Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016986
The grant opportunity titled Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the FIRST Program (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0016986) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), administered through its Cooperative Threat Reduction office (ISN/CTR). It supports the FIRST Program, which focuses on practical, technical capacity-building for countries that are either new to nuclear power or already operating nuclear energy programs and are now evaluating small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactor designs as part of their clean energy plans. The core purpose is to help partner countries develop the institutions, workforce, regulations, and security practices needed to pursue nuclear energy in a way that aligns with the highest international expectations for nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nonproliferation.
A central theme of this opportunity is that nuclear energy expansion, especially involving SMRs and advanced reactors, should be paired from the start with strong safeguards and risk-reduction measures. The FIRST Program is built to strengthen U.S. bilateral and multilateral cooperation in this space and is explicitly framed as being consistent with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear energy infrastructure development milestones approach. In practical terms, that means projects are expected to support the types of step-by-step national infrastructure development the IAEA emphasizes, such as establishing or improving legal and regulatory frameworks, developing competent and independent regulatory oversight, preparing for licensing and permitting, building human capital and training pipelines, and integrating security and safeguards considerations early rather than treating them as add-ons later.
The outcomes the program is aiming for are clear: enabling secure, safe, and proliferation-resistant deployment of SMRs or other advanced reactors in partner countries. That includes strengthening nuclear security culture and physical protection capabilities, supporting nonproliferation norms and safeguards readiness, and ensuring safety practices and oversight capacity keep pace with new technologies and new entrants. Because SMRs and advanced reactors may be marketed as faster to deploy or simpler to operate than traditional large reactors, the program emphasis signals that infrastructure, governance, and security maturity still need to be developed to a high standard, even if the technology is different.
The announcement lists a broad range of eligible applicants, indicating that the Department of State is open to bringing in a mix of technical, academic, and implementation partners. Eligible entities include U.S.-based nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), public international organizations, foreign public organizations, U.S.-based private/public/state institutions of higher education, foreign-based institutions of higher education, and U.S. for-profit organizations and businesses. This wide eligibility suggests the program may fund activities ranging from expert exchanges and training programs to technical assessments, policy and regulatory support, and specialized assistance that requires deep engineering, safeguards, or security expertise.
From a funding standpoint, the award ceiling is listed as $4,000,000, with an expectation of about 10 awards. The original closing date is January 17, 2025. The opportunity is categorized as "Other" for the funding instrument type and activity category, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.033. The overall structure indicates a competitive assistance mechanism meant to generate multiple projects, potentially across multiple countries or regions, that collectively advance U.S. nonproliferation and nuclear security objectives while supporting responsible nuclear energy development abroad.
In short, this grant opportunity is designed to fund organizations that can help countries considering SMRs and advanced reactors build the regulatory, technical, security, and institutional foundations needed for nuclear energy that is safe, secure, and aligned with global nonproliferation standards. It is less about financing reactor construction and more about ensuring that, if deployment happens, it happens with strong guardrails: credible oversight, trained personnel, effective nuclear security, and safeguards-ready programs consistent with internationally recognized IAEA milestones.Apply for DFOP0016986
- The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the FIRST Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.033.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-17. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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