Application to Test in the NRIC DOME Facility

Quick Summary

The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are inviting industry applications to perform advanced reactor experiments in the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed facility starting July 2027. This Request for Application (RFA) aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced reactors by providing access to critical testing infrastructure. Testing in DOME is expected to be self-funded by the applicant.

Opportunity Details

This opportunity, issued by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the Management and Operating Contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory, seeks to schedule fueled reactor experiments in the DOME facility located at INL’s Material and Fuels Complex in Idaho Falls, ID. The DOME facility is projected to be ready for use after the first reactor experiment is complete, anticipated in July 2027.

Scope of Application

Applicants must submit detailed information covering the following categories, as outlined in INL guide GDE-55115 DOME Scheduling Application:

• Reactor Technology Maturity: Plan to mature technology prior to testing.
• Fuel: Plan for qualification, procurement, delivery, storage, and disposal.
• Testing: Specific tests planned in DOME.
• Project Schedule: Proposed schedule from application through decommissioning.
• DOME Integration: Special interface needs and understanding of reactor-to-DOME interface and shielding.
• DOE Authorization Plan: Plan for obtaining DOE authorization for reactor startup.
• Funding: Amounts and sources.
• Experience and Capabilities: Key personnel, partnerships, and management infrastructure.
• Commercialization and Regulatory Plan: (As per GDE-55115)

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate project maturity commensurate with significant progress through conceptual design and have a DOE agreement or engagement on the proposed reactor Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) or 10 CFR 830 safety basis equivalent.
• Be United States-owned companies or pass a DOE-P 485.1A review.
• Alternatively, companies incorporated or organized under the laws of any U.S. state with a parent company that affords comparable opportunities and protections to United States-owned companies.

Application Process & Deadlines

• Initial Contact: Interested applicants must provide company name, contact name, telephone number, and email to Ann.Marshall@inl.gov or Samuel.Reiss@inl.gov by June 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MDT. Respondents will then receive a secure link for application submission.
• Application Deadline: Full applications are due by July 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MDT.
• Format: Applications must be no more than fifty (50) pages in PDF format, plus an attached Master Document and Deliverable List (MDDL) and the applicant’s project schedule (which do not count towards the page limit).
• Technical Questions: Must be submitted in writing via email at least two weeks prior to the closing date. Responses will be genericized and shared with all applicants.

Evaluation & Scheduling

Applications will be evaluated by NRIC and DOE based on criteria detailed in INL guide GDE-55115. NRIC will recommend a testing sequence to DOE that optimizes DOME use, and DOE will make the final determination of the experiment schedule. Results are anticipated within four to six months of application receipt. This opportunity does not guarantee selection or a specific testing timeframe.

Important Notes

If information provided is business sensitive or proprietary, respondents must mark it accordingly and ensure an executed Non-Disclosure Agreement or similar agreement is in place with INL prior to submittal.