Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 17 DN 130 NFRA 001
The Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA) is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding opportunity designed to strengthen the nation s nuclear forensics research base and, just as importantly, to help sustain a long-term pipeline of trained experts. The award sits under the work of the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC), which was created in 2006 within DHS s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). NTNFC has two central roles: first, to provide national-level integration, planning, and stewardship for the broader National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community; and second, to lead the U.S. Government in building and maintaining a strong pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability. A recurring problem in this field is that the technical expertise is rare, highly specialized, and difficult to replenish, so workforce development is treated as a primary mission rather than a side benefit.
NFRA is implemented as part of the National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP), which aims to grow a workforce of recognized nuclear forensics technical experts and future leaders. The program emphasizes collaboration across universities, national and defense laboratories, and the NTNF interagency community. In practice, that means the award is meant to catalyze real research teams that include faculty and students working closely with technical staff at national or defense labs, so that academic research and training are directly aligned with real-world nuclear forensics needs and methods. The broader policy purpose ties to DHS priorities around preventing nuclear terrorism involving an improvised nuclear device, and it also supports requirements established by the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140, signed in 2010), which underscores the federal commitment to nuclear forensics and attribution capabilities.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary grant offered through a cooperative agreement, reflecting that DHS expects to be more involved than in a typical grant, often through coordination, oversight, or technical collaboration. The activity category is science and technology research and development, with CFDA number 97.130. Eligible applicants include both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education, highlighting that this is largely aimed at universities as the main applicant organizations, even though the research teams are expected to integrate laboratory partners. The funding opportunity number is DHS 17 DN 130 NFRA 001, and it was managed through the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division. The opportunity was created on September 15, 2017, with an original application closing date of January 31, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $250,000, and the notice indicates expected awards but does not clearly state the exact number in the provided excerpt.
Overall, the NFRA is best understood as a targeted R and D and workforce-building mechanism: it funds nuclear forensics research while intentionally building hands-on experience and professional connections for students and faculty, anchored by collaboration with national or defense laboratory staff. The end goal is not only new research results, but a durable, highly capable nuclear forensics community that the U.S. can rely on for pre-detonation materials analysis, attribution-related science, and long-term national preparedness.Apply for DHS 17 DN 130 NFRA 001
- The 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 2017-09-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-31. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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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 intended to strengthen the nation's nuclear forensics research base and sustain a long-term pipeline of trained nuclear forensics experts.
Which DHS office is associated with NFRA?
NFRA sits under the work of the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC). NTNFC was created in 2006 within DHS's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO).
What is the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC)?
NTNFC is a DHS center that supports the broader National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) community and leads the U.S. Government in building and maintaining a strong pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability.
What are NTNFC's central roles related to this program?
NTNFC has two central roles: (1) providing national-level integration, planning, and stewardship for the broader NTNF community, and (2) leading the U.S. Government in building and maintaining pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability.
Why does NFRA emphasize workforce development?
The opportunity description highlights that nuclear forensics expertise is rare, highly specialized, and difficult to replenish. Because of this, workforce development is treated as a primary mission rather than a secondary benefit.
How does NFRA relate to the National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP)?
NFRA is implemented as part of the National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP), which aims to grow a workforce of recognized nuclear forensics technical experts and future leaders.
What is the main purpose of NNFEDP, as described here?
NNFEDP aims to develop a workforce of recognized nuclear forensics technical experts and future leaders, emphasizing collaboration across universities, national and defense laboratories, and the NTNF interagency community.
What kinds of collaboration does NFRA emphasize?
NFRA emphasizes collaboration across universities, national and defense laboratories, and the NTNF interagency community. The award is intended to catalyze research teams that include faculty and students working closely with technical staff at national or defense labs.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The description indicates this opportunity is largely aimed at universities as the main applicant organizations.
Are national or defense laboratories eligible to apply as the main applicant?
The provided information lists eligible applicants as institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private). While laboratory participation is strongly emphasized as part of the research team, laboratory eligibility as a primary applicant is not stated in the excerpt.
What type of award mechanism is used (grant, contract, cooperative agreement, etc.)?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant offered through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that NFRA is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the description, a cooperative agreement reflects that DHS expects to be more involved than in a typical grant, often through coordination, oversight, or technical collaboration.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is science and technology research and development.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 97.130.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DHS 17 DN 130 NFRA 001.
Which DHS office managed the opportunity administratively?
The opportunity was managed through the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 15, 2017.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was January 31, 2018.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $250,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The notice indicates expected awards, but the excerpt provided does not clearly state the exact number of awards.
What problem or gap is NFRA designed to address?
NFRA is designed to address the scarcity of nuclear forensics technical expertise and the difficulty of replenishing that specialized workforce, while also advancing nuclear forensics research.
What is the broader national security purpose described for NFRA?
The description ties NFRA to DHS priorities around preventing nuclear terrorism involving an improvised nuclear device and to building national preparedness through strong nuclear forensics capabilities.
How does the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act relate to this award?
The opportunity supports requirements established by the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140, signed in 2010), which underscores the federal commitment to nuclear forensics and attribution capabilities.
What does the opportunity suggest about the intended project setup at universities?
The opportunity emphasizes forming real research teams that include faculty and students working closely with technical staff at national or defense labs, so academic research and training align with real-world nuclear forensics needs and methods.
What are the expected outcomes of NFRA according to the description?
The expected outcomes are both new nuclear forensics research results and a durable pipeline of highly trained experts, supported by hands-on experience and professional connections anchored by laboratory collaboration.
Is NFRA focused on pre-detonation nuclear forensics capabilities?
Yes. NTNFC's stated role includes leading the U.S. Government in building and maintaining a strong pre-detonation radiological and nuclear materials forensics capability, and the overall description positions NFRA within that mission space.
Is the NFRA primarily a research program or a training/workforce program?
Based on the description, it is intentionally both: a targeted research and development (R&D) mechanism and a workforce-building mechanism designed to create long-term expertise in nuclear forensics.
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