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.
AI Contract Overview
The Department of Energy, through its National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), has issued a Request for Application (RFA) for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies by providing a flexible, regulatory-compliant framework on federal and non-federal lands. The initiative builds on the successes of DOE's Reactor and Fuel Line Pilot Programs established in 2025, with a focus on fast-tracking technology maturity, enabling private sector involvement, and facilitating commercialization pathways. Applicants can propose projects for two distinct pathways: Launch Pad INL, located on federal land near INL, or Launch Pad USA, where applicants provide and operate a site anywhere within the U.S.A. The program encompasses a broad scope of nuclear facilities including reactors, fuel fabrication, recycling, enrichment, and other fuel cycle-related capabilities. Applicants are required to submit comprehensive proposals, including detailed descriptions of technology maturity, project schedules, funding plans, regulatory strategies, and document deliverables as described in the guidance document GDE-55179. Emphasis is placed on technical merit, demonstrated experience, and long-term commercialization and regulatory pathways. Evaluations will consider technology readiness, organizational capability, funding adequacy, and delivery of a master document and deliverable list, with the award decision based on a balanced merit and risk assessment, favoring earlier deployments. The solicitation stresses security and foreign ownership transparency, requiring clearances and certifications, adherence to cybersecurity standards, and full disclosure of any foreign influence. Performance will be measured against Milestone deliverables centered on safety, licensing readiness, and operational commissioning in compliance with DOE and NRC regulations. All materials must be submitted electronically by July 8, 2026, with ongoing submission acceptance thereafter for periodic review. Key contacts for inquiries and submissions are provided, and the approach supports both contractor-led site management and collaboration with federal laboratory resources under a special-purpose partnership agreement.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Idaho Falls, ID, 83401, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
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
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
Industry Day:
May 19, 2026, virtual attendance only. Refer to the NRIC website for Industry Day details and registration requirements. See link provided in the Links section below.
Initial Submission Deadline for Applications:
Applications must be submitted by July 08, 2026, at 5:00 PM MDT to be considered for the first selection round. After this date, applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed periodically for selection as soon as reasonably possible.
Initial Anticipated Selections:
NRIC anticipates announcing initial selections of participants by August 19, 2026, but will be dependent upon the number of applications received. NRIC may announce further selections of participants on a rolling basis after that date.
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.
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.