Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction within the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN/CTR) is offering a funding opportunity under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DFOP0017240. This grant is part of the Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) and aims to counter threats from the proliferation and use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by Russia. The NOFO specifically addresses concerns highlighted by the Director of National Intelligence regarding Russia’s continued research, development, and use of CBWs in incidents such as the attacks on Aleksey Navalny and the Skripals, as well as ongoing use in Ukraine. The program seeks to achieve three primary goals: prevent Russian acquisition of critical biological, biotechnology, chemical, and pharmaceutical (BBCP) materials; prepare international partners to respond effectively to CBW usage; and deter further use of such weapons. Activities under this funding may include engaging BBCP industries in compliance and due diligence practices, training for first responders and laboratory personnel in CBW detection, and strengthening cybersecurity for CBW-related facilities and operations. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based and foreign entities such as for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), and Foreign Public Entities (FPEs). All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov unless applying under an Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA), in which case submissions go directly to ISN/CTR via specified email addresses. The total available funding for this opportunity is $15 million, with individual awards ranging from $250,000 to $10 million. Ten awards are anticipated. Projects must be completed within 15 months and may be implemented as grants, cooperative agreements, or Inter-Agency Agreements, depending on the level of involvement by ISN/CTR. Proposals must clearly articulate goals, objectives, methodology, and monitoring plans, and include specific documentation such as SF-424 forms, budget narratives, and key personnel details. Applications are due by July 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. There are no mandatory pre-application deadlines, but questions may be submitted via email until July 25, 2025, and responses will be posted weekly on Grants.gov. Award notifications will be issued no later than October 15, 2025. Evaluation criteria include the feasibility and quality of the project idea, organizational capacity, cost-effectiveness, and monitoring and evaluation plans. Funding may not be used for specific prohibited purposes such as support for UNRWA, mass migration activities, or entertainment unless justified.

Adherence to templates and formatting, measuring partner capacity, detailed budget justifications, clear articulation of goals and risk assessments are emphasized.