Nuclear Legislative Working Group (NLWG) | DE FOA 0002984

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002984

The Nuclear Legislative Working Group (NLWG) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002984) is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE/NE) initiative, administered through the DOE Idaho Field Office, designed to strengthen working relationships between DOE/NE and U.S. state legislatures. The goal is practical: give state legislators and their staff clear, timely, non-partisan information about nuclear energy topics that states increasingly deal with in lawmaking, oversight, economic development, and community engagement. By improving policymakers understanding of nuclear technologies and related policy issues, DOE/NE aims to support better-informed state decisions and create a reliable channel for two-way communication between federal nuclear energy leadership and state government stakeholders.

The cooperative agreement focuses on sustained state legislative engagement around the areas DOE/NE is responsible for. The FOA highlights a broad set of topics that can be covered, including continued operation of the existing reactor fleet, development and deployment of advanced reactors, strengthening the nuclear supply chain, and issues tied to spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. That includes consent-based siting for interim storage and/or disposal facilities, as well as transportation of fresh and spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. The scope also explicitly includes STEM education, workforce development, and energy and environmental justice, reflecting the reality that nuclear policy intersects with jobs, local impacts, community consent, and long-term public confidence.

Under this award, the selected organization acts as the organizer and manager for NLWG activities and meetings, operating under DOE General Counsel guidelines and other federal requirements that govern how such meetings are conducted. The awardee is expected to plan and execute at least two and up to four in-person meetings per year, with the exact number depending on DOE needs and available budget. The work is heavily operational and service-oriented: securing meeting venues and hotel space, coordinating travel for state representatives, building agendas, recruiting and confirming expert speakers, and arranging tours of DOE sites, National Laboratories, or other nuclear-related facilities when appropriate. During meetings, the awardee provides on-site support, takes attendance and notes, then produces meeting summaries and posts materials to a publicly accessible website so information shared through the NLWG remains available and transparent.

Beyond in-person meetings, the awardee also supports ongoing communication through conference calls and webinars. These sessions are meant to keep state legislative staff informed between meetings and give DOE/NE leadership and staff a structured way to provide updates on federal initiatives, new programs, and emerging issues. The emphasis throughout is on enabling an active exchange of information rather than one-off events, so that state policymakers can track developments and ask informed questions as conditions change.

A central expectation is that the awardee brings strong nuclear policy expertise and can translate complex technical and regulatory material into accessible products for legislative audiences. Deliverables can include meeting preparatory packets, white papers or policy papers, educational briefings, and regular communications tools such as newsletters and website content. The FOA also allows for development of new tools, in coordination with DOE/NE, that help state lawmakers craft and implement policies on nuclear-related topics. Importantly, DOE/NE retains final approval authority over any written materials provided to NLWG members, which signals that the content must align with DOE requirements and be suitable for distribution to public officials.

The opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning DOE/NE expects substantial involvement in shaping or overseeing activities as the project runs, rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The project period can be up to five years, supporting continuity and relationship-building over multiple legislative cycles. The FOA anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $750,000. Applicants are expected to show they can work effectively with state legislators and staff, run high-quality meetings and virtual engagements, and maintain efficient, proactive communications that support non-partisan learning and dialogue. The core success measure is whether the awardee can consistently deliver well-managed engagement opportunities and credible policy-relevant information that help states make informed decisions on nuclear energy, waste management, transportation, workforce, and community considerations.

• The Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nuclear Legislative Working Group (NLWG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 14, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 28, 2023 700 p.m. Eastern Time. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for DE FOA 0002984

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