Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG) | DE FOA 0002983

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002983

The Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002983) is a Department of Energy effort, run through the DOE Idaho Field Office, to support a single cooperative agreement focused on sustained, structured engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations on nuclear energy matters. The central goal is to help DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) meet its Tribal responsibilities and strengthen government-to-government relationships by ensuring Tribes have a consistent, well-supported forum to weigh in on DOE-NE programs, plans, and activities that may affect Tribal lands, resources, communities, and long-term interests.

At its core, the award funds an organization to operate as the administrative and technical backbone for NETWG, a working group chartered under DOE-NE. The topics covered are broad but specifically tied to DOE-NE's mission space and real-world decision points, including advanced reactors, the siting of interim storage and/or disposal facilities for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, and the transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The scope also explicitly includes cultural resource management, STEM education, and environmental justice, reflecting DOE's emphasis on ensuring that potential energy infrastructure development, technology deployment, and federal actions account for Tribal rights, cultural priorities, and community impacts.

The selected awardee is expected to plan, manage, and execute NETWG meetings in compliance with DOE Office of General Counsel guidelines and any other federal requirements that govern how such working groups operate. The FOA anticipates up to four in-person meetings per year, depending on DOE needs and available budget, effectively positioning NETWG as a quarterly engagement vehicle. Meeting support is not limited to scheduling; it includes end-to-end logistics such as securing meeting and hotel space, arranging travel for Tribal representatives, coordinating agendas, and ensuring on-site operational support. The awardee would also be responsible for documenting the work by taking notes and producing meeting summaries that capture the substance of discussions and key takeaways in a usable format for both DOE and Tribal participants.

In addition to in-person meetings, the awardee would run conference calls and webinars so DOE-NE leadership and staff can provide timely updates to NETWG members on initiatives, policy developments, program direction, and upcoming activities. The cooperative agreement also has a research and analytical component: awardee staff would assist DOE offices and NETWG members by researching and compiling relevant background information for meeting topics, developing materials to support informed discussion, and preparing white paper-style reports focused on Tribal issues connected to nuclear energy activities. In practical terms, the awardee is expected to help translate complex nuclear energy policy and program information into organized, decision-relevant resources that support meaningful Tribal engagement rather than one-way briefings.

The anticipated project period is up to five years, reflecting that DOE is looking for continuity and institutional memory rather than a short-term event contractor. Over that period, the working group is intended to enable participating Tribes to contribute expertise not only to DOE staff, but also to DOE sites, and to other Tribes by sharing lessons learned, best practices, and perspectives on managing Tribal impacts from DOE activities. A recurring emphasis is the importance of cultural resource management, signaling that DOE expects the working group process to elevate protection of cultural sites, heritage resources, and culturally significant landscapes as part of nuclear-related planning and operations.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full FOA, but the application is clearly geared toward organizations that can demonstrate deep experience working effectively with Tribal governments and Tribal organizations, and that can coordinate multi-party meetings and communications in a manner consistent with federal trust responsibilities and government-to-government protocols. DOE is looking for an awardee capable of efficient oversight, reliable logistics and communications, and strong policy and program support, with the intent that interactions and practices developed through this effort can be adopted and implemented within DOE-NE's Tribal affairs work. Overall, the grant is less about building a physical project and more about building and sustaining a high-functioning engagement process that helps DOE-NE make better-informed decisions while respecting and incorporating Tribal perspectives.

Key details from the posted opportunity include a cooperative agreement funding instrument, an energy funding activity category (CFDA 81.121), an expected single award, and an award ceiling of $1,500,000. The opportunity was created March 14, 2023, with an original closing date of April 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• The Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG)" 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 $1,500,000.00 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 0002983

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