Countering Iran and DPRKs WMD, Nuclear, Ballistic Missile, and Drone Proliferation

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Countering Iran and DPRK’s WMD, Nuclear, Ballistic Missile, and Drone Proliferation” under opportunity number DFOP0017260. This grant program, administered through the Counterproliferation and Sanctions Enforcement (CASE) initiative, aims to combat the threats posed by the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related systems developed by Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The program is designed to build and enhance the enforcement capacity of international partners and the private sector to prevent, detect, and respond to the acquisition and proliferation of sensitive technologies and materials that could contribute to WMD programs. The CASE program was initially launched in 2017 to support sanctions enforcement against the DPRK and subsequently expanded to counter Iran’s activities under the U.S. administration’s Maximum Pressure Campaign. Its primary objectives include impeding Iran’s and DPRK’s procurement and production of ballistic missiles, drones, and nuclear weapons, disrupting related financial networks, and limiting the use of international maritime and cyber domains for illicit activity. The program deploys a data-driven approach that includes open-source investigations and capacity-building engagements to enhance the effectiveness of global sanctions enforcement. Funding under this opportunity is provided through the FY25/26 Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs (NADR) and other federal accounts. The expected award ceiling is $1,000,000 and the floor is $250,000, with a total of approximately $12.5 million available. ISN/CTR anticipates up to 10 awards, contingent on funding availability. The period of performance should not exceed 24 months, with proposed projects ideally completed within 15 months. Substantial U.S. government involvement in program implementation is expected, especially in participant selection and event content. Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, foreign NGOs, Foreign Public Entities, and Public International Organizations. Cost-sharing or matching is not required and does not influence application competitiveness. All applicants must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active SAM.gov registration. Only one application per organization will be considered, and each application may include multiple projects evaluated independently. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 30 July 2025, 11:59 PM EDT. Required materials include SF-424 series forms, project narratives, budget documentation, monitoring and evaluation plans, and key personnel listings. For U.S. government entities applying for Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs), submissions should be sent via email. Questions about the NOFO may be directed to ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov and ISN-CTR-DPRK@state.gov; responses will be published weekly until 25 July 2025. Proposals will be assessed on criteria including project quality, feasibility, organizational capacity, cost-effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation robustness, and long-term sustainability. Successful projects will demonstrate a clear nonproliferation benefit, target current threats with data-driven approaches, and include training and outreach to relevant governmental and private sector actors in priority regions. These include East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East/North Africa, Europe, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Proposals must outline plans for sustainability and future funding beyond the grant period. Final award decisions will be made by a senior official at ISN/CTR.

Proposals that build local capacity, emphasize measurable impact, and align with regional priorities will be scored favorably. Training of trainers and cost-effectiveness are strongly encouraged.