General
Are principal investigators who are awarded an NEUP project required to submit a quarterly report every three months for the duration of the project?
Yes. Quarterly reporting is required for all projects.
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) can be found at Grants.gov. Follow the steps below to navigate through the system.
- Once at www.grants.gov, click on the "Find Grant Opportunities" link on the left.
- On the "Find Grant Opportunities" page, click on the "Basic Search" option to the right.
- Search by Funding Opportunity Announcement: DE-FOA-0000799 and click "Search."
- Click on the Opportunity Title: "Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research." This will bring the applicant to a general description of the FOA.
- Click on the "Fedconnect" link near the bottom.
- Once at www.fedconnect.net, click on the "Search Public Opportunities Only" button to the right.
- Search by "Reference Number": Enter the FOA Number (DE-FOA-0000799) and hit "Search."
- Under "Public Opportunities," click on the title of the FOA: NE Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research FOA.
- On the right side of the page (under "Documentation"), the FOA can be under the "Amendment 1" folder and is labeled as "FOA Document." Contact us at 208-526-1507 or neup@inl.gov for any questions.
Yes. The written authorization requirement is an agreement between a FFRDC contractor and their cognizant contracting officer. National laboratory collaborators should be familiar with this requirement and who they need to contact at DOE to obtain this letter. University PI’s are required to obtain a copy of the written authorization and include it in the full proposal application (the letter does not need to be attached to pre-applications).
Yes, DOE will send funds directly to the national laboratories that are collaborating on successful applications. However, those funds are included in the total cost of the project.
The submission limits can be found on page 10 of the FOA. There are additional resources to help interpret the submission limits, including a flowchart outlining submission limits for individual cases. This flowchart is attached for your use.
Additional Information
What happens if more than the allowable number of submissions is received from an investigator?
If an investigator/institution submits more than the allowable number of applications, then the investigator/institution will be contacted and have 24 hours to select the applications that will be reviewed.
Where do we go to find what countries and individuals are on the denied party list or party that requires an export license'?
This information can be found on the US State Department's website.
How is NEUP funded?
DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy typically sets aside approximately 20 percent of its research budget to fund NEUP.
Is NEUP just Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) with a new name?
They are not the same program, although they do have similar elements. Like NERI, NEUP funds university-led nuclear energy research and development projects. However, NEUP also funds infrastructure and equipment grants as well as scholarships and fellowships for students, which NERI did not. The last of the NERI research projects wrapped up in 2010.
Is NEUP an Idaho National Laboratory program?
No, it is not. Nuclear Energy University Programs is a Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) initiative. The NEUP Integration Office, located in the Center for Advanced Energy Studies building in Idaho Falls, administers the program on behalf of DOE-NE. The NEUP Integration Office is staffed by Idaho National Laboratory employees.
So how much money is NEUP awarding to universities and students next year?
DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy makes that decision once Congress and President Obama have approved its budget.
How are DOE laboratory personnel associated with the Fuel Cycle R&D Program funded?
DOE laboratory personnel associated with the Fuel Cycle R&D Program will be funded programmatically and should not be included in NEUP proposals. National laboratory collaborators working on tasks specific to the proposal in other areas (such as computer scientists, social scientists, etc.) should be part of a proposal (including funding).
Where do you get your reviewers?
DOE-NE maintains a database of university professors, industry and lab researchers who are qualified to evaluate proposals in the technical workscopes. They are assigned proposals based on their areas of expertise. We are always looking for additions to this database! Please send your recommendations to neup@inl.gov.
Why aren't reviewer scores released to principal investigators?
NEUP does not view this as being as helpful to researchers as the reviewers' comments, which are released.
Why does NEUP use a semi-blind review for the research and development component?
NEUP decided early on to use this method to ensure the technical and scientific merit of projects were evaluated as fairly as possible by reviewers. The names of the principal investigators are withheld during the first phase of the review so proposals are evaluated and scored on technical and scientific merit. During the second phase, reviewers assess the research team qualifications, as well as the budget and facility capabilities.
Infrastructure
A Co-PI involved in computational chemistry research already has a computer with necessary software but needs the updated version, as well as a more powerful computer to run the software. Are purchases of software and computer upgrades allowable?
Software upgrades and computers can be included in an application as long as it supports the objectives of the NEUP stated in the FOA including to support, maintain, or enhance the university’s capacity to attract and teach high-quality students interested in nuclear energy related studies or to build the university’s NS&E basic research and education capabilities.
Can you clarify the cost sharing/matching section for all the Infrastructure calls?
For General Scientific Infrastructure, refer to page 7 of the FOA (DE-FOA-0000814), which states that cost-sharing is encouraged, but not required for projects below $250,000. For projects above $250,000, the applicant is required to cost-match dollar for dollar up to a limit of $2,000,000 in federal funding. For Reactor Upgrades, refer to page 5 of the FOA (DE-FOA-0000815), which also states that cost-sharing is encouraged but not required. Additional funding provided by DOE will be directly proportional to the university cost match (1:1) up to a DOE maximum of $50,000 for installation and/or facility upgrades directly supportive of the equipment indicated in the application. Cost-sharing is only available for Minor Reactor Upgrade applications.
I am having difficulty accessing the full announcement for DOE -- Nuclear Energy University Programs -- Reactor Upgrades. I am looking for a basic description of what is desired in terms of project content from DOE. When I click on “full proposal” I get to Grants.gov site and it has checklists but no description of desired program content.
In order to access the FOAs for the NEUP – Reactor Upgrades, please click on the Fedconnect link. Once the FedConnect page loads, please select "Search Public Opportunities," look for FOAs issued on 10/27/2011 and then look for the FOA number ending with 614. When you click on the FOA announcement, the body to the announcement is located on the upper right hand corner.
I attempted to follow the link to FedConnect but was unable to locate the FOA documents. Can you direct me to where the documents can be viewed?
Funding opportunities for General Scientific Infrastructure and Reactor Upgrades can be found both on www.grants.gov and at www.neup.gov. If an applicant has difficulty locating the documents, or has any other questions regarding these two FOAs, contact us at neup@inl.gov.
If I was awarded a Major Reactor Upgrade grant in FY 2012, am I eligible to apply in FY 2013?
If you have a major reactor upgrade award in progress from a previous year, you are ineligible to receive another major reactor upgrade award in FY 2013. Existing projects must be completed and all associated funds must be costed prior to the application closure date for further grant eligibility.
In regard to matching funds – can we use some of the non-federal student support funds as matching funds?
Refer to Section III, B - Cost-Sharing/Matching. As stated in this paragraph DOE will provide a maximum of $50,000 for installation and/or facility upgrades directly supportive of the equipment indicated in the application. Applicants are required to provide support letters for any matching included in the application. It shall be the applicant's responsibility to identify the funds available to support the match and to ensure the use of the funds (to support installation and/or facility upgrades for the equipment included in the application) do not violate any requirements invoked by the funding source and the funds intended use. Non-federal student support funds do not appear to be intended for the purposes required by this FOA.
Is the support limited to instruments related expenses only or can we request any funds to support students/lab assistants and/or research related activities?
For GSI, an application may include the purchase, setup, and vendor installation costs for equipment and instrumentation, as well as building modifications that immediately support the installation and operation of the equipment. The application CANNOT include hiring or other human capital costs or the operation and maintenance of equipment. It also cannot include nonstandard installation costs for equipment and instrumentation that are beyond the vendor's standard installation cost. Personnel or indirect university costs are not allowed. Refer to page 5 of the FOA (DE-FOA-0000814) for additional information. For Major and Minor Reactor Upgrades, applications can be submitted for all equipment and instrumentation and associated facility upgrade requests that support nuclear energy-related R&D or education at university research reactors. See page 2 of the FOA (DE-FOA-0000815) for additional information.
Is this a limited submission opportunity (each university can submit only one proposal)?
General Scientific Infrastructure: Universities can submit multiple applications in response to this FOA. Minor and Major Reactor Upgrades: Each university is permitted to submit a single, separate application to each of these two areas. Grants awarded under this FOA will fund only one area: either minor or major. A university may apply for both but will only be selected for one grant.
Integrated Research Projects
Am I permitted to submit both a R&D and IRP proposal in response to the FY 2013 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research Funding Opportunity Announcement?
Principal investigators cannot submit more proposals than can potentially be awarded given the FOA eligibility restrictions. It is recommended that, if a principal investigator is certain that he/she will be submitting an IRP proposal, the investigator not submit an R&D proposal.
Are international partners (no government funding) subject to the mandatory requirements?
Yes, all teaming partners are subject to the mandatory requirements.
Do CVs count toward the 50-page narrative limit?
No. CVs do not count toward the 50-page limit for the narrative; however, references do.
Do all partners, including international, need to provide a CV?
Yes. All partners that contribute significantly to the project must submit a CV.
How much IRP funding can go to partners in industry/utility, national laboratories, etc.?
Refer to page 43 of the FY 2013 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research Funding Opportunity Announcement. No more than 20 percent of the IRP funds provided by the government can go to non-university participants, including all government-funded national laboratory and industry/utility partner shares combined.
In the submission form and on the "Additional Conflict of Interest Information Form" it asks for disclosure of all projects that are currently funded with nuclear energy-related federal funding. Does this include current projects and proposed projects?
Yes. Applicants are requested to list all current R&D projects funded by nuclear energy-related federal sources, along with proposed projects that would come from the same type of funding source.
The capabilities document and bulleted item from the narrative of "Type/description of facilities that will be used to execute the scope" seem very similar. Are they the same?
No. The narrative should not directly identify a facility to allow for a semi-blind review process. Only a brief description of the facility and how it is capable is to be included. The capabilities document is where the facility can be directly identified with specific capabilities.
A retired faculty member is part of our team. Is it possible to pay him as a consultant?
Yes. If she/he will be receiving $50,000 or more for the life of the cooperative agreement, she/he will also need to be listed as a collaborator.
What would be an advisable start date if I am awarded an IRP in FY 2013?
The start date will depend on how soon a contract is put in place. Once a proposal is selected, it typically takes three to five weeks to get a contract in place. This all depends on if the university has supplied all the required additional documentation (i.e., vendor quotes for equipment, materials and supplies price lists, etc). The faster the information is submitted, the sooner the contract process will complete.
R&D CFP
Am I permitted to submit both a R&D and IRP proposal in response to the FY 2013 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research Funding Opportunity Announcement?
Principal investigators cannot submit more proposals than can potentially be awarded given the FOA eligibility restrictions. It is recommended that, if a principal investigator is certain that he/she will be submitting an IRP proposal, the investigator not submit an R&D proposal.
Are four-year proposals still allowed under the new consolidated FOA?
No. Under the new FY 2013 consolidated FOA, proposals cannot be four years in duration. For Section A of the FOA (university-led research and development), projects can be up to three years. For Section B of the FOA (university-, national laboratory-, or industry-led research and development), proposals submitted to workscopes NEET-1 and NEET-2 can be up to two years in duration and those submitted to NEET-3 can be up to three years.
Can national laboratory personnel, whose salary is being paid by the federal government, be paid to act as a consultant on a NEUP project?
Yes. They will be paid through a subcontract from the university. It is very important to remember that if the consultant's time is being used on a NEUP project, you must account for their total cost in your budget form. DO NOT assume that their salary will be paid for by the federal government.
Does NEUP offer "no-cost extensions" on R&D contracts if the contract still has unspent money?
DOE has established as policy that university principal investigators (PIs) who request and receive approved no-cost extensions to existing NE R&D projects will be ineligible to be PIs for new project awards while any no-cost extension remains in effect. In order to provide ample planning time for prospective applicants, this policy will be implemented as follows: Commencing April 1, 2013, university PIs who request and ultimately receive a no-cost extension to any currently funded NE R&D project will be ineligible as a PI for an award under this FOA if the project completion date is beyond September 30, 2013. University PIs with an approved no-cost extension prior to April 1, 2013 will still be eligible to receive an award under this FOA. Because federal program dollars and priorities are based on critical, timely research results, “no-cost extensions” on NEUP contracts are only approved for cases with extenuating circumstances (death of a collaborator, long-term facility shutdown, etc). “No-cost extensions” will not be granted in other cases. If you feel your project requires a “no-cost extension” please contact Val Seeley at 208-526-0830 to submit the necessary documentation for your request to be reviewed.
Does the additional COI request need to include grants awarded in the last three years or that were active at any time during the last three years? Also, are all projects to be listed, including from NRC, NSF, etc.?
Yes. Any government funding related to nuclear energy work should be included and any agencies, not just DOE, should be listed.
How do I refer to my (minor) collaborator if he/she is not going to be receiving funding from this program? Is it OK for me to mention him/her -- and the nature of our collaboration -- in the proposal under these circumstances?
You may refer to PI and partners as Partner One, Professor One, Lead PI, Collaborating PI 1, Industry Partner 1 and National Lab Partner 1 or any generic designation you prefer, but you must not call them out by name.
I am collaborating with a national laboratory. On page 10 of the FOA it states that a FFRDC contractor (national laboratory) must obtain written authorization from its cognizant contracting officer. Do I need to obtain and include this written authorization in my application?
Yes. The written authorization requirement is an agreement between a FFRDC contractor and their cognizant contracting officer. National laboratory collaborators should be familiar with this requirement and who they need to contact at DOE to obtain this letter. University PI’s are required to obtain a copy of the written authorization and include it in the full proposal application (the letter does not need to be attached to pre-applications).
I am working on my proposal submission in response to the FY 2013 consolidated FOA. When I go to create my application (under the "Proposals" tab on the NEUP website), there are two different ID numbers listed in the table. What ID number do I use when naming my files?
Use the last four digits provided in the tracking ID number that is found both in that table and at the top of the application submission form. The other ID is an internal number used by the Integration Office. For example, if your tracking ID number is CFP-13-1234, use "1234."
If awarded in FY 2013, when will my project start?
If funded, projects are projected to begin October 2013.
If there are two university partners, will the funding go directly to both universities or will the lead university have to subcontract to the other university?
If selected, the lead university will have to subcontract to the collaborating institutions.
Is a minor revision of the proposal title allowed?
Yes. As long as you aren't making significant changes to the workscope itself, you can make minor adjustments to the title of your project.
Should anonymity be maintained in the capabilities document?
No. In the capabilities document of your submission, you may use the names of the lead organization as well as any collaborating organizations.
Should names be included in the technical abstract?
Since the technical abstract will not accompany the technical narrative throughout the review process, you may use the names of the organizations involved in the project.
The INL budget form indicates we should include a CV for each degreed person. If we have more than four degreed persons on the project (CVs will be provided for the PI and in the technical expertise document), how should the additional CVs requested for degreed persons be submitted?
These additional documents should be uploaded to the "Supplemental Information" portion of your submission.
The RFP instructions indicate both a limit on the number of vitas (four), the length of each vita (two pages), and the total length (eight pages). If we are able to remain within the total eight-page limit, may we include more than four vitae?
Only one CV can be uploaded under the Principal Investigator Vita section. For all other collaborators, you can list them individually under the Collaborator Vitas section. If you still need to provide additional names, you can list them under the Supplementary Information section.
What flexibility do we have to modify the workscope in the full proposal from that in the pre-application?
If you are making minor tweaks to your workscope, or want to make minor adjustments to address the comments/suggestions you received during the pre-application review process, then there is some flexibility. Major changes to the workscope are not recommended.
What forms do I need to fill out for conflict of interest?
The only conflict of interest form that needs to be filled out for the R&D CFP is the "Required Additional Conflicts of Interest Form." This form can be found in the application form under Supplementary Information. This form can be up to two pages.
What happens if more than the allowable number of submissions is received from an investigator?
If an investigator/institution submits more than the allowable number of applications, then the investigator/institution will be contacted and have 24 hours to select the applications that will be reviewed.
What is the definition of "underrepresented groups" in the context of NEUP proposals?
Underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, those groups that have participation rates significantly below the national average in a given profession. Examples of such groups may be women, lower socio-economic groups, certain minority ethnic groups, or disabled people.
As a Co-PI, does the national lab personnel have restrictions for the budget? Does he/she have to put down hours to perform the research or he/she can use budget all for other purposes, such as travel and supplies/materials?
The Co-PI from a national laboratory will need to work with their own contracts/financial people to determine how they will be supporting a project, whether it is by hours, material supplies, or travel and preparing the budget spreadsheet. A proposal will need to include a budget for whatever time, materials and supplies, travel etc., that pertains to his/her involvement in the project.
Can letters of support/endorsement be attached to the proposal? If so, where?
No. Letters of support from partners may not be included in the application.
Do we have to list recommended reviewers or is it optional?
It is required. Listing any nonpreferred reviewers is optional.
I did not see any request for a list of current and pending proposals for the PI and co-PIs to be included with the package. Is this not required?
It is required and would be listed under the Supplementary Information section in the additional conflicts of interest form.
Is it OK to identify the partner national lab by name in the proposal (without identifying the Co-PIs from the lab)?
No. Identification, by individual name or name of institution, of any teaming partner shall not be included.
My collaborator with a national lab is not familiar with this whole process because he/she is not in nuclear-related divisions. Does he/she need to ask someone for special approval to get a subcontract from our university through NE?
That person should ask their contracts/financial people about the correct process.
On the abstract template, we are to identify the program name.
[Program: Program Name] Is this the final workscope?
Yes. Of the four programs, identify which one your proposal is being submitted under, for example, Fuel Cycle, Reactor Concepts, NEAMS, or Blue Sky. The template form has been updated to help identify this.
On the online application form, under Collaborators, can we list our national laboratory partner(s)? Can a vita be uploaded in the technical expertise section?
Yes, you can list a national laboratory collaborator under the Collaborators section. The vita would be uploaded individually under the Collaborator Vitas section.
If a university proposes to collaborate with two national laboratories, can each national laboratory obtain 20% of the total funding (i.e., 40% of the total budget to the national labs), or do the labs have to share 20% of the total budget between them?
No, the FOA specifically states that the sum total of all funds that go to the all national laboratory and industrial partners may not exceed 20% of the total funding request.
R&D RPA
Are four-year proposals still allowed under the new consolidated FOA?
No. Under the new FY 2013 consolidated FOA, proposals cannot be four years in duration. For Section A of the FOA (university-led research and development), projects can be up to three years. For Section B of the FOA (university-, national laboratory-, or industry-led research and development), proposals submitted to workscopes NEET-1 and NEET-2 can be up to two years in duration and those submitted to NEET-3 can be up to three years.
Are CVs required for all collaborators at the pre-application stage?
At this phase we allow only the lead PI's full CV. All others should be described succinctly within the Benefit of Collaborations document.
Are national laboratories allowed to participate on R&D proposals? What is the budget limit for lab participation?
Yes, national laboratories are allowed to participate in all three sections of the FY 2013 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research FOA. For Sections A and C, national laboratories can only participate as collaborators. No more than 20 percent of the R&D funds provided by the government can go to non-university participants. National laboratories can be the lead for proposals submitted under Section B. Please refer to the FOA for additional detail.
Can national laboratory personnel, whose salary is being paid by the federal government, be paid to act as a consultant on a NEUP project?
Yes. They will be paid through a subcontract from the university. It is very important to remember that if the consultant's time is being used on a NEUP project, you must account for their total cost in your budget form. DO NOT assume that their salary will be paid for by the federal government.
Do I need to submit any letters of commitment from my partners when I submit the pre-application?
No. You just need to check the box on the submission form indicating your collaborators are committed.
Do references count within the page maximum of the pre-application narrative?
Yes they do.
How do I add partners and reviewers?
After each line item, there is an "Add" option to click on. This will save each line and then it can be edited and/or deleted.
How is relevance determined for submitted proposals?
Relevance is determined by NE program managers and the associated national technical directors. Relevance may change year to year and is specifically focused on the areas identified in each workscope. A proposal may also receive a low relevance score because significant work is currently being done in a given area and additional work is not a high priority.
How many pre-applications can an institution submit for Section B?
An institution can submit three pre-applications per workscope area in Section B.
Section A and C do not have institutional restrictions. Individual submittal guidelines for Section A and C can be found on page 10 of the FOA.
I am collaborating with a national laboratory. On page 10 of the FOA it states that a FFRDC contractor (national laboratory) must obtain written authorization from its cognizant contracting officer. Do I need to obtain and include this written authorization in my application?
Yes. The written authorization requirement is an agreement between a FFRDC contractor and their cognizant contracting officer. National laboratory collaborators should be familiar with this requirement and who they need to contact at DOE to obtain this letter. University PI’s are required to obtain a copy of the written authorization and include it in the full proposal application (the letter does not need to be attached to pre-applications).
I have been asked to contribute to more than one pre-application in different areas of research. Is being a PI or Co-PI on two or more pre-applications allowed?
Yes, as long as you do not exceed the maximum submissions allowed. Refer to the FOA for additional information on submission limitations and eligibility requirements.
If we believe a proposal could be funded under different workscopes, should we submit the same proposal twice?
No. If you are unsure where your proposal should be listed, you should contact the appropriate technical and/or federal points of contact to discuss what workscope best fits your proposal. It is not recommended to submit a proposal more than once.
In Section B (NEET), is there a limit of funds going to national laboratories or industry that are not the lead institution?
There is no limit on the amount of funding that can go to a collaborator in Section B.
My pre-application was scored as “Highly Relevant/High Program Priority,” yet I was not invited to submit a full proposal. How can a proposal that is scored highly relevant be excluded from the full proposal process?
There are several reasons why a proposal can be scored “Highly Relevant/High Program Priority” and still be excluded from the full proposal process. First, the highest scoring category for a relevancy review is “Unquestionably Relevant/Unquestionable Program Priority”, meaning other proposals could still be scored higher than “Highly Relevant”. Second, a proposal can score well in the relevancy review and poorly in a technical review. If this is the case, proposals could be excluded on technical merit. Third, each workscope area defines its own competitive range; therefore, competitive scores will be different for each workscope area. For example, highly competitive workscope areas may only invite proposals with “Unquestionable Relevance” because there are enough competitive proposals to do so.
Can a NEUP project be performed in conjunction with an I-NERI project?
As long as there is an appropriate workscope in which to submit, and researchers do not go beyond their allowable number of submissions, there is no reason why a project cannot be submitted in conjunction with a previous I-NERI project.
Although I am from a minority-serving institution, the web form does not allow me to enter my university in the fields provided. How should I enter it?
Those fields are no longer requiring input. You can choose the state your university is located in, choose "Other" for the university and enter the name of your institution.
Can a graduate student be a PI?
No. We encourage graduate students to work on the projects, but PIs should be university professors.
Can a project have multiple PIs?
Projects can have as many collaborators as necessary, but only one lead PI.
Do you have guidelines on international collaborators?
The funding opportunities in all areas of the FY 2013 Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research FOA are for U.S.-based researchers/organizations only. Foreign organizations are encouraged to collaborate as long as they comply with applicable DOE and federal requirements including, but not limited to, not be a denied person or a person that requires an export license; however, such participants are not eligible for U.S. government funding.
Does "team member" refer to the institution or the individual under collaboration commitment? If there are two individuals from a national lab is that one or two commitments?
It refers to one commitment and it's by institution.
For a team member not to be identified as a collaborator, would I list their share at $50,000 or $49,999 in my budget?
In order to remain a minor contributor, they cannot be allocated $50,000 or more for their participation in the project. You would allocate them $49,999 and under.
How do I upload documents to my application?
The upload options will become available after the proposal is saved for the first time.
I am a jointly employed by a university and a laboratory. Am I able to be a lead PI?
It is not recommended unless you are employed more than half of your time with the university. If more than half of your time is employed with the national laboratory, then you would be eligible to lead a project under Section B of the FOA.
I am submitting applications on behalf of the PI. The web form indicates I must check the box indicating I am the PI. Is that a problem?
No. The proposal will be tied to the PI so this does not create a problem.
Is a Benefit of Collaborations document needed for collaborators from the same university?
You would provide any information on collaborators and facilities that benefit the proposal here.
Is any part of the pre-application made public?
No. Pre-applications are not publicly available. They are shared with project personnel as designated by the appropriate federal and technical liaisons in their role as a reviewer or funding agency. They are also reviewed by a technical review panel, but they are not allowed to share or use the data presented.
Is it necessary to fill out the "Benefit of Collaborations" if there are none?
No. It is not necessary if there truly are no collaborators.
One of my collaborators is from an organization not listed in the drop-down menu. Where should I list this partner?
Choose "Other including Foreign Entities" and enter the collaborator's organization accordingly.
When submitting an application, an error is received that states "Additional References Required to Submit." What does this mean?
The error is indicating a required field is missing information. It will highlight a message in red at the far right of the error to show what is missing. Check the "Recommended Reviewers" field to ensure three experts have been identified.
Would funds to a laboratory be part of the overall proposed budget?
Yes. Laboratory portions of a proposal will need to be shown as part of the proposal budget.
Can a proposal have one year under one workscope and a different year under a different workscope if the project is applicable to both workscopes?
No. Due to the allocation of funds, review process, and other programmatic procedures, only one workscope is available to a project at a time. To submit to a different workscope would require a separate proposal.
Can national laboratories submit proposals?
They can only submit proposals as principal investigators for Section B of the FOA. They can collaborate with universities for proposals submitted to Sections A and C, but cannot receive more than 20 percent of a project's overall funding.
Do I need to submit any letters of commitment from my partners when I submit the pre-application?
No. You just need to check the box on the submission form indicating your partners are committed.
Is an adjunct professor at a U.S.-based university while also employed at a foreign institution eligible for U.S. funding?
Only if they are working for and at the U.S. university on U.S. soil can they receive U.S. funds. We cannot send funds to a foreign institution.
Is it mandatory to put in reviewers for the submission of the RPA?
Yes, this is a mandatory field. We reserve the right to use or not use the suggestions considering other factors including conflict of interest, but we have found this self identification extremely useful in obtaining appropriately qualified expert reviewers.
Is it possible to request funding for a foreign collaborator if they work at a U.S. university?
Yes, it is possible to request funding as long as the collaborator is working for the U.S. university and performing the work at the U.S. university.
There doesn't seem to be an indication of how to include budget information in the pre-application. Should this be part of the narrative or is there a separate form that needs to be filled out?
During the RPA stage, only the overall requested amount is necessary. The technical narrative should support the requested amount and further information will be required during the full proposal stage if submitted.
Will DOE disqualify all pre-applications from an institution if you receive more than six pre-applications and/or if there are more than three as lead PI?
For Sections A and C of the FOA: No. The limitations are per person, not institution. This affects the number of pre-applications per PI and/or collaborators. The institutions are invited to submit any amount of proposals. For Section B of the FOA, however, all applying institutions (i.e., university, national laboratory, industry) are limited to three pre-applications per institution per workscope area. If a university PI is designated as the lead, these submissions will count toward the above overall university researchers limitation of being associated with no more than six pre-applications total in response to all sections of the FOA, with no more than three of those associations being as the lead PI. Institutions are responsible for not exceeding the submission limit.
Scholarships & Fellowships
Are students entering their third year of graduate study eligible to apply for a NEUP fellowship?
Graduate students are not eligible for a fellowship if they are beginning their third or more year of continuous, full-time graduate study for the fall 2013 semester. If a student started graduate school, but then left for a job or other reasons for more than two continuous semesters, then upon return to full-time graduate study, they would be considered a new student in their first year.
What happens to my application materials if scholarship and fellowship awards are not issued?
If scholarship and fellowship awards are not issued, all application materials will remain on file with the Integration Office (IO). If a solicitation is issued the following year, eligible students who wish to reapply can contact the IO to see what scores/transcripts are still on file so that they do not have to be resubmitted. In addition, students have the option of using the same essays as the previous year as long as they are still considered current/up-to-date. (Students will need to once again upload these essays to the online application form.) Please note that new reference letters will need to be submitted, as previous letters will not be accepted.
When submitting a request to have my GRE scores sent to the NEUP Integration Office, the website requests a department code in addition to the 4470 Institution Code that is provided in the request for applications. What department code should applicants use?
You should be able to submit your request without having to provide a department code. If the system does not allow you to do so, contact the Integration Office at 208-526-1104 or neup@inl.gov so they are aware of the issue and can help get it resolved.
Are NEUP fellowships and scholarships only for nuclear engineering students?
No. The awards are open to students in a variety of nuclear-related fields, including radiochemistry, health physics, nuclear physics and other fields of engineering. Students enrolled in two-year technical programs in nuclear also are eligible for scholarships.
Are permanent residents eligible to apply for a NEUP scholarship or fellowship?
Yes. Legal permanent residents holding a green card are eligible to apply; however, applicants holding a F1 student visa are not eligible to apply for a NEUP scholarship or fellowship.
Can the $1,000 research travel allowance given to NEUP fellowship recipients be used for foreign travel?
No. Unfortunately, due to the complications of approving international travel, we cannot support students traveling internationally on our fellowships.
How many scholarship and fellowship awards is NEUP expecting to issue in FY 2013?
If solicitations are issued in FY 2013, it is anticipated that approximately 70 undergraduate scholarships ($5,000 award per student) and 30 graduate fellowships ($155,000 over three years) will be awarded.
My school isn't on the list of universities and colleges approved to administer NEUP scholarships and fellowships. Am I still eligible for an award?
Yes, conditionally. Your chosen university must be able to demonstrate a program or field of study related to nuclear energy and must apply and be approved prior to any transfer of funding. For your school to be added to the approved list, it will need to apply to the university funding opportunity announcement on Grants.gov (DE-FOA-0000807). For questions pertaining to this application process, contact Kenny Osborne at 208-526-0805. The process takes about six weeks from when we receive the application, so it is important that your university submit this as soon as possible. If you are selected to receive an award and your school is not on the current list but has applied, we will expedite the process. It is preferable that the application on Grants.gov be submitted from someone at the school that has the authority to agree to the terms of the FOA and who can administer the awards without charge.
Additional Information
What would happen if, after all costs related to the student's fellowship were paid, there were still funds leftover? Would the student be given the funds, or would they be returned to NEUP?
If a fellow will have leftover award funds at the end of each academic year, the student can use the money for additional NEUP-approved travel, health insurance (for the fellow only), and/or housing. The university administrator will need to provide a breakdown of the student's fellowship and how it's being spent so that we can keep track of what is still available. If, at the end of the three-year fellowship, a student still has remaining funds, then the award money will remain with the university and will be applied to a future scholar or fellow. Leftover funds do not go to the fellow.
When are reference letters due? How should they be submitted?
Reference letters need to be submitted by the application deadline. Be sure to make direct contact with your reference writers as well, so they are aware that a request will be coming their way. They can either upload their letters through the link that is provided in the automatic email or, if they are having trouble with the system, they can email it to neup@inl.gov and we can upload it on their behalf.
How are applicants notified if they have/have not been selected for award?
All applicants will receive an email from NEUP letting them know if they have been awarded a scholarship or fellowship.
I applied for a NEUP Fellowship award last year and am applying again this year. Do I need to resubmit transcripts or GRE scores, or do you still have them on file?
If you applied for a fellowship or scholarship last year, then NEUP should have your transcripts and scores on file; however, just to be sure, please send an email to neup@inl.gov letting us know that you applied last year and are planning to do so again so we can pull your records to create a new application file. An updated transcript is required for the application.
I was not required to take the GREs. Am I still eligible to apply for a NEUP Fellowship?
Yes. You are still eligible to apply for a NEUP Fellowship. Someone from your admissions office (or a professor) will need to send an email to neup@inl.gov letting us know that they weren't required for admittance into your graduate program so we can note it in your file.
If a student purchases property, can the housing allowance be used to help pay the mortgage? Is there any difference between paying a housing allowance for rental property vs. owned property?
Yes. If a student has funds remaining from his/her NEUP fellowship once tuition, fees, etc., have been paid, then that money can be used to help pay for the student's housing, rented or owned.
Once all tuition, fees, books, etc., have been covered by a NEUP fellowship, can a student use the leftover funds to pay utility costs, such as water and electricity as part of their "housing" allowance?
No. Leftover funding, once all tuition, etc., has been paid, cannot be used to pay utility costs. It can be used for rent or for a mortgage payment, however. In addition, it can also be used for pre-approved NEUP-related travel. Students wishing to do additional travel will need to submit a travel request form (which can be found on the NEUP website).
The Fellowship RFA states that GRE scores are required. If I have not yet taken the GRE, but plan to within the next couple of weeks, am I still eligible to apply?
As long as your GRE scores are submitted prior to the application deadline, they will be accepted.
Although I will be pursuing a graduate degree from a university participating in the program, I have not yet decided (accepted an offer) which nuclear program I will be participating in. How should I fill out the "University Selection" portion of the online application - should I just choose any one of the schools I am considering?
You can provide the Integration Office with the university you anticipate on attending. We understand that this can change; however, applicants are responsible for letting the Integration Office know PRIOR to the review of applications which school they will be attending, as such information is used in the final selection process.
Are NEUP fellowships and scholarships only for nuclear engineering students?
No. The awards are open to students in a variety of nuclear-related fields, including radiochemistry, health physics and nuclear physics. Students enrolled in two-year technical programs in nuclear are also eligible.
Chemical Engineering was not specifically listed as a nuclear-energy related discipline within the introduction of the RFA. As a chemical engineering student, am I also eligible to apply for this scholarship?
Yes.
I am currently a senior and will be going to school for one more year to complete my undergraduate degree. Am I still eligible to apply for a NEUP Scholarship even though I am going to be a fifth year senior?
Yes. You are still eligible to apply for a NEUP Scholarship.
I read the question concerning eligibility of students not in a nuclear engineering program, and I did not see anything concerning any other majors. My university does not offer nuclear engineering to undergraduate students, and only offers a minor, therefore I declared my major to be in mechanical engineering, hoping later to focus in the nuclear field. Also, I cannot declare this minor so early in my college career, so I was wondering if I was still eligible. Thank-you for any information.
Students pursuing nuclear energy-related disciplines such as nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, health physics, nuclear materials science, radiochemistry, etc., are eligible to apply for a NEUP scholarship or fellowship. Please keep in mind that because medical isotopes, fusion, nuclear forensics, or environmental management topics do not fit into the mission of the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, students pursuing studies in these fields are not eligible to apply.
To be eligible for a scholarship or fellowship, must a student be part of a NEUP funded project, or may they only be doing work in a nuclear related field?
There is no requirement that a student be part of an existing project. They need only be pursuing a course of study related to nuclear energy.
To what mailing address should official transcripts and test scores be sent for the NEUP scholarship/fellowship programs?
Official transcripts and scores for both scholarship and fellowship applications can be sent to the following address: NEUP Integration Office Attn: Jenna Payne, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625 MS 3560, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415