Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003410
The Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program (FOA DE-FOA-0003410) is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity, administered through the Idaho Field Office, aimed at strengthening the nuclear energy workforce by expanding and standardizing nuclear reactor safety training. The program is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning DOE expects to stay actively involved with awardees as projects are carried out. The opportunity is tied to federal priorities reflected in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provisions referenced in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, and it is designed to support a broad, long-term buildout of skilled labor needed to safely support both existing nuclear plants and new reactor deployments.
A central driver behind the FOA is the scale of anticipated workforce demand. DOE cites estimates that the nuclear sector will need roughly 375,000 additional trained workers to research, design, build, maintain, and operate new reactors while also sustaining the current fleet. In practical terms, the FOA is meant to help solve workforce bottlenecks by improving recruitment pipelines, upgrading training capacity, and creating portable, recognized safety credentials that make it easier for workers to move across employers and reactor technologies while maintaining consistent safety expectations.
Equity and workforce participation are explicit features of the program design. The FOA aligns with a whole-of-government approach that emphasizes advancing equity, expanding access to good-paying jobs, and encouraging meaningful engagement with workforce organizations, including labor unions. It also highlights participation from underserved groups and disadvantaged communities, including Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. Consistent with Executive Order 14008 and related Justice40 goals, the FOA is framed to help ensure that 40 percent of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities, while supporting job quality and the practical ability for workers to organize and collectively bargain.
The FOA sets several non-negotiable requirements for applicants. First, projects must be built around a formal consortium. That consortium is expected to include a mix of partners such as institutions of higher education, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, state and local government entities, Indian Tribes, DOE/NNSA federally funded research and development centers, labor organizations or unions, and utilities. This multi-stakeholder approach is meant to ensure training is directly connected to real employer needs, safety culture expectations, and credible pathways into employment.
Second, applicants must identify specific gaps in how the nuclear workforce is currently trained, recruited, and retained. That gap analysis is not just a background section; it is intended to guide what training gets built or improved and to focus funding on the most critical pinch points, whether those are shortages in certain craft skills, limited access to specialized safety instruction, barriers to entry for new workers, or retention problems tied to career progression and job quality.
Third, the FOA requires applicants to develop or enhance one or more industry-recognized nuclear reactor safety credentials. A major emphasis is on credentials that can serve as a national standard and support worker mobility across reactor types. This reflects the reality that the U.S. is planning for a more diverse reactor landscape, and workforce readiness will depend on safety competencies that are recognized broadly rather than being locked to a single employer, site, or technology.
Finally, applicants must show how their training programs and certificates will remain viable after the federal project period ends. The FOA expects applicants to lay out concrete sustainability pathways, such as multi-stakeholder partnerships that persist beyond the award, industry-wide adoption plans, implementation strategies for continuing delivery, and development of training modules that can be maintained and updated over time. In other words, DOE is looking for durable systems and recognized credentials, not one-off training pilots that disappear when funding ends.
In terms of basic funding facts, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $40,000,000, with an expectation of about 18 awards. Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, reflecting the emphasis on higher education as an anchor for consortia while still requiring deep collaboration with industry, labor, government, and community stakeholders. The original application closing date is January 14, 2025. The program falls under the Energy funding activity category and CFDA number 81.121.Apply for DE FOA 0003410
- The Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-14. (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 $40,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program (FOA DE-FOA-0003410)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity focused on strengthening the nuclear energy workforce by expanding and standardizing nuclear reactor safety training. The intent is to improve training capacity, develop portable safety credentials, and support a long-term workforce pipeline for both the existing nuclear fleet and new reactor deployments.
Which DOE office is administering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is administered through the DOE Idaho Field Office.
What type of award will DOE make under this FOA?
The FOA is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means DOE expects to remain actively involved with awardees during project execution rather than providing funds with minimal federal interaction.
What is the primary goal of the FOA?
The primary goal is to expand and standardize nuclear reactor safety training in order to strengthen the workforce needed to safely support existing nuclear plants and new reactor deployments, including creating broadly recognized safety credentials that support worker mobility across employers and reactor technologies.
Why is DOE emphasizing workforce development for nuclear energy right now?
DOE cites large anticipated workforce demand for nuclear energy and notes estimates that the sector will need roughly 375,000 additional trained workers to research, design, build, maintain, and operate new reactors while also sustaining the current fleet. The FOA is meant to address workforce bottlenecks by improving recruitment pipelines, upgrading training capacity, and standardizing safety credentials.
How does this FOA relate to federal priorities or recent legislation?
The FOA is tied to federal priorities reflected in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provisions referenced in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. It is framed as part of a longer-term national effort to build skilled labor capacity for safe nuclear deployment and operations.
Who is eligible to apply as the applicant/lead organization?
Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Higher education institutions are positioned as anchors for the required consortium structure.
Are other organizations allowed to participate even if they cannot be the lead applicant?
Yes. While eligibility for the applicant/lead is limited to institutions of higher education, the FOA expects projects to be built around a formal consortium that includes multiple types of partners, such as industry, labor organizations, government entities, utilities, Indian Tribes, and others.
Is a consortium required, or is it optional?
A formal consortium is a non-negotiable requirement under this FOA. Applications must be built around a consortium rather than a single standalone organization.
What types of partners are expected to be included in the consortium?
The FOA indicates the consortium is expected to include a mix of partners such as institutions of higher education; for-profit and nonprofit organizations; state and local government entities; Federally Recognized Indian Tribes; DOE/NNSA federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs); labor organizations or unions; and utilities.
What is DOE trying to solve by requiring a multi-stakeholder consortium?
The consortium model is intended to ensure training is directly connected to real employer needs, safety culture expectations, and credible pathways into employment, rather than being developed in isolation.
What does the FOA require applicants to do about workforce needs and gaps?
Applicants must identify specific gaps in how the nuclear workforce is currently trained, recruited, and retained. This gap analysis is intended to guide what training is created or improved and to focus funding on the most critical pinch points.
What kinds of gaps is DOE expecting applicants to address?
The FOA points to examples such as shortages in certain craft skills, limited access to specialized safety instruction, barriers to entry for new workers, and retention problems tied to career progression and job quality.
What are the credential requirements in this FOA?
Applicants must develop or enhance one or more industry-recognized nuclear reactor safety credentials. A major emphasis is on credentials that can serve as a national standard and support worker mobility across reactor types.
Why does the FOA emphasize “portable” or nationally recognized safety credentials?
The FOA reflects the expectation of a more diverse U.S. reactor landscape. Broadly recognized safety competencies are intended to make it easier for workers to move across employers, sites, and reactor technologies while maintaining consistent safety expectations.
Does the FOA require plans for long-term continuation after the federal funding period ends?
Yes. Applicants must show how training programs and certificates will remain viable after the federal project period ends, including concrete sustainability pathways.
What kinds of sustainability pathways does DOE expect to see?
The FOA cites examples such as multi-stakeholder partnerships that persist beyond the award, industry-wide adoption plans, implementation strategies for continuing delivery, and training modules that can be maintained and updated over time.
Is DOE looking for short-term training pilots or long-term systems?
The FOA emphasizes durable systems and recognized credentials rather than one-off training pilots that end when federal funding ends.
How does equity and workforce participation factor into this opportunity?
Equity and workforce participation are explicit features of the FOA. It aligns with a whole-of-government approach emphasizing advancing equity, expanding access to good-paying jobs, and encouraging meaningful engagement with workforce organizations, including labor unions.
Which communities or groups does the FOA highlight for participation and engagement?
The FOA highlights participation from underserved groups and disadvantaged communities, including Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.
How is Justice40 referenced in the framing of this FOA?
Consistent with Executive Order 14008 and related Justice40 goals, the FOA is framed to help ensure that 40 percent of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities.
Does the FOA address job quality or worker organizing rights?
Yes. The FOA references job quality and the practical ability for workers to organize and collectively bargain, and it encourages engagement with labor organizations and unions as part of the broader workforce approach.
What is the award ceiling for this funding opportunity?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of up to $40,000,000.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
The FOA indicates an expectation of about 18 awards.
When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is January 14, 2025.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The program falls under the Energy funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 81.121.
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| NOFO: DE-FOA-0003373, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007 (b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling Apply for DE FOA 0003373 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003373 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
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