DENA0004003
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Title: Consortium of Advanced Additive Manufacturing Research and Education for Energy Related Systems (CA2REERS)
Project Description:
Build a sustainable pipeline between DOE's sites/labs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in STEM disciplines and bring a heightened awareness of NNSA plants and laboratories to MSIs with a common interest in STEM research fields.
Provide opportunities for intellectual challenge and collaboration by promoting scientific interactions between the academic community and scientists at the DOE/NNSA laboratories.
Develop and maintain a long-term recruiting pipeline to the DOE/NNSA laboratories by increasing the visibility of the DOE/NNSA scientific activities to U.S. academic communities, specifically Minority Serving Institutions.
Title: Consortium of Advanced Additive Manufacturing Research and Education for Energy Related Systems (CA2REERS)
Project Description:
Build a sustainable pipeline between DOE's sites/labs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in STEM disciplines and bring a heightened awareness of NNSA plants and laboratories to MSIs with a common interest in STEM research fields.
Provide opportunities for intellectual challenge and collaboration by promoting scientific interactions between the academic community and scientists at the DOE/NNSA laboratories.
Develop and maintain a long-term recruiting pipeline to the DOE/NNSA laboratories by increasing the visibility of the DOE/NNSA scientific activities to U.S. academic communities, specifically Minority Serving Institutions.
Funding Goals
THE UA CA2
RRERS CONSORTIUM TEAM HAS PROPOSED A DESALINATION SYSTEM WHICH IS INTEGRATED USING A
GLASS-COVERED WATER BASIN FOR SOLAR EVAPORATION AND A COOLING CHIMNEY FOR CONDENSATION, AS SHOWN IN FIG.
1. THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM IS A BASIN COVERED WITH GLASS FOR SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTION AND FILLED
WITH A LAYER OF SEAWATER OR BRACKISH WATER FOR EVAPORATION. THE OTHER COMPONENT IS A COOLING CHIMNEY
USED TO VENTILATE THE WATER VAPOR AND THE AIR ENTERING THE BASIN. THE SYSTEM ALLOWS THE WATER VAPOR TO
CONDENSE INTO LIQUID WATER AT THE INNER WALL OF THE CHIMNEY. RELYING ON SOLAR ENERGY, THE SYSTEM CAN
PRODUCE CLEAN WATER AND ALLOWS COLLECTION OF SALTS AS PRODUCTS, LEAVING NO WASTE DISCHARGE TO THE
ENVIRONMENT
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Edinburg Division,
Texas
United States
Geographic Scope
City-Wide
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/25 to 09/30/26 and the total obligations have increased 98% from $2,000,000 to $3,960,995.
The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley was awarded
DOE/NNSA STEM Collaboration Initiative at UT Rio Grande Valley
Project Grant DENA0004003
worth $3,960,995
from NNSA Weapons Activities in October 2021 with work to be completed primarily in Edinburg Division Texas United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 81.123 National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Program.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/1/25
Period of Performance
10/1/21
Start Date
9/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$4.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$4.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Subgrant Awards
Disclosed subgrants for DENA0004003
Transaction History
Modifications to DENA0004003
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DENA0004003
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Awarding Office
892331 NNSA NON-MO CNTRCTNG OPS DIV
Funding Office
892300 NNSA WEAPONS ACTIVITIES FUNDS
Awardee UEI
L3ATVUT2KNK7
Awardee CAGE
6Y726
Performance District
TX-15
Senators
John Cornyn
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weapons Activities, National Nuclear Security Administration, Energy (089-0240) | Atomic energy defense activities | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $986,183 | 100% |
Modified: 12/1/25