National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program

 

Objectives 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 the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, P.L.111-140. The following goals have been established to meet these objectives: 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 nuclear forensics research awards to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to perform forensic-related research in collaboration with academic professors and researchers at the national laboratories. These awards promote research that advances nuclear forensics methods, such as detection, characterization of materials, and analysis of signatures, while encouraging universities to invest in these types of programs, and feed students into post-doctoral/permanent staff positions in nuclear forensics at the national laboratories or federal agencies.

Active 97.130 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Department of Homeland Security B - Project Grants 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.
Fiscal Year 2020 In 2008, DHS established the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program (NFGFP) to provide fellowships to graduate students pursuing graduate degrees in nuclear, geochemical, and other disciplines directly relevant to nuclear forensics. This program aimed to develop the next generation of qualified scientists to meet U.S. Government needs for nuclear forensics expertise and to build a student career path in nuclear forensics. Forty-five students participated in the NFGFP, with 40 receiving doctoral degrees. This program closed in Spring, 2021. NNFEDP established the Nuclear Forensice Research Awards program in 2018. Two NFRAs remain active through FY 2021.
Fiscal Year 2021 The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program continued sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards (NFRAs). The firse NFRA developed sensitive mass spectrometry instrumentation for ultra-high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials. This NFRA supported 1 graduate student and 2 undergraduate students, in addition to one faculty memer. The second NFRA continued to collect and analyze y-y coincidence spectra of fission and actinide products resulting from fission-spectrum neutron induced fission of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu. Two graduate students and one undergraduate were funded on the project and trained by university professors and laboratory scientists in the field of material analysis for nuclear forensics. Additionally, the academic partner hosted a summer research program for underrepresented students to get hand-on experience with the tools used in radiation detection for nuclear security.
Fiscal Year 2022 Sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards that provide academic support to undergraduate and graduate students and sponsor research that furthers the body of knowledge in nuclear forensics. The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program continued sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards (NFRAs). The first NFRA developed sensitive mass spectrometry instrumentation for ultra-high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials. This NFRA supported 1 graduate student and 2 undergraduate students, in addition to one faculty member. The second NFRA continued to collect and analyze Îł-Îł coincidence spectra of fission and actinide products resulting from fission-spectrum neutron induced fission of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu. Two graduate students and one undergraduate were funded on the project and trained by university professors and laboratory scientists in the field of material analysis for nuclear forensics. Additionally, the academic partner hosted a summer research program for underrepresented students to get hands-on experience with the tools used in radiation detection for nuclear security. Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140; Sec. 4(a)(12)., Public Law -, U.S.C. Refer to the program guidance. Refer to the program guidance. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. 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. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Refer to the funding opportunity announcement. Not applicable. Subject to future appropriations. Refer to the funding opportunity announcement for information on criteria for selecting proposals. 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. Performance Reports: Refer to the funding opportunity announcement. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 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. 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. 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. None/Not specified. Sandra Gogol, DHS CWMD
245 Murray LNM.S. 0315
Washington, DC 20528 US
Sandra.Gogol@hq.dhs.gov
Phone: (202) 527-3452 http://www.dhs.gov 70-0860-0-1-999 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $4,095,000.00; FY 24 est $2,700,000.00; - Refer to the funding opportunity announcements. 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.