NSUF Article

NEW! Super RTE Call for Proposals

Monday, March 11, 2024 - Calls and Awards

<figure class="pull-right" style="width:321px;margin: 0px 0px 15px 15px;"></figure><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> NSUF is pleased to announce the first ever Super Rapid Turnaround Experiment (Super RTE) call for proposals coming April 1, 2024.  <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">What is a Super RTE?<o:p></o:p><ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: 0in;">More funding</li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: 0in;">More time<ul type="disc"> </ul></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: 0in;">Greater access </li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The first <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnsuf.inl.gov%2FPage%2Fsuper_rte&data=05%7C02%7CAlexis.Starks%40inl.gov%7Ca9c8f92bc494432a82aa08dc32434e4c%7C4cf464b7869a42368da2a98566485554%7C0%7C0%7C638440511865561960%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WXhsn%2FIC5Ai%2B5FV%2Bf1628vV1ZEzD7lNd%2BcoLbQDBLMI%3D&reserved=0">Super RTE call</a> for proposals will open April 1 and will close on April 30 at 4 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The Super RTE call will function similarly to the traditional RTE solicitations but will encourage larger award amounts allowing greater work scopes to be performed.  <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Awards are anticipated to allow twice as many days of access to any NSUF facility or capability. The award process offers an avenue for researchers to perform irradiation effects studies of limited scope on nuclear fuels and materials of interest utilizing up to two NSUF post-irradiation examination(PIE) facilities, whereas the traditional RTE call allows a request of only one NSUF PIE facility. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Completion of Super RTE projects is expected within 12 months of award, whereas the completion time of traditional RTEs is 9 months. Prospective researchers are strongly encouraged to request samples from the NSUF <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnsuf-infrastructure.inl.gov%2FBrowse%2FMaterials&data=05%7C02%7CAlexis.Starks%40inl.gov%7Ca9c8f92bc494432a82aa08dc32434e4c%7C4cf464b7869a42368da2a98566485554%7C0%7C0%7C638440511865568460%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RG1uhsPaKg4DmZB8MbZ5hd9kGdanZEpYAlxclLW0EDg%3D&reserved=0">Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library</a>. <o:p></o:p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">  <o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" valign="top" style="width:148.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Super RTE Call<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:143.95pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Traditional RTE Call<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Work scope<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" valign="top" style="width:148.55pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Larger, broader<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:143.95pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Smaller, more focused<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Completion time<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" valign="top" style="width:148.55pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 12 months<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:143.95pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 9 months<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> # partner PIE institutions<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" valign="top" style="width:148.55pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Up to 2<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:143.95pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 1<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> # partner irradiation institutions<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" style="width:148.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 1<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" style="width:143.95pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 1<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" valign="top" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> # NSUF sample prep/shipping institutions<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="198" style="width:148.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 1<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="192" style="width:143.95pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 1<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="167" style="width:125.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Eligible for Super RTE if:<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="390" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width:292.5pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> ·<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";">       Up to two awarded traditional RTEs, with none under review<o:p></o:p> - OR - <o:p></o:p> ·<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";">       Up to one awarded traditional RTE, with one under review<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">  <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Super RTE proposals will be solicited in this single call only and will be requested in addition to the traditional RTE solicitations made three times per year. Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated for technical merit, relevancy, and feasibility. The number of awards is dependent on the availability of funding.  Proposals must support the <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.energy.gov%2Fne%2Fabout-us&data=05%7C02%7CAlexis.Starks%40inl.gov%7Ca9c8f92bc494432a82aa08dc32434e4c%7C4cf464b7869a42368da2a98566485554%7C0%7C0%7C638440511865574018%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RdE1YZo0SczOfIWGdFfMCvE0DAly7qug4XxXRfBqmXA%3D&reserved=0">DOE Office of Nuclear Energy mission</a>.   <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The Super RTE schedule is as follows: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p></o:p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="601" colspan="2" style="width:450.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Super RTE Proposal Submittal and Review Schedule<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Super RTE Call Seminar<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 3/25/2024<o:p></o:p> (11 a.m. -12 p.m. MDT)<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Solicitation period opens<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 4/1/2024<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Individual Q&A Sessions (must be scheduled in advance)<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 4/24/2024 (9 a.m. -4 p.m. MDT)<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Proposal due date<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 4/30/24 at 4 p.m. MDT<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Selection review completed<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 6/1/2024 estimated<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311" style="width:233.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top: none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Proposals awarded<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width="289" style="width:217.05pt;border-top:none;border-left:none; border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 8/1/2024 estimated<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div><div align="center"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">  <o:p></o:p><div align="center"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"></td> </tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">For more information about the Super RTE and traditional RTE rules and requirements and to schedule an individual Q&A session with the NSUF chief scientists, please contact Anna Podgorney (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>).<o:p></o:p>

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