The U.S. Advanced Nuclear Energy Licensing Cost-Share Grant Program is a financial assistance initiative by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy aimed at supporting regulatory review activities for advanced nuclear reactors and supporting facilities. The program is designed to reduce regulatory uncertainty by providing cost-shared grants to assist with fees associated with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) pre-application and application review processes. The program is authorized under the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017 (42 U.S.C. § 16280) and is an integral step in fostering the deployment of advanced nuclear energy solutions in the United States.

The primary goal of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), identified as DE-FOA-0003339, is to promote the licensing and certification of advanced reactors and related infrastructure. It does so by offering cost-shared grants to offset a portion of NRC licensing fees, focusing on two main topic areas: pre-application review activities and application review activities. The total available funding for FY 2025 is $13 million, with a total expected funding of $50 million over a five-year period, contingent upon congressional appropriations.

The funding opportunity is available to various eligible applicants, including U.S. commercial electricity utilities, end-users/off-takers, advanced reactor developers/vendors, incorporated consortia, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, state/local governments, and tribal entities. Applicants must be domestic entities and demonstrate engagement with the NRC. Foreign entities are generally not eligible, but limited participation may be granted through a waiver request.

To apply, applicants must submit a full application via FedConnect (www.fedconnect.gov) by April 8, 2025, at 5 PM ET. The application package must include a technical volume, budget information, regulatory engagement plan, letters of commitment, and additional supporting documentation as outlined in NOFO Part 2. Applications will be evaluated based on compliance, merit review criteria, relevance to program goals, technical feasibility, cost-sharing commitments, and past performance in similar regulatory and licensing activities.

DOE anticipates selecting recipients by July 8, 2025, with award disbursement expected around October 8, 2025. The performance period for awarded projects varies by topic area, with pre-application activities lasting up to 24 months and application review activities extending up to 48 months. The minimum required cost share is 20% for pre-application activities and 50% for application review activities, and all funding must be used solely for NRC licensing fees.

For further inquiries, interested parties can contact the Office of Nuclear Energy at ARLicensingGrantNOFO@id.doe.gov. Prospective applicants are encouraged to register early with Grants.gov and FedConnect to receive updates and ensure compliance with all submission requirements.