Enforcing Sanctions on China and Russia

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, under the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN/CTR), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support efforts in enforcing sanctions on China and Russia. This funding aims to counteract the proliferation-sensitive goods and technologies these countries acquire via global supply chains and financial networks. With a total funding pool of $19.5 million, ISN/CTR plans to issue approximately ten awards ranging from $250,000 to $5,000,000. The program targets both public and private sector stakeholders to enhance global sanctions compliance and enforcement and will fund grants, cooperative agreements, and inter-agency agreements for projects spanning 12 to 24 months. The initiative supports tailored engagement to improve sanctions enforcement against complex evasion tactics by Chinese and Russian actors. These engagements provide technical training, analytical tools, and consultation services. ISN/CTR particularly seeks projects that address vulnerabilities in the financial sector, advanced technology manufacturing, trade and logistics, and public sector enforcement. Engagements must be designed to provide long-lasting and sustainable improvements in the targeted systems and should include in-depth, actionable intelligence that enhances compliance with U.S. and international sanctions regimes. Eligibility is open to a broad array of organizations, including U.S. and foreign-based nonprofits, for-profits, public and private higher education institutions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), and Foreign Public Entities (FPEs). All applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain active SAM.gov registration. Each applicant may only submit one proposal, though it may include multiple standalone projects. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 30 July 2025 at 11:59 PM EDT. Required documents include SF-424 series forms, a summary page, key personnel information, monitoring and evaluation narratives and trackers, consolidated project lists, project narratives for each proposed project, budget documents, and relevant attachments such as CVs, past performance statements, and permission letters. Detailed formatting instructions apply, including submission in English and U.S. dollars. Evaluation criteria include the quality and feasibility of the project idea, organizational capacity, program planning, financial capacity, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability. Awards will be issued through a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement from ISN/CTR, including selecting participants and reviewing training materials. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by 15 October 2025. All grantees must comply with post-award reporting requirements and ensure that their activities do not violate federal restrictions, including those related to anti-discrimination, terrorism, and human rights abuses. For questions, applicants may contact ctrspecialprojectsproposals@state.gov and ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov. ISN/CTR will publish responses to questions weekly on Grants.gov until 25 July 2025. Applicants are encouraged to begin SAM.gov registration early due to processing delays that may take 4-8 weeks.

Submit only one application; ensure registration in SAM.gov early; use provided templates where applicable; include thorough monitoring plans and budget narratives.