Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons

The U.S. Department of State’s International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the “Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons” initiative. This funding opportunity aims to address threats posed by proliferator states, primarily Russia and China, that leverage advanced conventional weapons (ACW) sales to enhance strategic dependencies and exert malign influence globally. The NOFO supports programs under the FY 25/26 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR), focusing on reducing the risk of weapons of mass destruction and related threats. The initiative outlines four primary aims: disrupting illicit procurement networks, countering state-sponsored ACW proliferation, addressing strategic defense dependencies, and mitigating malign activities by private military and security companies (PMSCs). The funded projects should be sustainable and foster cross-sector partnerships. Projects may include producing technical reports, conducting in-person trainings informed by open-source data, engaging with industry stakeholders, promoting best practices in procurement, and analyzing strategic vulnerabilities related to ACW systems. Emphasis is placed on practical, measurable outcomes that align with U.S. nonproliferation objectives. Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based and foreign-based for-profit and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and federally funded research and development centers. However, applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. Cost sharing is not required and will not impact the competitive evaluation. Applicants may submit only one application, though it may contain multiple independent projects. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 30, 2025. If applying for Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) funding, submissions should be directed to ctrspecialprojectsproposals@state.gov and ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov. Required application documents include various SF forms, summary and narrative documents, key personnel information, and a monitoring and evaluation plan. Submissions must adhere to specified formatting and documentation guidelines. Final award decisions will be announced by October 15, 2025. Review criteria include project quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, ability to achieve objectives, cost effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and sustainability. The review process involves a technical eligibility screening followed by a merit-based evaluation by subject matter experts. The Department of State retains discretion over funding decisions and may negotiate project elements post-review. Contact for questions and submissions includes ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov and ctrspecialprojectsproposals@state.gov. The earliest anticipated start date for funded projects is January 1, 2026, with an expected performance period of 12–24 months. ISN/CTR will remain substantively involved throughout the project to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, including participant selection and event planning logistics.

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