Super Rapid Turnaround Experiments
# Overview
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Proposal Submittal & Review Schedule
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Solicitation period opens
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Monday, May 4, 2026
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8 AM MDT
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Super RTE Call Seminar
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[Friday, May 8, 2026 1–2 PM MDT / 3–4 PM EDT Link to Recording](https://nsuf.inl.gov//Content/Resources/FY26-Super-RTE-Informational-Webinar-QA-Recording.mp4){^}
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Q&A Sessions
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Contact NSUF for other available times
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[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
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Friday, May 8, 2026
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2–3 PM MDT / 4–5 PM EDT
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[Link to Join](https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2828595495396?p=z9EsYbCOq7CbZiViVu){^}
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Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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2–3 PM MDT / 4–5 PM EDT
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[Link to Join](https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/232705630284652?p=XKb4gzchfn1BRgbmHK){^}
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Proposal due date
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Monday, June 1, 2026
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4 PM MDT / 6 PM EDT
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The NSUF mission is to facilitate the advancement of nuclear science and technology by providing nuclear energy researchers with access to world-class capabilities at no cost to the researcher. This mission is enabled by a consortium of partners that make available state-of-the-art experimental irradiation testing, post irradiation examination (PIE), and INL high performance computing (HPC), as well as technical and scientific assistance for the design and execution of projects. Access to NSUF capabilities is granted through competitive proposal processes.
The Super Rapid Turnaround Experiment (Super RTE) award process offers an avenue for researchers to perform irradiation effects studies of limited scope on nuclear fuels and materials of interest utilizing [NSUF facilities](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Home/PartnerFacilities?Search=RTE), with the goal of providing timely results to the research community. Super RTEs offer a broader scope than a traditional RTE and allow for more time at NSUF facilities, as shown below in the rules and facility guidelines for Super RTEs. Super RTEs are confined to the scope outlined in the proposal and should be completed within twelve months of award notification. While NSUF is committed to supporting the successful completion of awarded Super RTE projects, timely participation from the principal investigator (PI) is essential. Failure to provide samples promptly or to complete the project within the twelve-month timeframe may result in cancellation, subject to the NSUF Director's review. To help achieve this timeline, the NSUF provides the following guidelines which have been proven effective based on experience:
- Post-irradiation examination (PIE) should be scheduled within four months.
- Samples should be sent to the PIE facility within seven months.
- Project scope should be completed within twelve months.
Super RTE proposals are typically solicited and awarded annually. They are reviewed and evaluated for technical merit, relevancy, and feasibility, as described in the [RTE Technical Review Process](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/rte_techreview) and must support the [DOE Office of Nuclear Energy mission](https://www.energy.gov/ne/about-office-nuclear-energy){^}. Please note fusion energy and isotope production are not included in the NE mission. The number of awards is dependent on the availability of funding. After the award announcements are made, NSUF may share information from the awarded project that is of scientific interest to the research community. This may include the names, institutions, and expertise of the principal investigator (PI) and senior/key personnel, as well as the project summary, hypothesis, and descriptions of the work, equipment, and data from the application form. Depending on the privacy settings in the user profile, the email address and phone number of the PI or their designated point of contact may also be displayed. NSUF will not disclose the proposal document or any other information that could negatively impact publications resulting from the awarded research project. Since the goal of all awarded projects is to generate scientifically relevant information for the research community, it is crucial that no proprietary, sensitive, or confidential information be included in the Super RTE proposal.
Prospective researchers are strongly encouraged to request samples from the NSUF [Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library](https://nsuf.inl.gov/page/fuels_materials_library){^}.
[LEARN MORE ABOUT RTE RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST »](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/rte_research){btn btn-warning}
[LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUPER RTE REVIEW PROCESS »](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/rte_techreview){btn btn-warning}
[SUBMIT A SUPER RTE PROPOSAL »](https://nsuf-research.inl.gov/Home/Start){btn btn-warning}
## Updates
May 4, 2026
Update to Rule 11: All NSUF users must have an ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) account as a requirement to submit a proposal. For an account, register [here](https://orcid.org/register).
Update to Rule 17: Proposals no longer require a separate project narrative. All content, including text, images, figures, tables, and other supporting materials, will be entered directly into the online form. A proposal document will be automatically generated based on the submitted content and established word limits.
New Rule 18: All proposals must include a biographical sketch or CV (maximum two pages) for the PI and any senior/key personnel (collaborators). Senior/key personnel are defined as individuals who make a defined, material contribution that is critical to the success of the project and/or contribute to joint publications. Senior/key personnel must have an NSUF account to be added to proposal. CV requirements are provided [here](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/cv). NSUF strongly encourages applicants to generate biographical sketches using [SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (nih.gov)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/). Additional guidance on the biographical sketch is available at [https://www.energy.gov/ia/common-forms-sciencv](https://www.energy.gov/ia/common-forms-sciencv).
New Rule 21. User Agreements. A User Agreement between Battelle Energy Alliance acting on behalf of NSUF and the awarded PI’s institution will be required before the initiation of physical work. This User Agreement is an umbrella agreement and not specific to an award.
Facility Guidelines Change: Reduced allowed time for Oak Ridge National Laboratory Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis Facility from 240 to 160 hours and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Materials Science and Technology Laboratory from 240 to 160 hours.
Facility Guidelines Change: Added Structural Properties Laboratory as a new capability at Idaho National Laboratory.
## Rules for Super RTE Proposal Submission
Failure to meet any of the rules listed below may result in disqualification of the proposal.
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The study proposed must be original and shall not duplicate any work currently funded by a DOE, or other Federal, program or project, including Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD).
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The scope of the Super RTE proposal must be unique and not overlap with any past, current or proposed scope in an open funding call.
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The proposed scope of work to be funded by the NSUF must have the potential to produce data at the requested NSUF facilities that will lead to a scientific or engineering outcome suitable for publication that will be attributed to the NSUF.
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Facilities:
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While complying with all other rules, a proposal may request NSUF funding for use of NSUF capabilities at multiple partner institutions, including:
- Multiple partner institutions for sample preparation and/or shipping to/from NSUF institutions, as appropriate;
- ONE partner institution for irradiation; and
- Up to TWO partner institutions for post-irradiation examination (PIE).
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Proposals requesting NSUF funding only for sample preparation and/or sample shipment will not be accepted. (Material development is outside the scope of an RTE project and will not be accepted.) Proposals requesting irradiation without an NSUF PIE facility must include significant in situ monitoring of the device under irradiation (e.g., neutron irradiations of instrumentation or ion beam analysis techniques) sufficient to result in a measurable scientific outcome. All proposals must meet the requirements of Rule 3 above.
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NSUF Super RTE proposals must focus on irradiated or radioactive materials or nuclear fuels research, including in-situ sensor performance characterization. Proposals can include limited non-irradiated structural or cladding reference samples, as appropriate. (When requesting in-situ irradiation measurements, the same facility for irradiation and PIE should be selected.)
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Funding:
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The NSUF will only support activities at, and shipping between, NSUF facilities. Shipping expenses from facilities who are not NSUF partners will not be covered by the NSUF and will require an external funding source.
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The NSUF does not provide funding to the PI to support salaries, tuition, travel, or other costs typically supported via NE Program R&D funds.
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Applicants must have a source of R&D funding that will fund all components of the proposed project not funded by the NSUF. External funding should be reported with as much detail as possible.
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Completion of all NSUF funded work proposed must require no more than*twelve*months from the date of award.
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Applicant:
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Only one principal investigator is allowed per proposal. All NSUF users must have an ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) account as a requirement to submit a proposal. For an account, register [here](https://orcid.org/register){^}.
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A principal investigator may submit no more than one proposal per Super RTE call.
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A principal investigator may have only two active Super RTE projects.
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A project is considered active until a completion report is submitted and approved (please refer to completion report criteria for additional information).
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Proposals are welcomed from principal investigators affiliated with a U.S. university, U.S. government laboratory, U.S. entity or foreign entity incorporated in the U.S.
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Proposals from principal investigators not from a U.S. institution will be accepted as long as the proposal includes a collaborator who is from a U.S. university, U.S. government laboratory, U.S. entity, or foreign entity incorporated in the U.S. This person cannot be an NSUF partner facility contact. This collaborator must have a significant role in the experiment or project that supports the Super RTE. NSUF will contact the U.S. collaborator to verify their role in the project. The roles and responsibilities for each U.S. collaborator should be clearly identified within the 3-page project narrative.
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Proposals no longer require a separate project narrative. All content, including text, images, figures, tables, and other supporting materials, will be entered directly into the online form. A proposal document will be automatically generated based on the submitted content and established word limits.
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All proposals must include a biographical sketch or CV (maximum two pages) for the PI and any senior/key personnel (collaborators). Senior/key personnel are defined as individuals who make a defined, material contribution that is critical to the success of the project and/or contribute to joint publications. Senior/key personnel must have an NSUF account to be added to proposal. CV requirements are provided [here](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/cv). NSUF strongly encourages applicants to generate biographical sketches using [SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (nih.gov)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/). Additional guidance on the biographical sketch is available at [https://www.energy.gov/ia/common-forms-sciencv](https://www.energy.gov/ia/common-forms-sciencv).
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Proposals must include all publications the PI and co-PIs have produced as a result of any and all previous NSUF funded experiments or projects (RTE, beamline, and CINR).
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Data generated from the work must be made available to the research community in a timely manner. The PI is responsible for the collection, management, and sharing of the research data through a data management plan.
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A User Agreement between Battelle Energy Alliance acting on behalf of NSUF and the awarded PI’s institution will be required before the initiation of physical work. This User Agreement is an umbrella agreement and not specific to an award.
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**[SUBMIT A SUPER RTE PROPOSAL »](https://nsuf-research.inl.gov/Home/Start){btn btn-warning}**
## Facility Guidelines for Super RTE Experiments
The included guidelines are designed to help researchers develop a proposal that can be executed within the Super RTE schedule and budget. Applicants should work with each facility representative [(NSUF Partner Institutions)](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Home/PartnerInstitutions) to ensure that their proposed work (scope, number of specimens, etc.) can be accomplished within the Super RTE guidelines for that facility. The guidelines are based on the average cost of instrument time at each facility, on a typical work week, and on the assumption that only one instrument is used each day.
Estimated Facility Access Guidelines:
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Facility
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Irradiated Sample Prep
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Irradiation
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PIE
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Beamline
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Allowed Time
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Argonne National Laboratory
*Proposals that request irradiation and PIE at IVEM or APS should assume approximately two weeks of irradiation access and two weeks of PIE access to remain within the suggested guidelines.*
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Activated Materials Laboratory at the Advanced Photon Source
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Yes
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Yes
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X-ray
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144 hours
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Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscopy - Tandem Facility
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Ion
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Yes
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160 hours
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Irradiated Material Laboratory
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours
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Brookhaven National Laboratory
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NSLS II X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD) Beamline
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X-ray
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48 hours
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Critical Materials and Energy Systems Innovation Center (CMESIC)
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Microscopy and Characterization Suite
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Yes
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Yes
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240 hours
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Idaho National Laboratory
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Analytical Laboratory
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Yes
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160 hours
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Electron Microscopy Laboratory
*Restricted access facility: U.S. citizenship required for on-site access.*
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours
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Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory
*The allowable time at IMCL is limited to 160 hours, with the exception of Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) only requests that can request up to 240 hours of time.*
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours\*\*
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Fuels and Applied Science Building (FASB)
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours
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Fuels and Applied Science Building (FASB) Gamma Irradiator
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Gamma
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160 hours
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Energy Innovation Laboratory Irradiation Suite
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Gamma
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80 hours
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Hot Fuel Examination Facility
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Yes
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80 hours
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Advanced Test Reactor Gamma Irradiation Facility
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Gamma
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80 hours
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Structural Properties Laboratory
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Center for Accelerator Mass Spectroscopy
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Ion
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80 hours
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Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Lujan Center Beamlines
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Yes
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Yes
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Neutron
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160 hours
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Plutonium Surface Science Laboratory
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Yes
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160 hours
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
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Neutron (rabbit only)
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Yes
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160 hours
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North Carolina State University
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Nuclear Reactor Program
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Neutron
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Positron
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160 hours
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis Facility
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Yes
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Yes
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160 hours
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Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory
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Yes
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Yes
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80 hours
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Irradiated Materials Examination and Testing Facility
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Yes
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80 hours
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Gamma Irradiation Facility (HFIR-GIF)
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Gamma
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80 hours
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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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Radiochemistry Processing Laboratory
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Yes
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160 hours
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Materials Science and Technology Laboratory
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Yes
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160 hours
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Pennsylvania State University
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Radiation Science and Engineering Center
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Neutron, gamma
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Neutron
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160 hours
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Purdue University
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Interaction of Materials with Particles and Components Testing Facility
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Ion
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160 hours
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Sandia National Laboratory
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Ion Beam Laboratory
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Ion
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:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
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:::div:cell c-beamline
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160 hours
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:::div:cell c-facility
Gamma Irradiation Facility
:::
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:::div:cell c-irrad
Gamma
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160 hours
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Texas A&M University
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Accelerator Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
Ion
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
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:::div:cell c-beamline
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480 hours
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:::div:institution-header
The Ohio State University
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
Neutron, gamma
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
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University of California, Berkeley
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Nuclear Materials Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
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:::div:institution-header
University of Florida
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Materials Characterization Facility
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
240 hours
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:::div:institution-header
University of Michigan
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
Ion
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
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:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
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:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Irradiated Materials Testing Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
400 hours
:::
:::
:::div:institution-header
University of Texas at Austin
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
Neutron
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
Neutron
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
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:::
:::div:institution-header
University of Wisconsin
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Characterization Laboratory for Irradiated Materials
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
:::
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Wisconsin Tandem Accelerator Ion Beam
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
Ion
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
:::div:cell c-time
160 hours
:::
:::
:::div:institution-header
Westinghouse
:::
:::div:facility-row
:::div:cell c-facility
Churchill Laboratory Services
:::
:::div:cell c-sampprep
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-irrad
:::
:::div:cell c-pie
Yes
:::
:::div:cell c-beamline
:::
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160 hours
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For in-situ irradiation measurements (e.g., IVEM, MIBL, I3TEM and University of California-Berkeley), the same facility for both irradiation and PIE should be selected in the application.
Neutron irradiation experiments that require the use of ATR, TREAT, HFIR or MITR in core positions do not qualify for a Super RTE award due to expense and duration of project.
A cost estimate will be developed based on the requested scope. This cost estimate will be used in evaluation of the proposal. Controlling costs and scope among all proposals helps to ensure that the projects can be completed within twelve months from award and helps to maintain fairness for all applicants.
Failure to follow the guidelines, as well as excessively scoped proposals, may render your proposal “not feasible” based on costs alone. Proposals that utilize multiple facilities may result in an estimate that cannot be accommodated within the bounds of a Super RTE and thus deem the proposal “not feasible.” Principal investigators will receive project specific feedback if the proposal was not recommended for award when deemed “not feasible”.
To maintain the goal of the rapid user facility access program, the progress of awarded Super RTEs will be periodically monitored by NSUF staff. Any projects that are not making satisfactory progress or have exceeded twelve months from the date of award will be subject to cancellation.
## Super RTE Completion Report
A completion report must be submitted by the PI or co-PI within four months of any completed Super RTE project and must precisely follow the guidance provided. If no completion report is submitted, the RTE project will be considered active. A satisfactory completion report will contain the following:
- summary of both the work completed and the data obtained. In addition, the PI should make appropriate project data available to the research community in a timely manner (see RTE rule #19). Data storage is available through an NSUF data storage system called the Nuclear Research Data System (NRDS). Contact Matt Anderson at: [email protected] for details and access.
- description of the potential impact to the state-of-knowledge.
After submittal, a completion report will be reviewed by the NSUF Program Office staff. If the report is determined to be satisfactory, the project status will be changed to complete. If the report is deemed unsatisfactory, the report will be returned to the PI with comments that will need to be addressed prior to resubmission.
After approval, the completion report will go through a classification and export control review for external release. Once the completion report is approved for external release, it will be posted on the NSUF website under the PI’s project, where it will be accessible to the public.
Applicants will be allowed to prepare, but not submit, a proposal that, if awarded, would create a third active Super RTE project for a PI. On initiation of the proposal, applicants will be informed that submission of the proposal will not be allowed until a completion report for one of the active projects is approved. Completion reports must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the close of the call to allow time for review. Applicants are encouraged to submit completion reports well in advance of the close of a RTE call as iteration may be required prior to approval.
**[VIEW NSUF PARTNERS AND CAPABILITIES »](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/Partners){btn btn-warning}**
## Acknowledging the NSUF
- NSUF projects: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517 as part of Nuclear Science User Facilities award #_______.
- HPC work: This research made use of Idaho National Laboratory's High Performance Computing systems located at the Collaborative Computing Center and supported by the Office of Nuclear Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nuclear Science User Facilities under Contract No. DE-AC07-05ID14517.
## Frequently Asked Questions
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How many active traditional or Super RTEs can I have at one time?
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A PI may only have two active Super RTE projects. Super RTE projects are considered active until a satisfactory completion report has been submitted and approved. If you currently have two active proposals during an ongoing call, a new proposal may be prepared and saved in the application. However, you will not be able to submit a new proposal until you complete at least one of your active projects (i.e., a completion report has been submitted and approved).
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Once a Super RTE call is open, what assistance can NSUF provide me with my application?
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The [RTE Administrator](mailto:[email protected]){^}([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) can assist with submittal questions and issues. During an open Super RTE call, you should contact any of the NSUF facility contacts for assistance with proposal feasibility. NSUF facility staff and facility contacts cannot help with the technical aspects of a proposal in order to ensure fairness during the review process.
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Can someone review my Super RTE proposal prior to submission?
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The NSUF Chief Scientists, Allen Roach ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) and Rongjie Song ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]){^}), can provide general advice, but not a detailed review. Continue to watch the NSUF website for updates on the Super RTE rules and guidelines and upcoming informational webinars and individual Q&A opportunities.
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Is there a time or dollar limit on my award?
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There is no explicit cost cap for Super RTE awards. Typical Super RTE projects are expected to be larger in scope than traditional Rapid Turnaround Experiments (RTEs) generally on the order of about twice the size. Because applicants do not receive cost estimates in advance, NSUF provides Facility Guidelines to help you work with the partner facility to design a project of appropriate scale. These guidelines are based on typical facility usage (e.g., a standard work week using a single instrument) and reflect average instrument time costs. If your project involves multiple NSUF facilities, all associated usage is considered as part of the overall project scope. We strongly encourage you to contact the facilities you plan to use to ensure your proposed work aligns with these expectations.
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How do I know how "big" of a Super RTE I can propose?
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The NSUF lists Super RTE Facility Guidelines for all the facilities available in the Super RTE call. This is expressed in "weeks" or "days." For the best results, an investigator should contact the [NSUF partner facility point of contact](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Home/PartnerInstitutions){^} when developing a proposal in order to match the right number of specimens and tests to the allowed days at each facility.
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How long is the Super RTE application?
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The Super RTE application has 5 short sections. These sections include: principal investigator information, senior/key personnel information, experiment details, project summary (300-word limit), and NE program relevance statement (300-word limit).
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Can the NSUF grant a no-cost extension to my project?
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Per Super RTE guidelines, awarded Super RTEs must be completed within twelve months of the date of award. There is not a formal NSUF process to extend work beyond twelve months. If a project extends beyond twelve months, PIs should work with the NSUF RTE Administrator ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) to ensure that a project is completed as soon as possible. NSUF may cancel a project if it is not completed within the twelve-month timeline.
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What is the status of my Super RTE application?
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The status of a Super RTE application can be found on the [Proposal](https://nsuf-proposal.inl.gov/Home/Start){^} page. From there, check the status column in the "My Proposals" box.
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If I resubmit a proposal after addressing reviewer comments, will the same reviewers be assigned to my proposal?
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Reviewers are assigned based on expertise, availability, and lack of any conflicts of interest. There is no guarantee that the same reviewers will be assigned.
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Where can I find current Super RTE call information?
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The [Super RTE](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/super_rte){^} page is regularly updated. Please contact us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) if the page does not answer your question. You can also visit the [Communications](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/comms){^} page to sign up for email notifications.
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I received the reviewer comments on my proposal and one reviewer appears very positive and the other did not. How does NSUF deal with reviews that seem to disagree?
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NSUF leadership and the competitive awards team meet and evaluate all of the reviews, relevancy, technical, and feasibility, for each proposal. If a set of reviews is in disagreement, NSUF assesses the quality of the reviews and may ask for an additional review in that area. Two reviewers can legitimately disagree. If both reviews are deemed to be high-quality, they may be allowed to stand, even if they appear to be very different. If one of the reviews appears to be lacking, it may be replaced by a third review.
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Is there a way to submit a rebuttal for a rejected proposal?
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There is no formal process. However, you may always apply in the next award round.
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I see that the high-flux NSUF reactors are not available for Super RTE calls. How can I get my specimens irradiated and how can I ensure I'm choosing the proper reactor?
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These questions should be directed to the NSUF Chief Scientists, Allen Roach ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])) and Rongjie Song ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]){^}), who can provide further information and points of contact, as appropriate.
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Can I request an irradiation-only Super RTE if I intend to perform the PIE with other funding?
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No, Rule 3 states that "The proposed scope of work to be funded by the NSUF must have the potential to produce data at the requested NSUF facilities..." Since 2018, RTEs can include both irradiation and PIE, so there is no longer any reason to exclude PIE from an RTE. Additional PIE can be performed following the completion of the Super RTE that can build upon the results of the NSUF-supported work. In that case, NSUF should be acknowledged for the irradiation portion of the Super RTE.
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I have an idea for a novel material or material application. Can I get Super RTE support to develop this idea?
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NSUF Super RTEs are intended to support testing and characterization of nuclear fuels, materials and sensors. They are also small in scope and need to be accomplished in a few months after award. Because of these restrictions, material development is most likely outside the scope of a Super RTE. An investigator could certainly perform a test or series of tests on a novel material, but an NSUF Super RTE is not the proper tool to develop a fabrication technique, for example.
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Is there a way to access the NSUF materials library outside of the RTE calls?
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The [Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library](https://nsuf.inl.gov/page/fuels_materials_library){^}(NFML) samples can be assigned based on discretion of NSUF program leadership. Contact [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) for details on the process and visit [this page](https://nsuf.inl.gov/page/fuels_materials_library){^} for more information.
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NSUF offers access to INL high performance computing (HPC) as part of the Super RTE call. How do I get support for modeling and simulation (M&S)?
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Super RTE scope should focus on the experimental side and not focus on the M&S aspects. NSUF can only provide limited staff support for M&S as part of an award. Consider using the [Nuclear Energy Researcher Database (NERD) tool](https://nsuf.inl.gov/Account/List){^} to find a collaborator that can help with M&S.
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My question wasn't answered, who do I contact?
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You can email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) with any further questions.
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aria-expanded: false;
aria-controls: superRteCollapse17;
}
.e38{
id: superRteCollapse17;
class: 'accordion-collapse collapse';
data-mdb-parent: #superRteAccordion;
}
.e39{
class: 'accordion-button collapsed';
type: button;
data-bs-toggle: collapse;
data-bs-target: #superRteCollapse18;
aria-expanded: false;
aria-controls: superRteCollapse18;
}
.e40{
id: superRteCollapse18;
class: 'accordion-collapse collapse';
data-mdb-parent: #superRteAccordion;
}
:::