Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002271
The Advanced Reactor Demonstration funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0002271) is a U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy effort to accelerate real-world demonstrations of advanced nuclear reactor technologies led by U.S. private industry. The central idea is to move beyond paper studies and lab-scale research by helping pay for the design, licensing, construction, and operation of multiple advanced reactor demonstrations that are reliable, cost-effective, licensable under U.S. regulatory requirements, and positioned to become commercially viable products. DOE is aiming for reactor designs that can compete in the near- and mid-term with other energy sources on both construction cost and operating cost, while also delivering meaningful upgrades in safety, security, economics, and environmental performance compared to today’s conventional nuclear plants.
This FOA sits within the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), created with funding provided through the FY2020 Further Consolidation Appropriations Act (H.R. 1865). DOE frames ARDP as a public-private cost-shared push that combines federal support with substantial non-federal investment so that the projects are driven by commercial discipline and realistic deployment goals. The broader policy motivation is to maintain U.S. technological leadership in the global nuclear sector and strengthen national energy security, recognizing that the U.S. must continue advancing reactor technology from research and development into actual deployment if it wants to stay competitive internationally.
The announcement is organized into three pathways that reflect different maturity levels and timelines. The first pathway, Advanced Reactor Demonstrations, is the most deployment-focused and is intended to support two reactor designs that can reach operational status in roughly 5 to 7 years. The second pathway, Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration, is meant for 2 to 5 additional advanced reactor designs that are not as close to construction readiness; these projects are expected to have a commercialization timeline about five years longer than the first pathway and focus on reducing key technical, licensing, supply chain, and project execution risks that would otherwise delay a future demonstration. The third pathway, Advanced Reactor Concepts - 20, is intended to fund at least two new public-private partnership awards to push newer or less mature concepts toward the demonstration stage; these are expected to be about five years behind the Risk Reduction pathway in commercialization horizon, effectively creating a pipeline that ranges from near-term builds to longer-term innovations.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects to be actively involved in the project through substantial federal oversight and collaboration rather than acting as a hands-off grantmaker. The opportunity is classified under the Energy funding activity category (CFDA 81.121), and the listed award ceiling is up to $4,000,000,000, reflecting the scale of capital needed to demonstrate nuclear reactors. The FOA was issued by DOE’s Idaho Field Office, with an original closing date of August 19, 2020 (noting this date is in the past and matters mainly for historical tracking of the solicitation unless a related or successor FOA is reissued).
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit companies (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and other eligible entities. Practically, DOE is looking for applicants or teams that can actually design, build, license, and operate an advanced reactor demonstration, so typical applicants include reactor developers and vendors, fuel manufacturers, utilities and power producers, engineering/procurement/construction contractors, supply chain firms, universities, and industrial end users interested in non-electric applications such as process heat.
A key restriction is that prime recipients (the direct beneficiaries and lead awardees) must be located and/or based in the United States, and DOE indicates it only plans to consider awards where the prime awardee is owned, organized, and operated within the U.S. Applicants are expected to document eligibility in a required Letter of Intent, including information tied to 2 CFR 910.124. While the prime must be U.S.-based and U.S.-controlled as described, foreign subrecipients and vendors can be included on a project team in some circumstances, subject to additional requirements and limitations referenced in the FOA (including Appendix F). DOE also encourages teaming and joint ventures, reflecting the reality that advanced reactor demonstrations typically require integrated capabilities across technology development, licensing, project finance, construction management, and eventual plant operations.
Overall, this opportunity is designed to create a structured, staged portfolio of advanced reactor projects: a small number of near-term, build-and-operate demonstrations; a larger set of projects aimed at de-risking the next wave of demonstrations; and a smaller set of partnerships to mature newer concepts. The end goal is not just technical success, but a credible pathway to commercial deployment where advanced nuclear plants can be built and run safely, securely, and affordably at scale in U.S. and international markets.Apply for DE FOA 0002271
- The Idaho Field Office in the energy, oz sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Reactor Demonstration" 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 2020-05-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-19. (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 $4,000,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Advanced Reactor Demonstration (DOE FOA 0002271) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Advanced Reactor Demonstration funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0002271)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy funding opportunity aimed at accelerating real-world demonstrations of advanced nuclear reactor technologies led by U.S. private industry. The focus is on moving beyond paper studies and lab-scale research by supporting work needed to design, license, construct, and operate multiple advanced reactor demonstrations.
What is DOE trying to achieve through this funding opportunity?
DOE is trying to help advanced reactor designs reach real deployment and become commercially viable products. The program emphasizes demonstrations that are reliable, cost-effective, and licensable under U.S. regulatory requirements, with meaningful improvements in safety, security, economics, and environmental performance compared to conventional nuclear plants.
How does this FOA relate to the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP)?
This FOA sits within the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which DOE describes as a public-private, cost-shared effort combining federal support with substantial non-federal investment. ARDP was created with funding provided through the FY2020 Further Consolidation Appropriations Act (H.R. 1865).
Why is DOE structuring this as a public-private, cost-shared effort?
DOE frames ARDP as a way to ensure projects are driven by commercial discipline and realistic deployment goals, since private industry must bring substantial non-federal investment. DOE also highlights broader goals such as maintaining U.S. technological leadership in the global nuclear sector and strengthening national energy security.
What kinds of project activities does the FOA support?
The FOA is intended to help pay for the design, licensing, construction, and operation of advanced reactor demonstrations. It is explicitly focused on real-world demonstrations rather than only research and development activities.
What does DOE mean by "advanced reactor demonstrations" in this context?
In this FOA, DOE is referring to projects that move advanced reactor technologies into practical, operational demonstrations. The intent is to support reactors that can be built, licensed, and operated in the real world, providing a credible pathway to commercial deployment.
What performance attributes is DOE looking for in reactor designs?
DOE is aiming for reactor designs that can compete in the near- and mid-term with other energy sources on both construction cost and operating cost, while also delivering meaningful upgrades in safety, security, economics, and environmental performance compared to today’s conventional nuclear plants.
How is the FOA organized?
The opportunity is organized into three pathways that reflect different maturity levels and timelines: (1) Advanced Reactor Demonstrations, (2) Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration, and (3) Advanced Reactor Concepts - 20.
What is Pathway 1: Advanced Reactor Demonstrations?
Pathway 1 is the most deployment-focused pathway. It is intended to support two reactor designs that can reach operational status in roughly 5 to 7 years.
What is Pathway 2: Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration?
Pathway 2 is intended for 2 to 5 additional advanced reactor designs that are not as close to construction readiness. These projects focus on reducing key risks (technical, licensing, supply chain, and project execution) that could otherwise delay a future demonstration. DOE describes these as having a commercialization timeline about five years longer than Pathway 1.
What is Pathway 3: Advanced Reactor Concepts - 20?
Pathway 3 is intended to fund at least two new public-private partnership awards to push newer or less mature concepts toward the demonstration stage. DOE indicates these concepts are expected to be about five years behind the Risk Reduction pathway in commercialization horizon, creating a longer-term pipeline of innovation.
How many projects does DOE expect to support under each pathway?
Based on the FOA description: Pathway 1 targets two reactor designs; Pathway 2 targets 2 to 5 additional designs; and Pathway 3 targets at least two new public-private partnership awards.
What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements. This typically means DOE expects to be actively involved through substantial federal oversight and collaboration, rather than acting as a hands-off grantmaker.
Which DOE office issued this funding opportunity?
The FOA was issued by DOE’s Idaho Field Office.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is classified under the Energy funding activity category, with CFDA number 81.121.
What is the award ceiling listed for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling is up to $4,000,000,000, reflecting the scale of capital required to demonstrate nuclear reactors.
When was the FOA originally scheduled to close?
The original closing date listed was August 19, 2020. This date is in the past and is mainly relevant for historical tracking unless a related or successor FOA is reissued.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes: state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit companies (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and other eligible entities.
What is the key eligibility restriction for prime recipients?
Prime recipients (the direct beneficiaries and lead awardees) must be located and/or based in the United States. DOE indicates it only plans to consider awards where the prime awardee is owned, organized, and operated within the U.S.
How are applicants expected to document eligibility?
Applicants are expected to document eligibility in a required Letter of Intent, including information tied to 2 CFR 910.124.
Can foreign organizations participate on project teams?
DOE indicates that foreign subrecipients and vendors can be included in some circumstances, subject to additional requirements and limitations referenced in the FOA (including Appendix F). The prime awardee, however, must be U.S.-based and U.S.-controlled as described in the opportunity.
Does DOE encourage partnerships or joint ventures?
Yes. DOE encourages teaming and joint ventures, recognizing that advanced reactor demonstrations typically require integrated capabilities across technology development, licensing, project finance, construction management, and eventual plant operations.
What kinds of organizations commonly make up a competitive project team?
DOE notes that typical applicants or team members include reactor developers and vendors, fuel manufacturers, utilities and power producers, engineering/procurement/construction contractors, supply chain firms, universities, and industrial end users interested in non-electric applications such as process heat.
What is the overall portfolio strategy behind the three pathways?
DOE is aiming to create a staged portfolio: a small number of near-term build-and-operate demonstrations; a larger set of projects to de-risk the next wave of demonstrations; and a smaller set of partnerships to mature newer concepts. Together, the pathways are designed to create a pipeline from nearer-term deployment to longer-term innovation.
Is the end goal limited to technical success?
No. The stated goal includes a credible pathway to commercial deployment, where advanced nuclear plants can be built and run safely, securely, and affordably at scale in U.S. and international markets.
What is the central idea that differentiates this FOA from earlier-stage research programs?
The central idea is to move beyond paper studies and lab-scale research by funding activities that directly support design, licensing, construction, and operation of real reactor demonstrations led by U.S. private industry.
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