National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program
These objectives are aligned with Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-8, National Preparedness, in that the NNFEDP aims to supply the technical expertise critical to enabling the nuclear forensics mission.
This mission involves strengthening the security and resilience of the United States through systematic preparation for the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Terrorism is cited among a short list of major threats in PPD-8 as posing "the greatest risk to the security of the Nation.
These objectives are also aligned with the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) Mission 1: Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security.
The NNFEDP supports the following Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1.1: Prevent Terrorist Attacks
Objective 1.1.2: Deter and Disrupt Operations
Goal 1.2: Prevent the Unauthorized Acquisition or Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Materials and Capabilities
Objective 1.2.1: Anticipate Emerging Threats
Objective 1.2.2: Control Access to CBRN
Objective 1.2.4: Protection against Hostile Use of CBRN
In order to accomplish this mandate, the following goals must be met:
• Implement a Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program to provide outreach to the academic community, facilitate experiential learning in nuclear forensics-related research areas, and feed students into the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program.
• Implement a Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in radiochemistry and other nuclear forensics-related disciplines, encourage universities to invest in these types of programs, facilitate experiential learning in nuclear forensics-related research areas, and feed students into post-doctoral/permanent staff positions in nuclear forensics at the national laboratories or federal agencies.
• Implement a Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program to support universities interested in developing and maintaining academic programs in nuclear forensics-related disciplines.
• Implement a Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program to provide universities with an incentive to recruit, promote, and retain highly qualified personnel to teach within nuclear forensics-related degree programs and contribute to associated research projects at universities.
- Nuclear Forensics Research Award
- National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program Continuation Application
- National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program Continuation Application
- National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program
- Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA)
The Department of Homeland Security has three primary missions: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: • Facilitated collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories.
• Managed day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program, and Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program. Specifically:
o Expanded the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program to five undergraduate scholars in FY 2012 (from three in FY 2011). This program introduces outstanding physics, chemistry, and nuclear engineering undergraduates to nuclear forensics-related research sponsored by the USG at the national laboratories through a unique nine-to-12-week summer research practicum.
o Awarded 18 graduate fellows through the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program. This program supports outstanding graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in nuclear, geochemical, and other scientific disciplines directly related to nuclear forensics.
o Expanded the Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program to six junior faculty awards (from five in FY 2011). This program provides universities with an incentive to recruit, promote, and retain highly qualified personnel to teach within nuclear forensics-related degree programs and contribute to associated research projects at universities.
o Provided five university awards through the Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program. This program encourages universities to develop interdisciplinary academic programs related to nuclear forensics in partnership with national laboratories.
• Expanded the NNFEDP outreach program, including outreach specifically to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Fiscal Year 2013: • 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, and Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program. Specifically:
o Award five new Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarships
o Award 20 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships
o Award five Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Awards
o Award five Nuclear Forensics Education Awards
• Continue to enhance NNFEDP outreach, including outreach specifically to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available.
Uses and Use Restrictions
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Refer to the program guidance.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Refer to the program guidance.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.
Award Procedures
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.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140; Sec. 4(a)(12)., Public Law 111-140, U.S.C 4(a)(12).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Subject to future appropriations.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
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. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released in annual increments.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
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.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0860-0-1-999.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $1,899,000; FY 13 est $2,450,000; and FY 14 est $2,450,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Refer to the funding opportunity announcements.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
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.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Samantha Kentis Connelly DNDO Stop 0550, Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Ln., SW , Washington, District of Columbia 20528-0550 Email: Samantha.Connelly@dhs.gov Phone: (202) 254-7709
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Refer to the funding opportunity announcement for information on criteria for selecting proposals.
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