National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program
The objectives of this program are: (1) to provide a stable foundation from which to develop and maintain the nuclear forensics workforce; (2) to provide an academic pathway from undergraduate to post-doctorate study in disciplines directly relevant to nuclear forensics, including but not limited to radiochemistry, geochemistry, nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, materials science, and analytical chemistry; and (3) to increase a diverse and highly talented cadre of new and emerging forensics experts who will fill specific expertise gaps in the area of nuclear forensics, an important homeland security mission. These objectives are aligned with Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-8, National Preparedness, in that the NNFEDP aims to supply the technical expertise critical to enabling the nuclear forensics mission. This mission involves strengthening the security and resilience of the United States through systematic preparation for the threat of nuclear terrorism. Terrorism is cited among a short list of major threats in PPD-8 as posing ?the greatest risk to the security of the Nation. These objectives are also aligned with the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) Mission 1: Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security. The NNFEDP supports the following Goals and Objectives: Goal 1.1: Prevent Terrorist Attacks Objective 1.1.2: Deter and Disrupt Operations Goal 1.2: Prevent the Unauthorized Acquisition or Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Materials and Capabilities Objective 1.2.1: Anticipate Emerging Threats Objective 1.2.2: Control Access to CBRN Objective 1.2.4: Protection against Hostile Use of CBRN. In order to accomplish this mandate, the following goals must be met: ? Recruit and produce a new generation of leaders and technical experts in a wide-range of fields relevant to nuclear forensics. ? Enhance the ability for universities and the national and defense laboratories to work collaboratively on advanced research in the nuclear forensics field. ? ? Implement a Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program to provide outreach to the academic community, facilitate experiential learning in nuclear forensics-related research areas, and feed students into the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program. ? ? Implement a Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in radiochemistry and other nuclear forensics-related disciplines, encourage universities to invest in these types of programs, facilitate experiential learning in nuclear forensics-related research areas, and feed students into post-doctoral/permanent staff positions in nuclear forensics at the national laboratories or federal agencies. ? Implement a Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program to support universities interested in developing and maintaining academic programs in nuclear forensics-related disciplines. ? Implement a Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program to provide universities with an incentive to recruit, promote, and retain highly qualified personnel to teach within nuclear forensics-related degree programs and contribute to associated research projects at universities. ? ? Implement a Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Collaboration Award Program to support the enhancement of undergraduate and/or graduate Chemistry, Math, Physics, and Engineering programs located at MSIs and to establish formal linkages among the universities currently participating in the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, the nation?s MSIs, and the national laboratories.
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
97.130
Federal Agency/Office
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 • Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program, Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program, and Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award Program. Specifically: o Award five new Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarships o Award 14 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships o Award four Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Awards o Award one Nuclear Forensics Education Award • Award one Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award • Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program, Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program, and Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award Program. Specifically: o Award five new Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarships o Award 18 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships o Award four Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Awards o Award four Nuclear Forensics Education Award o Award one Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award
Fiscal Year 2017 Award 3 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
Fiscal Year 2018 • Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program and award four Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
Fiscal Year 2019 • Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program. 0 Award 2 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
Authorization
Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140; Sec. 4(a)(12)., Public Law 111-140, U.S.C. 4(a)(12)
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Refer to the program guidance.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Refer to the program guidance.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
Award Procedure
Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in an application will be negotiated with the successful applicants prior to an award being issued.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Subject to future appropriations.
How are proposals selected?
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement for information on criteria for selecting proposals.
How may assistance be used?
These funds will be used to select an entity to administer the NNFEDP program. As the program administrator, the selected recipient will issue funds to eligible students or institutions of higher education for the following: materials, supplies, laboratory equipment/facilities upgrades, travel, publications costs, subcontractor and supporting costs required for technical and other activities necessary to achieve the objective. Restrictions on use of funds will be identified in the announcement, program guidance and award provisions. Refer to program guidance for further information.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: annual. Funds are released in annual increments.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Sandra Gogol
DNDO Stop 0550, Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Ln., SW
Washington, DC 20528-0550 US
Sandra.Gogol@hq.dhs.gov
Phone: (202) 254-7437
Website Address
http://www.dhs.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0860-0-1-999
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 18$500,000.00; FY 19 est $630,000.00; FY 20 est $700,000.00; FY 17$685,000.00; FY 16$1,895,349.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Refer to the funding opportunity announcements.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Non-Profit Organizations (2 CFR Part 215), A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (2 CFR Part 220), A-122, Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (2 CFR Part 230), and A-133 Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, in addition to program regulations, guidelines, DHS policy and procedure.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.