Countering Chemical Weapons Threats

The U.S. Department of State's International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the "Countering Chemical Weapons Threats" initiative. The Chemical Security Program (CSP) aims to prevent adversaries from acquiring materials, equipment, and expertise for chemical weapons (CW) programs that threaten U.S. national security. The program targets foreign public and private sector stakeholders, enhancing their abilities to identify, interdict, and investigate high-risk transfers, enforce U.S. sanctions, recognize and attribute chemical attacks, and adopt U.S. chemical security standards. The funding opportunity emphasizes preventing the transfer of CW-relevant materials, enhancing global deterrence and attribution efforts, reinforcing compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and preventing non-state actor CW attacks. The anticipated geographic impact includes regions such as Africa, East Asia Pacific, Europe, Near East, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere, with specific countries listed under each program objective. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, federally funded research centers, and international organizations. Foreign-based institutions and non-governmental organizations are also eligible. While cost sharing is not required, applicants may propose voluntary contributions, which could influence funding proportions if not fully met. Applications are due by 11:59 PM EDT on July 31, 2025. Required documents include federal forms (SF-424 series), a summary page, key personnel details, a monitoring and evaluation narrative and plan, consolidated project lists, project narratives, detailed budget documents, and optional attachments like CVs and past performance records. All applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, except for U.S. government entities pursuing Inter-Agency Agreements, which must submit directly to the program's email contacts. Evaluation criteria include the quality and feasibility of the project (25 points), organizational capacity (20 points), planning and objective achievement potential (15 points), financial capacity (15 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Final award decisions will be announced by October 15, 2025, and the anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. Projects can last up to 24 months with funding awards ranging between $250,000 and $1,000,000, totaling approximately $4 million. Funding instruments include grants, cooperative agreements, and inter-agency agreements. The grant also outlines numerous federal restrictions and legal requirements, including prohibitions on funding to support mass migration or certain foreign entities. Reporting requirements include quarterly financial and performance reports, and all activities must comply with U.S. Department of State terms and federal laws.

Emphasize train-the-trainer models, regional partnerships, measurable outcomes, and sustainability. Align with current threat data and local capacity.