Time Varying Nuclear Decay Parameters | CRANBAA18 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for CRANBAA18 0007

The Department of Defense, through Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, released a discretionary research and development funding opportunity titled "Time Varying Nuclear Decay Parameters" (Funding Opportunity Number: CRANBAA18 0007). The effort is framed as exploratory science and technology research focused on whether nuclear decay parameters may exhibit time dependence and, if so, what physical mechanisms could plausibly cause that modulation. The announcement emphasizes that the underlying physics behind reported observations of time-varying decay behavior is not well understood, and the intent is to support work that can directly investigate, test, and characterize potential mechanisms rather than assume a settled explanation.

The stated motivation has two main DoD-relevant drivers. First, NSWC Crane is interested in improving the ability to account for and model noise sources affecting microelectronics operating in radiation environments. If nuclear decay-related processes vary over time in ways that impact radiation fields or measurement baselines, understanding that variability could matter for predicting or mitigating electronics performance issues in operational settings. Second, the opportunity is positioned as a pathway to discovering new physical effects that could be harnessed for novel detection technologies. If genuine, controllable, or at least measurable modulation of decay parameters exists, it could open the door to new sensing concepts with potential defense applications, particularly where detection sensitivity, environmental robustness, or new phenomenology would offer an advantage.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the government during the project (for example, collaboration, technical coordination, or access to facilities), rather than a standard grant with minimal agency participation. The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA number 12.300. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may have been included in the full announcement text.

From an award standpoint, the notice anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $180,000. The opportunity was created on June 7, 2018, with an original closing date of July 7, 2018, indicating a relatively short application window. Overall, the announcement describes a targeted, small-scale R&D effort aimed at rigorously probing claims or indications of time-dependent nuclear decay behavior and translating any validated understanding into practical relevance for radiation-affected microelectronics and next-generation detection approaches for DoD needs.

• The Department of Defense, NSWC - CRANE in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Time Varying Nuclear Decay Parameters" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 07, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 07, 2018. (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 $180,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for CRANBAA18 0007

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