The Department of Energy was directed by the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017 to establish the Advanced Reactor Demonstration (ARD) Program to stimulate commercial enterprises in advanced reactor deployment and facilitate U.S. private industry’s demonstration of several advanced reactors with the capability to achieve reliable, cost-­effective, and licensable designs. The ARD program was launched on February 5 with a request for information (RFI) and notice of intent (NOI) issued by the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Office of Reactor Fleet and Advanced Reactor Deployment.