Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010105
The grant opportunity, titled "Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the FIRST Program," is a discretionary federal grant run by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), specifically administered through CTR under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program. FIRST was announced by the White House during the Leaders Climate Summit in April 2021, and its core purpose is to help countries that are new to nuclear energy, as well as countries with existing nuclear programs, build the technical and institutional capacity needed to responsibly consider and potentially deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactor designs as part of their clean energy strategies.
The emphasis of the program is not simply on expanding nuclear power, but on ensuring that any movement toward SMRs or advanced reactors happens in a way that aligns with the highest international standards for nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nonproliferation. In practice, that means supporting partner countries as they develop the foundational infrastructure that makes a nuclear program credible and sustainable over time, including the kinds of legal, regulatory, technical, and human-capital capabilities that reduce risks and strengthen oversight. A key feature of the program is its alignment with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "milestones" approach to nuclear energy infrastructure development, which is a widely used framework that outlines the step-by-step national preparations needed before a country can safely and securely introduce nuclear power.
FIRST is also designed to strengthen U.S. bilateral and multilateral cooperation in this space. The program aims to deepen collaboration with partner countries and relevant international bodies by providing targeted technical capacity-building and assistance related to nuclear energy infrastructure, nuclear security practices, and broader capacity-building needs. The overall policy goal is to encourage deployment pathways for SMRs and advanced reactors that are secure, safe, and proliferation-resistant, meaning the supported approaches should reduce opportunities for theft, sabotage, or diversion of nuclear or radioactive materials, and reinforce safeguards and responsible governance.
Eligible applicants for this grant are broad and include not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations), public and private educational institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and for-profit organizations. The eligibility list also includes public international organizations and governmental institutions, indicating the program can support a wide range of implementers and partners capable of delivering technical assistance, training, analytical work, capacity-building programs, or other forms of support consistent with FIRST objectives.
From the published funding details, the funding opportunity number is SFOP0010105, and it is categorized as "Other" under the funding activity category, with CFDA number 19.033. The opportunity was posted on 2023-10-30 and had an original application closing date of 2024-01-31. The award ceiling is listed as $250,000 per award, and the agency anticipated making around 30 awards. In practical terms, that structure suggests the program was looking to fund multiple relatively modest projects rather than a small number of large awards, which often aligns with capacity-building efforts that can be tailored to different countries, regional needs, or specific infrastructure gaps related to SMRs and advanced reactors.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a national-security-informed clean energy capacity-building grant: it supports countries exploring advanced nuclear options, but it does so through the lens of strong governance, robust security and safeguards, and internationally accepted safety practices, with the aim of enabling responsible decision-making and reducing proliferation and security risks as nuclear energy options evolve.Apply for SFOP0010105
- The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the FIRST Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.033.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Addressing the Impacts of Proliferator State Advanced Conventional Weapons (ACW) Apply for SFOP0010112 Funding Number: SFOP0010112 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Identifying and Mitigating Russian Chemical and Biological Threat (RCBT) Apply for SFOP0010111 Funding Number: SFOP0010111 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Supporting Partner Implementation of Russia Sanctions Apply for SFOP0010114 Funding Number: SFOP0010114 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Program to Build Partner Capabilities to Address Russian Malign Influence Apply for SFOP0010113 Funding Number: SFOP0010113 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Nonproliferation Scientist Engagement Program Apply for SFOP0010108 Funding Number: SFOP0010108 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Roadmap to Rebuild, Modernize, and Decarbonize the Ukraine Steel Industry with Secure and Safe Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Apply for SFOP0010107 Funding Number: SFOP0010107 Agency: Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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