Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), through its Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia” under opportunity number DFOP0017240. This funding opportunity is driven by growing national security concerns stemming from the Russian Federation’s continued pursuit and use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW). The NOFO is part of the Department’s broader strategy to counter proliferation threats from both state and non-state actors and aims to strengthen international safeguards and capacity to deter and respond to CBW threats. The application deadline is July 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. The primary goals of the program are to prevent Russian acquisition of critical biological, biotechnology, chemical, and pharmaceutical (BBCP) materials and equipment; prepare global partners to effectively respond to CBW use; and deter future deployment of these weapons. ISN/CTR will engage with private sector actors in the BBCP industries, offering compliance training, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) due diligence education, and consultations with executive-level stakeholders. Additional programming includes cyber hygiene and cybersecurity training for laboratories, first responder training for site decontamination and sample chain-of-custody, and enhancing detection capacity via technical lab training aligned with international standards such as those of the OPCW. Eligible applicants include a wide array of institutions such as U.S.-based and foreign non-profit and for-profit organizations, higher education institutions, public international organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and foreign public entities. No cost-sharing is required to apply or be competitive for selection, although voluntary cost-share is permitted. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. The program anticipates awarding up to 10 grants with award amounts ranging from $250,000 to $10,000,000, and a total program ceiling of $15,000,000, contingent upon funding availability. The proposed project performance period must not exceed 15 months, with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2026. Each application must be submitted through Grants.gov, unless applying under an Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA), in which case proposals should be sent directly to ISN/CTR. Required documents include SF-424 forms, a detailed summary page, information about key personnel, monitoring and evaluation plans, project narratives, consolidated project lists, and comprehensive budget justifications. Applicants are encouraged to submit concise and clearly formatted documents that adhere to specified guidelines, including strict formatting, font, and page limits. Evaluation criteria for submitted proposals will include the quality and feasibility of the project idea (25 points), organizational capacity and past performance (20 points), program planning and alignment with stated objectives (15 points), financial clarity and cost-effectiveness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation planning (15 points), and long-term sustainability (10 points). The merit review panel will consist of U.S. government subject matter experts, and final award decisions will be made based on both the panel’s evaluations and alignment with the Department’s foreign policy objectives. Questions regarding the NOFO should be directed to ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov and ctrspecialprojectsproposals@state.gov. Weekly updates will be posted to Grants.gov each Friday until July 25, 2025. The program is not offered on a rolling basis but is expected to recur annually, with the next cycle anticipated in July 2026.

Follow format instructions exactly. Ensure applications are complete and submitted through Grants.gov. Late or non-compliant applications will be rejected.