Closed Solicitation
Notice ID: USCMI-ADVNUC-2026.1
Interactive Exercise to Derisk Regulatory Approval Pathways for Maritime Advanced Nuclear Applications
The U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation (USCMI) seeks participants for a project that characterizes the steps needed to reduce regulatory risk for small modular reactors (SMRs) in maritime applications, including vessel transportation and maritime power generation.
The opportunity
USCMI is launching a series of projects on the application of SMRs to maritime uses, including vessel transportation and maritime power generation. This project focuses on characterizing the steps needed to reduce regulatory risk. It includes at least one facilitated, interactive stakeholder exercise in which participants walk through regulatory approval pathways using two scenarios: a nuclear-powered vessel and a floating nuclear power plant.
Participant roles include helping design and facilitate the stakeholder exercise, role-playing in the exercise as a key stakeholder, or both. Stakeholder roles include vessel owner-operator, local port authority and others. Funding is available for participants. The project budget includes up to $155K for facilitators, role players, and travel. This may be refined as proposals are received and selections made.
Participant roles
Solicitation closed
Submissions for this solicitation are closed. The notice and supporting documents remain available below for reference. Future opportunities will be announced separately.
Role 01
Set up and facilitate the exercise
Design, plan and execute at least one facilitated exercise to elicit information on regulatory requirements, interfaces, risks, roadmaps and potential improvements. The facilitator maximizes the contribution of participating stakeholders and ensures a robust understanding is generated.
Role 02
Participate as a role player
Work through example applications for an SMR-propelled vessel and a maritime SMR power plant. Participants are sought for each key role, including owner-operators, ports, technology providers and regulatory agencies, to provide insight into needs, processes and perspectives on the regulatory process.
Download the documents
Submission requirements
Eligible U.S. entities were asked to submit a short response of no more than five pages that noted the roles of interest, documented demonstrated capabilities and estimated costs or rates for participation.
- Organizational details.
- Role or roles of interest.
- Demonstrated capabilities.
- Estimated costs or rates for participation.
Questions may be directed to info@uscmi.org. Additional project opportunities will be announced separately.
About USCMI
The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 directs the Secretary of Transportation, through a competitive cooperative agreement, to establish the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation to support the study, research, development, assessment and deployment of emerging marine technologies and practices related to the maritime transportation system (MTS). USCMI is authorized under the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program and serves as a national resource for agencies that oversee and develop the MTS.