Countering U.S. Adversary WMD and Drone Threats in Iraq

The U.S. Department of State's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) under the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation has announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Countering U.S. Adversary WMD and Drone Threats in Iraq" for Fiscal Year 2025, under opportunity number DFOP0017268. This funding initiative supports the development and implementation of projects that enhance Iraq’s ability to prevent and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threats, particularly those posed by Iranian-backed groups. The primary goal is to improve Iraqi institutional capacities to counter these threats, thereby securing U.S. personnel and interests in the region while undermining adversarial networks. The program is supported by FY 25/26 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs (NADR) funds, with an anticipated total of $1,500,000 available, contingent upon availability. Applicants may request funding ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for projects with performance periods between 12 and 24 months, to begin on or after January 1, 2026. ISN/CTR plans to fund approximately ten awards, selecting from proposals that demonstrate strong feasibility, impact, sustainability, and alignment with current threat landscapes in Iraq. Eligibility is open to a broad range of applicants, including U.S. for-profit and nonprofit organizations, U.S.-based and foreign higher education institutions, public international organizations, and foreign public entities. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. While cost sharing is not required, voluntary cost share contributions are permitted and must meet federal cost principles if included. Each organization may submit one application, but it may contain multiple standalone projects. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov unless applying as a U.S. government entity, in which case submissions must be sent to the designated email addresses. Required documents include mandatory and optional federal forms (SF-424 series), project narratives, budget details, monitoring and evaluation plans, and key personnel summaries. Applications must be prepared in English and formatted according to specified guidelines. All projects must contribute to Iraq's proliferation-resistant security and be designed with a clear logic model, expected outcomes, and sustainability plans. The review process consists of a technical eligibility screening followed by a merit-based evaluation by subject matter experts. Criteria include project feasibility, organizational capacity, budget justification, sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation robustness. Final selection will be based on alignment with Department priorities and geographic distribution. Notifications of award decisions will be sent by October 15, 2025. Applications must be received by 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 31, 2025. Questions can be directed to ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov and iraqctr@state.gov. Answers to all submitted questions will be posted weekly on Grants.gov until July 25, 2025. Awardees will be subject to post-award reporting requirements, including quarterly progress and financial reporting, and must comply with all federal and Department of State regulations.

Tailor proposals to Iraq-specific threats and capacity Incorporate train-the-trainer models Use data-driven justification Propose sustainable and scalable solutions Submit clear, concise, and formatted documentation per NOFO instructions