Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002017
The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), through its Defense Programs Office of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, offered this funding opportunity to select one organization to run two long-standing graduate fellowship programs that help build the future workforce behind the nation's Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). The SSP is the science-based approach the United States uses to maintain the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nuclear weapons stockpile in an era without underground nuclear testing. Since the 1992 testing moratorium and reductions in the arsenal, national policy has pushed NNSA and its laboratories to rely on advanced experiments, high-fidelity physics and engineering models, and increasingly powerful computing to understand and predict weapon performance across many conditions, rather than relying on explosive testing. In that context, NNSA views STEM talent development as a core national security need, and these fellowships are one of the main pipelines for training PhD-level scientists and engineers whose work aligns with stewardship science priorities.
The opportunity, titled "Management of Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) and Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (LRGF) Programs," sought applications from eligible organizations to lead, manage, and administer both fellowship programs for a five-year period. The selected awardee would be responsible not just for basic program operations, but for sustaining what already works in the existing SSGF and LRGF programs and continually improving and evolving them to better support the objectives of the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program. In practical terms, this means the managing organization would oversee end-to-end fellowship administration: recruiting and outreach to prospective applicants, operating the application and review process, coordinating selections, handling fellow support logistics, maintaining relationships with participating universities and the NNSA laboratories, and tracking performance and outcomes. The emphasis on "sustaining and enhancing" signals that NNSA expected professional program management with continuous program development rather than a static, one-time implementation.
This was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement during performance. While a grant often provides funds with fewer day-to-day touchpoints, a cooperative agreement typically means NNSA would anticipate close coordination with the program operator on major decisions, milestones, reporting, and program direction, especially given the national security mission and the need to align fellowship activities with stewardship science priorities. The funding activity category was listed under Energy, and the CFDA number was 81.112, identifying the federal assistance program area associated with the award.
The opportunity was identified as DE-FOA-0002017, posted May 17, 2019, with an application deadline of August 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. NNSA anticipated making a single award, with an award ceiling of $21,000,000. Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open broadly to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full eligibility section of the announcement. Overall, the purpose was to ensure stable, high-quality operation of the SSGF and LRGF fellowships over the next five years while strengthening the talent pipeline that supports stockpile stewardship science, including the sophisticated experimental, modeling, and computational work that underpins confidence in the nuclear deterrent without nuclear explosive testing.Apply for DE FOA 0002017
- The Department of Energy, NNSA in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Management of Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) and Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (LRGF) Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.112.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2019 Application deadline is August 15, 2019 1159 PM Eastern Standard Time. (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 $21,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Management of Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) and Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (LRGF) Programs."
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), specifically the Defense Programs Office of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, offered this opportunity.
What is the overall purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is to select one organization to lead, manage, and administer two long-standing graduate fellowship programs (SSGF and LRGF) that build the future workforce supporting the nation’s Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). The goal is stable, high-quality operation of both fellowships over a five-year period while strengthening the talent pipeline aligned with stewardship science priorities.
What is the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) and why does it matter here?
The Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) is the science-based approach the United States uses to maintain the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nuclear weapons stockpile without underground nuclear testing. Since the 1992 testing moratorium and reductions in the arsenal, NNSA and its laboratories rely on advanced experiments, high-fidelity physics and engineering models, and increasingly powerful computing to assess and predict weapon performance. The fellowships supported by this opportunity are described as a major pipeline for developing PhD-level STEM talent aligned to these stewardship science needs.
What programs are covered under this award?
This award covers the Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) and the Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (LRGF) programs.
How many awards did NNSA anticipate making?
NNSA anticipated making a single award (selecting one organization).
What type of federal assistance instrument is expected?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial federal involvement during performance. Compared with a typical grant, the description suggests NNSA expected close coordination with the selected operator on major decisions, milestones, reporting, and program direction to keep fellowship activities aligned with stewardship science priorities and the national security mission.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The opportunity sought an organization to manage both fellowship programs for a five-year period.
What is the funding amount and ceiling?
The anticipated award ceiling was $21,000,000.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0002017.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 17, 2019.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was August 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open broadly to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full eligibility section of the announcement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for the federal assistance program area is 81.112.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category was listed under Energy.
What organization is NNSA trying to select through this announcement?
NNSA sought to select one organization to run the two fellowship programs, including sustaining what already works and continually improving and evolving the programs to better support the objectives of the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program.
What responsibilities would the selected awardee have?
The selected awardee would be responsible for end-to-end fellowship administration and program management, including recruiting and outreach to prospective applicants, operating the application and review process, coordinating selections, handling fellow support logistics, maintaining relationships with participating universities and NNSA laboratories, and tracking performance and outcomes. The awardee would also be expected to sustain and enhance the existing programs through continuous program development.
What does "sustaining and enhancing" the programs imply?
It signals that NNSA expected professional program management focused on maintaining proven program elements while continuously improving and evolving the fellowships, rather than treating the effort as a static, one-time implementation.
How does this opportunity relate to STEM workforce development?
NNSA views STEM talent development as a core national security need. These fellowships are described as one of the main pipelines for training PhD-level scientists and engineers whose work aligns with stewardship science priorities supporting the Stockpile Stewardship Program.
How does the work connect to nuclear testing policy?
The opportunity is framed around the reality that the United States maintains confidence in the nuclear deterrent without underground nuclear explosive testing. Since the 1992 moratorium, stewardship relies on advanced experiments, high-fidelity models, and powerful computing, and the fellowships help develop the specialized scientific and engineering workforce needed for that approach.
What relationships would the managing organization need to maintain?
The managing organization would be expected to maintain relationships with participating universities and the NNSA laboratories as part of administering and coordinating the fellowship programs.
What kinds of results or progress would the awardee be expected to track?
The awardee would be expected to track performance and outcomes for the fellowship programs, consistent with the emphasis on high-quality operation, continuous improvement, and alignment with stewardship science priorities.
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