Enforcing Sanctions on China and Russia

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), under the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, has announced a funding opportunity titled "Implementing China and Russia Sanctions" (Opportunity Number DFOP0017256). This grant is part of the FY25/26 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) and aims to counter the growing threat posed by illicit procurement and sanctions evasion tactics employed by China and Russia. With an anticipated funding total of approximately $19.5 million, this initiative seeks to enhance global enforcement capabilities through strategic engagements and technical training for both public and private sector entities worldwide. ISN/CTR’s programming is designed to disrupt the illicit financial, trade, and procurement networks that support the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by these two nations. The priority region for this grant is the East Asia Pacific, although a wide range of countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas are eligible. Through the provision of open-source tools, private consultations, and expert-led capacity-building events, the program will support enforcement efforts against complex sanctions evasion activities. Specific attention will be given to vulnerable sectors such as dual-use manufacturing, financial institutions, and the logistics industry. The funding instrument may be a grant, cooperative agreement, or Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA), depending on the nature of the recipient. ISN/CTR anticipates making up to 10 awards, with each award ranging between $250,000 and $5 million. The performance period is expected to be 12 to 24 months, beginning no earlier than January 1, 2026. ISN/CTR will maintain substantial involvement in program development, including oversight of participant selection, approval of training agendas, and logistical planning. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, institutions of higher education, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), and Foreign Public Entities (FPEs). Cost sharing or matching is not required and will not influence competitive ranking. However, voluntary cost-sharing is permitted and, if proposed, must comply with 2 CFR §200, Subpart E. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a valid registration in SAM.gov. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. Required application components include SF-424, SF-424A, summary pages, key personnel lists, monitoring and evaluation plans, consolidated project lists, detailed narratives, line-item budgets, budget justifications, and optional documentation such as NICRA, CVs, and past performance statements. ISN/CTR will publish answers to submitted questions weekly until July 25, 2025. Applications will be reviewed against criteria including project quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, planning, cost-effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by October 15, 2025. Award recipients will be required to report quarterly on both financial and programmatic performance via MyGrants and the HHS Payment Management System. Final reports are due within 120 days of project completion.

Ensure clarity and measurable objectives in the project narrative. Align budgets with allowable categories. Prepare participant review forms if doing in-person or virtual engagements.