Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) One Stop Shop for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Support Program

Background
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) administers the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology Program (FIRST), which provides technical capacity-building support to potential nuclear energy newcomer countries and current nuclear energy countries that are considering small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactor designs to meet their clean energy needs, consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear security, nonproliferation, and safety. The program supports secure, safe, and proliferation-resistant deployment of SMRs or other advanced reactors to partner countries.

Grant Details
Under the Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) One Stop Shop for SMR Support Program, ISN/CTR seeks to expand the NEXT program by establishing a virtual regional support center for eligible current nuclear energy countries and prospective nuclear energy newcomer countries in Europe and Eurasia. The program aims to provide a suite of advanced U.S. Government-sponsored project preparation tools through a virtual platform. The services include targeted technical and regulatory consultancies, academic partnerships with U.S. university nuclear engineering programs, financial consulting support, an SMR simulator, related curriculum development and training, and SMR capacity-building study tours for partner country nuclear energy sector representatives.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, governmental institutions, public and private educational institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), for-profit organizations, public international organizations. Cost sharing is not required. All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.

Period of Performance
The length of performance period is twelve (12) months with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2024.

Grant Value
$14,000,000 is available for 4-10 awards with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $5,000,000.

Place of Performance
The NEXT One Stop Shop for SMR Support in Europe and Eurasia will prioritize support for specific European and Eurasian states including Armenia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Uzbekistan.