Somalia Operational Mentorship and Sustainment Capacity Building

The United States Department of State, through its Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, has announced an open competition for a cooperative agreement under the funding opportunity titled Somalia Operational Mentorship and Sustainment Capacity Building. This program seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Somali National Army (SNA), particularly the SNA-Danab Advanced Infantry Brigade, with a focus on force management, force generation, sustainment, and integration. Established in 2014 and formalized under the 2017 London Agreement, the SNA-Danab was developed as a 3,000-soldier light infantry force drawn from across Somalia’s federal member states and the capital region. The program comes at a critical juncture, as the United States transitions its support for fuel, stipends, and operations and maintenance responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia. The purpose of the cooperative agreement is to continue operational mentorship for the SNA-Danab while also providing support to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and its troop-contributing partner nations. Mentorship activities will emphasize mission command, interoperability among Somali and allied forces, and support for specialized training in counter-improvised explosive devices, military intelligence, weapons maintenance, medical response, and human rights. The program also seeks to improve accountability, logistics management, and sustainability practices within Somali defense institutions to ensure their long-term capacity to conduct independent operations against al-Shabaab and other violent extremist organizations. Applicants must design their proposals around three core objectives: facilitating the integration of Somali forces by standardizing tactics and training with international partners; improving operational capabilities of the SNA-Danab and AUSSOM units for combat operations and stabilization; and strengthening accountability and sustainment by building Somali capacities in procurement, operations and maintenance, and logistics. Outcomes are expected to include the ability of Somali forces to independently plan, execute, and sustain operations while fostering improved relations with local communities. The ultimate goal is to reduce reliance on U.S. support while enabling Somali forces to take ownership of national security. The total funding available for this opportunity ranges from a minimum of $7,500,000 to a maximum of $10,000,000, with only one award anticipated. The cooperative agreement will have a period of performance of 12 to 18 months, expected to run from late September 2025 through September 2026. Cost-sharing or matching is not required for this program. The Department of State emphasizes that while for-profit organizations are eligible, profit is not permitted under assistance awards. All applicants must demonstrate strong organizational capacity, partnerships, and prior experience in implementing comparable programs in complex international environments. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or SAMS/MyGrants by 11:59 PM EST on September 3, 2025. Questions regarding the solicitation may be submitted until August 20, 2025, also at 11:59 PM EST. Applications must include standard federal forms (SF-424 series), an executive summary, proposal narrative, budget documents, monitoring and evaluation plans, a security plan, contingency plan, and key personnel information. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submission. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Proposals will be reviewed according to criteria including the quality and feasibility of the project idea, organizational capacity, program planning, cost effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation design, and sustainability. The Department reserves the right to award based on initial applications without negotiation. Successful applicants will receive notification, and final approval will be contingent on compliance with registration, reporting, and congressional notification requirements. Federal oversight will include substantial involvement, such as prior approval of training curricula, budget allocations, and monitoring reports, to ensure alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives. The primary contact for this opportunity is Ryan Kildow, Africa Security Assistance Program Manager, who can be reached via email at KildowR@state.gov. Technical support for submissions is available through the ILMS helpdesk for SAMS/MyGrants and the Grants.gov helpdesk. This program is subject to federal laws and restrictions, including compliance with the Leahy Law, prohibitions against support to terrorist organizations, and requirements for transparency, accountability, and reporting. Implementation in Somalia will require heightened security precautions due to the presence of al-Shabaab and other terrorist threats, and implementers must coordinate closely with Somali and African Union forces to safeguard personnel and operations.