This Government Contract opportunity from Department Of Energy was posted on July 9, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
Request for Application: NRIC Nuclear Energy Launch Pad
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
Active Opportunities Like This One
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) are seeking qualified applicants through a rolling Request for Application (RFA INL-NRICRFA01) to participate in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative, which aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies through flexible federal frameworks on both federal and non-federal lands. This initiative builds on the success of the Reactor and Fuel Line Pilot Programs by creating a structured pathway for private industry to develop, test, and license novel nuclear reactors, fuel cycle facilities, and supporting infrastructure. Applicants must propose projects under one of two pathways: Launch Pad Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which leverages federal infrastructure in Idaho Falls, or Launch Pad U.S.A., which supports deployment on non-federal sites, and must demonstrate technical maturity, a credible project schedule, secure funding sources, and proven experience to execute the work through commissioning and eventual decommissioning. The program is entirely applicant-funded, with no government funding, in-kind contributions, or cost-sharing provided; applicants must cover all costs associated with design, construction, operation, waste management, and decommissioning. Applications must be submitted as searchable PDFs, adhere to a 50-page technical limit, and include mandatory elements such as Table 1 and Table 2 from GDE-55179, resumes of key personnel (max two pages per person), a certified Transparency of Foreign Connections document, and a comprehensive Master Document and Deliverable List (MDDL). Proprietary information must be clearly marked with specific disclaimers, and all submissions must come from entities with active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity Identifier. Compliance is governed by federal statutes including the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017, and DOE regulations such as 10 C.F.R. Parts 820, 830, and 835, along with DOE-STD-1271 for authorization. Applicants must also meet stringent cybersecurity standards under NIST SP 800-171 and DOE Order 205.1D, maintain Public Trust clearances for personnel, and adhere to detailed safety, environmental, and operational reporting requirements. The initial application window closed on July 8, 2026, but submissions remain open indefinitely for periodic review; selections are based on a scoring rubric evaluating technology maturity, schedule realism, funding security, experience, and MDDL
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Idaho Falls, ID, 83401, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Submission Closed
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
NATIONAL REACTOR INNOVATION CENTER NUCLEAR ENERGY LAUNCH PAD - IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY
Request for Application (RFA)
RFA Issue Date:
April 29, 2026
Special Note: After initial applications, the RFA will remain open continuously and applications will be reviewed periodically for future selections. Time for future reviews and selections will be determined.
Initial Submission Deadline for Questions:
Potential applicants must submit RFA questions by June 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM MDT. NRIC will answer all questions received by that date and may answer questions submitted after that date at its discretion. All questions should be directed to: NRIC@inl.gov.
Application Submissions:
Applicants should provide a one-week minimum advanced notice to the points of contact found within the RFA and a secure link will be sent to the Applicants for their document submission. Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed periodically.
- Upon completion of your submittal at the provided secure link, notify the POC found in the RFA.
- To protection sensitive information please do not email personally identifiable information (PII) or business sensitive information (BSI).
- All documents should be submitted in PDF form. Native files are optional.
Anticipated Selections:
NRIC anticipates announcing initial selections of participants by August 19, 2026, but the selection timeline will be dependent upon the number of applications received. Further selections will be made on a rolling basis.
Additional Information may be found at NRIC.INL.gov:
- Previously answered FAQs
- Industry Day: May 19, 2026 recording
- Fact Sheets for other National Laboratories supporting Launch Pad
- Contacts for University Subject Matter Experts supporting Launch Pad
REQUEST FOR APPLICATION DETAILS:
SEE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION PDF FILE IN ATTACHMENTS BELOW FOR FULL APPLICATION DOCUMENT
GDE-55179-REV1 IS LOCATED IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION BELOW - (UPDATED MAY 21, 2026)
RFA SUMMARY
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) are establishing the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, an NRIC initiative aimed at promoting the rapid development and implementation of private industry deployments of a variety of advanced nuclear technologies. The NRIC Launch Pad initiative builds upon DOE’s Reactor and Fuel Line Pilot Programs' success, creating an ecosystem to expedite advanced nuclear technology deployment using flexible technical and regulatory frameworks on federal and non-federal lands, through two distinct pathways, Launch Pad Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Launch Pad United States of America (U.S.A).
DOE established the Reactor Pilot Program in June 2025, in response to Executive Order 14301, to leverage DOE authorization with the goal of achieving criticality in three reactors by July 4, 2026. Additionally, in August 2025, DOE established the Fuel Line Pilot Program, to support the Reactor Pilot Program and leverage DOE authorization to establish a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain for testing new reactors.
Given DOE’s Pilot Programs' mission success, DOE plans to extend these opportunities using the NRIC Launch Pad. Launch Pad will build on and enhance the DOE's Pilot Programs by creating a physical space and framework to allow continued nuclear innovation. As with the Pilot Program projects, Launch Pad will unlock private capital and enable fast tracking towards commercial licensing.
Types of nuclear facilities envisioned for the Launch Pad initiative include, but are not limited to, nuclear reactors, fuel fabrication, other fuel cycle facilities (i.e., fuel recycling, enrichment, conversion/deconversion facilities), and other supporting facilities.
GDE-55179-REV1 SUMMARY
This document explains the process for applying to the National Reactor Innovation Center’s (NRIC) Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Request for Applications (RFA) and outlines the criteria used to evaluate and select applications. NRIC will administer this process on behalf of and in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Nuclear Energy Launch Pad has two pathways via Launch Pad Idaho National Laboratory (INL) “Launch Pad INL” or Launch Pad United States of America (U.S.A.) “Launch Pad U.S.A.” The RFA is meant to be a stand-alone document, however, this guide supplements the information contained in the RFA.
More opportunities from Department Of Energy → Battelle Energy Alliance–doe Cntr
Same awarding agency