing a successful large-scale UNF transportation program that is safe, secure, and merits public trust and confidence.
 

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
An individual applicant may not submit more than one application in response to this NOFO and may not be offered more than one award.

Executive Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service announces this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative by issuing a new award. The award is contingent on the availability of funding. This initiative aims to enhance U.S. specialty crop market access in key export markets and support producers with cost-effective approaches for post-harvest pest control and maintaining quality during storage and export. This opportunity is available to U.S. academic institutions, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) designation, U.S. trade associations, U.S. agricultural cooperatives, international organizations based in the United States, and any other United State-based entity including private sector businesses. The award is intended to assist U.S. tree nut and durable specialty crop producers and agribusinesses by developing the processes and technologies for phytosanitary validation and traceability of low-oxygen storage and packaging systems. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and apply through USDA’s ezFedGrants online system, both of which require an identity-proofed login.gov account. 

Benefits to the United States: 

• This program makes America more prosperous by strengthening trade. 
• This program makes America more prosperous by expanding and developing new markets in current and potential trading partners.

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

N. Risso (Mining and Mineral Resources)

Limiting Language
Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. If multiple applications are received, the most recent application submitted by the deadline will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, USDOL will not replace it with an earlier application. Applicant entities are not precluded from participating as partners on another entity’s application.

Executive Summary
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $5 million total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for one (1) cooperative agreement to fund a project to strengthen labor standards compliance and transparency in Western Hemisphere critical mineral supply chains to advance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

The duration of the project will be 36 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy. The project will focus on strengthening American manufacturing by advancing labor standards compliance and transparency in critical mineral supply chains in Chile and/or Argentina. Applicants may choose to work in one or both countries. Applicants must choose one or more of the following critical minerals: copper, lithium, and/or silver. Applicants who choose to work in both countries must select at least one (1) critical mineral per country. Applicants can select the same mineral for both countries or choose different minerals for each country. 

Applicants must propose context-responsive strategies in Argentina and/or Chile to address unfair labor practices that disadvantage U.S. workers in critical mineral supply chains. Strategies should aim to reduce labor-related supply chain risks in target countries for essential critical minerals supplies that support advanced manufacturing jobs in the United States. Applicants are encouraged to develop innovative strategies. Some illustrative examples of activities could include providing technical support to governments, sharing technical guidance with employers, and developing policy or enforcement standards. 

Applicants must ensure that their proposed activities and geographic focus align with all requirements of the FOA (e.g., country limitations, sectors, thematic areas, etc.) and respond directly to the programmatic intent described in Section I. Successful awardees must ensure that their activities align and comply with all relevant policies, Executive Orders, and strategies of the federal government for the life of the project regarding objectives, outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, fiscal transparency, and operational governance. Failure to align and comply risks termination of the project. 

Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations. Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements.

Limit: 2 (one per priority outcome area)// Tickets Available: 0

Priority Outcome Areas
Priority program outcomes are (1) Water for Energy Reliability and Reservoir Resilience and (2) Energy-Water Efficiency and Industrial Success

1. Water for Energy Reliability and Reservoir Resilience
   C. Chen (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
2. Energy-Water Efficiency and Industrial Success
   A. Achilli (Chemical and Environmental Engineering)

Limiting Language
Offeror may submit multiple white papers in response to this BAA but may only submit one white paper under each priority outcome area.

Description
The primary objective of the National Science Foundation’s Energy Water Security Initiative (EWSI) is to secure American energy and national infrastructure resilience by producing measurable reductions in vulnerabilities where water scarcity threatens energy production, baseload stability, and industrial water extraction. This effort aims to accelerate deployment of technical solutions, with a priority focus on the systemic crisis within the Colorado River Basin. 

The NSF Energy Water Security Initiative seeks to develop the critical framework needed for research and development and accelerated, high-impact deployment. This initiative implements a two-phase program. Phase 1 awardees receive resources to develop consortia comprising multi-sector partnerships that can deliver on the goals of this initiative. Consortia should include regional partners and provide the collaborative infrastructure needed to accelerate development and deployment of technical capabilities. Phase 2 awardees will receive significant resources to expand the scale of projects leading to rapid completion and deployment of secure, public-domain technologies. The NAICS code for this BAA is 813920 (Professional Organization), which is a consortium focused on promoting professional research interests

 

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0 

Y. Wang (Systems and Industrial Engineering)

Limiting Language
An Applicant may submit only one proposal in response to this Announcement. Any additional applications from the same organization will automatically be rejected without being evaluated. 

Purpose
The SCALE Program supports organizations that help small businesses overcome operational, technical, workforce, and market access barriers that limit their ability to participate and grow as suppliers within strategically important industries.

Through technical assistance, industry engagement, and other implementation focused activities, SCALE helps small businesses address identified supply chain constraints, strengthen supplier readiness, improve production capability, and expand participation in strategically important supply chains.

Through this program, SBA seeks to:

• Accelerate Small Business Supplier Development: Improve the readiness, production capability, market access, and growth of small businesses participating in strategically important supply chains.

• Address Supply Chain Constraints: Support efforts that address demonstrated supply chain bottlenecks, vulnerabilities, supplier gaps, and barriers to supplier participation and growth.

• Expand Small Business Participation: Expand participation of small businesses within strategically important supply chains.

• Deliver Measurable Results: Generate measurable improvements in small business supplier readiness, supply chain participation, and small business growth.

• Improve Industrial Coordination: Strengthen coordination among industry, workforce, technical assistance, and other partners supporting supplier growth and supply chain participation.

No Applicants // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Limiting Language 
Only two applications per institution (identified by Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number or NIH IPF number) are allowed.

Program Description
Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award helps talented new researchers begin their own independent research program soon after finishing their doctoral degree or clinical training, without first doing postdoctoral training.The award accepts applications on any topic fitting the NIH mission. It is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support. 

Requirements

• One PD/PI only: Applications can have only one PD/PI. Multiple PD/PIs are not allowed. Only the PD/PI may be listed as Senior/Key Personnel and submit a biosketch.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is not required. If the PD/PI is not a U.S. citizen, the institution must ensure the visa permit allows them to do the proposed research in the U.S. for the full project period.
• Degree or clinical training dates: The PD/PI must complete their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training between May 1, 2025, and September 30, 2027.
  • The date shown on the official transcript is considered the date the degree was completed.
  • Clinical training includes residency and fellowship.
  • At the time of award, either:
    • The PD/PI must have an eligible doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign institution, oR
    • An authorized official must confirm all degree requirements are complete and the degree will be awarded before September 30, 2027.
• Post-doctoral experience: The PD/PI must not have more than 12 months of postdoctoral training after an earlier, non-terminal doctoral degree. This applies only to individuals with multiple doctoral degrees.
• Effort required:
  • Years 1-2: At least 9.6 person-months per year (80% effort) on the award project
  • Years 3-5:  At least 9.6 person-months per year (80% effort) on independent research overall, including the award project and any other independent research led by the PD/PI.
• Non-independence required: At the time of application, the PD/PI must still be non-independent. All the following must apply:
  • Research direction requires mentor approval
  • Research is mainly supported through another investigator's funding (mentored fellowships, such as an NIH F31/F32 or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, do not make an applicant ineligible)
  • No institutionally assigned research space
  • Cannot apply for an NIH R01 without a special institutional waiver or exception

The PD/PI may become independent before the award starts and still remain eligible.

• Independent position required: The PD/PI must have a guaranteed, pending independent research position and be able to begin independent research by the project start date.
  • The position does not have to be permanent or tenure-track.
  • The position may depend on receiving this award.
  • The institution must provide substantial support, as described in the application.
  • Moving to a new institution may be advantageous but is not required.
• Career awards: ThePD/PI may apply for both a K award and DP5 simultaneously, but the projects must not overlap scientifically. A PD/PI cannot hold both simultaneously; if awarded the DP5, the K award must be relinquished.
• Site visit: NIH will conduct a site visit near the end of the first year to assess progress and confirm institutional support and independence. If support is insufficient, NIH may take corrective action, including reducing or terminating funding.