Countering Chemical Weapons Threats

The Countering Chemical Weapons Threats funding opportunity, released by the U.S. Department of State's International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), supports efforts to prevent adversaries of the United States from acquiring the materials, equipment, and knowledge necessary to develop chemical weapons. This grant program is part of the Chemical Security Program (CSP), which is a counterproliferation initiative designed to enhance U.S. and partner security by targeting vulnerabilities in chemical supply chains and research networks, particularly in regions and countries vulnerable to exploitation by proliferator states or non-state actors. This grant supports projects aligned with U.S. national security priorities such as enforcing sanctions, interdicting illicit transfers, and improving chemical weapons (CW) attack attribution. CSP projects aim to strengthen global norms against CW use and support compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The FY25 opportunity prioritizes proposals targeting specific audiences in countries of concern and achieving one or more of the following objectives: disrupting CW material transfer, enhancing response and attribution capacity, reinforcing global norms and CWC implementation, and preventing non-state actor CW attacks. Eligible entities include U.S.-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, federally funded research centers, public international organizations, foreign nonprofits, and foreign public entities. Cost sharing or matching funds are not required and will not impact competitive ranking, though voluntary cost share contributions are allowed. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. Each organization may submit one application, which may include multiple projects evaluated independently. The total program funding is approximately $4,000,000, with individual awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 10 awards are anticipated, depending on available funds. Projects should be completed within 15 months, and the expected start date for funded projects is January 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 31, 2025. All required forms and narrative components must comply with specific formatting guidelines, including page limits and font specifications. Applicants are required to submit a complete application package including forms SF-424 and SF-424A, a project narrative, key personnel list, monitoring and evaluation plan, and detailed budget documents. Each proposed project within an application must include its own narrative and budget justification. Evaluation criteria include project idea quality (25 points), organizational capacity (20 points), feasibility and planning (15 points), financial detail (15 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Proposals should include robust engagement plans, clearly defined objectives, measurable outcomes, and reference to relevant threat landscapes and technical capacity. Contact for questions includes ISN-CTR-BUDGET@state.gov and csp@state.gov. Answers to questions will be compiled and posted every Friday through July 25, 2025, on Grants.gov. Proposals that include activities with foreign security forces must comply with the Leahy Law, and activities benefiting governments in Tier 3 countries under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act may be subject to restrictions. Successful applicants must submit quarterly performance and financial reports and may be required to upload deliverables to MyGrants. The Department of State reserves the right to make award decisions based on alignment with foreign policy priorities and geographic balance.

Proposals should emphasize sustainability, align with current CW threat landscapes, and leverage partner champions.