WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide $7.5 million for new research on nuclear data. The aim is to expand and improve the quality of data needed for a wide range of nuclear-related activities from basic research in nuclear science, to isotope production, nonproliferation efforts, and nuclear power generation.

"Nuclear data is vital to a host of activities ranging from basic science to energy production to national defense," said Timothy Hallman, DOE Associate Director of Science for Nuclear Physics. "These data require upkeep and constant improvement, and this effort will enhance the quality and availability of nuclear data for U.S. science, government, and industry."

Four DOE programs have teamed up for the effort as part of continued coordination by the Nuclear Data Interagency Working Group. They include the Office of Nuclear Physics, the DOE Isotope Program within the Department's Office of Science, DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration's (DOE/NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.

Research is expected to include experimental work, computational modeling and simulation, and potential efforts to improve the curation of an access to existing data. New data developed from the projects will be transferred as appropriate to the United States Nuclear Data Program, which acts as a central clearinghouse for nuclear data used by both science and industry.

Eligibility for university and national laboratory applicants varies by DOE program and is specified in the solicitations. Proposals are due by June 1, 2019, by 5 PM. Funding is to be awarded competitively, on the basis of peer review, and is expected to be in the form of grants ranging up to $1 million per year, beginning in the current fiscal year. Total planned funding for this FOA over three years will be $7.5 million, with out-year funding contingent on congressional appropriations.  

The DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued by DOE's Office of Science and titled, "Nuclear Data Interagency Working Group/Research Program," along with a parallel, companion announcement for DOE national laboratories, can be found here.