Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, through its Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), has announced a significant funding opportunity titled “Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia.” The initiative stems from an assessment by the U.S. intelligence community that Russian scientific institutes continue to pursue the development and delivery of chemical and biological weapons (CBW). The Russian Federation is believed to maintain an undeclared chemical weapons program and has reportedly used chemical agents in high-profile incidents involving opposition figures and foreign nationals. In response, this funding program seeks to prevent Russia from acquiring critical CBW materials and equipment, enable partner countries to prepare for and respond to CBW use, and deter further violations. This opportunity is funded through the FY25/26 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) and other aligned federal accounts. The total anticipated funding pool is $15,000,000, with individual awards ranging between $250,000 and $10,000,000. The Department expects to issue approximately 10 awards, subject to funding availability. The performance period for funded projects is between 12 and 24 months, with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2026. The funding instruments may include grants, cooperative agreements, and inter-agency agreements. Cooperative agreements will involve substantial engagement from ISN/CTR staff in project planning, review, and implementation, including oversight of participant selection and logistical coordination. The program is open to a wide array of U.S. and foreign-based entities, including nonprofits, for-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public international organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and foreign public entities. Applicants must have an active registration and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) via SAM.gov. The grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds; however, applicants who voluntarily propose cost-sharing must meet the full proposed amount, or their funding may be reduced proportionally. Applications must be submitted by July 30, 2025, at 11:59 P.M. EDT via www.grants.gov, except in the case of U.S. government entities applying through inter-agency agreements, who should submit via email. Each applicant may submit only one proposal packet, though multiple independent projects may be included in that packet. Required documents include SF-424 forms, a summary page, key personnel details, monitoring and evaluation plans, detailed project narratives, line-item budgets, budget justifications, and supporting attachments. Applications that fail to meet formatting or content requirements will be deemed ineligible. ISN/CTR is particularly focused on proposals that promote compliance and due diligence in the biological, biotechnology, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, including training programs for industry leaders and government partners. Other objectives include enhancing cyber and physical security for CBW detection laboratories, supporting due diligence and "Know Your Customer's Customer" efforts, and bolstering partner capacity to request international technical assistance. Evaluation criteria will focus on project feasibility, institutional capacity, planning, financial responsibility, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and long-term sustainability. Questions related to this opportunity can be directed to ctrspecialprojectsproposals@state.gov and ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov. While no individual consultations will be offered, ISN/CTR will post weekly Q&A updates through July 25, 2025, on Grants.gov. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by October 15, 2025. Final award decisions will consider technical merit, regional balance, and alignment with broader U.S. foreign policy objectives.

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