2026 CTR Non-Proliferation Programing

The 2026 CTR Non-Proliferation Programming funding opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ACN/CTR), supports U.S. foreign policy objectives through initiatives that counter the global spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and associated delivery systems. The CTR office is central to implementing the Administration’s national security and economic policies through targeted programming with international partners. It does so by combating proliferation threats from adversarial states such as Iran, Russia, North Korea (DPRK), and China, while strengthening compliance with international nonproliferation treaties and enhancing national and partner capacities to prevent the misuse of advanced and dual-use technologies. This funding opportunity supports a wide array of global programs that counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. It focuses on eleven major Lines of Effort (LOEs), each structured around specific objectives including disrupting Russian and Chinese chemical and biological weapons supply chains, securing dual-use biotechnology, combating cyber-enabled proliferation from adversaries, and denying illicit access to sensitive research and commercial technologies. The program also implements the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) initiative to enable secure civil nuclear energy deployment under high U.S. standards. Additional priorities include countering adversarial influence through private military and security companies, enforcing sanctions, protecting semiconductor supply chains, and evaluating past ACN/CTR program effectiveness. The CTR Non-Proliferation Program is funded primarily through FY 2026/2027 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) accounts and anticipates awarding up to 50 cooperative agreements, with a total program ceiling of approximately $110 million. Individual awards will range from $250,000 to $10 million depending on the project scale. Although cost sharing is not required, voluntary cost participation is encouraged and may strengthen competitive ranking during evaluation. Awards typically span 12 months of programming with an additional three months allotted for delays, and project periods of up to 24 months may be approved with strong justification. Eligible applicants include a wide array of both U.S. and foreign-based entities. U.S.-based for-profit and non-profit organizations (regardless of 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education, foreign public entities, international organizations, and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) are all eligible to apply. Applicants may only submit one proposal package, though each package can include multiple projects for independent evaluation. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and ensure their registration is active at the time of application and throughout the award period. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM EST on March 6, 2026. Required submission components include SF-424, SF-424A, budget justifications, project narratives, monitoring and evaluation plans, and more. Each proposed project within a single submission requires its own budget and narrative components. All submissions must follow strict formatting and documentation guidelines, including page and character limits, and applications not adhering to these standards will be deemed ineligible. The opportunity is not rolling and has no pre-application LOI or concept paper requirement, but applicants are advised to start early due to the time needed for registrations. Evaluation of applications will be based on clearly defined criteria including feasibility, alignment with CTR objectives, prior experience and institutional capacity, cost-effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability. Additional consideration will be given to applications that include at least $25,000 in voluntary cost sharing. Awards will be announced by May 29, 2026, and performance periods are expected to begin on or after January 1, 2027. ACN/CTR reserves the right to engage in post-selection negotiations or make awards based solely on submitted proposals. Regular reporting, including financial and narrative performance reports, is required throughout the award period, and applicants must adhere to specific foreign assistance vetting and compliance requirements.

Proposals addressing multiple or full objectives are favored; voluntary cost-share of $25K+ earns review bonus points.