Tajikistan: Early Detection and Response Pilot

The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) at the U.S. Department of State has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the "Tajikistan: Early Detection and Response Pilot" program. This initiative reflects the Bureau's strategic priorities in Central Asia, particularly in response to the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism. The primary objective is to build early detection capabilities in Tajikistan’s remote and vulnerable regions, allowing communities and local authorities to detect, report, and respond to potential terrorist activities and illicit cross-border movements. The funding comes from the FY 2024 Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related (NADR) Programs. This program targets Tajikistan’s frontier areas, which are susceptible to terrorist exploitation due to porous borders and limited infrastructure. The initiative is designed to support three main counterterrorism goals: disrupting terrorist plots and movements, countering violent extremist recruitment and radicalization, and increasing the capacity of the Government of Tajikistan and its communities to respond to these threats. The project will include training, stakeholder engagement, and the development of localized security and response strategies. Key outcomes include stronger local detection and coordination capacities, better communication and trust among community members and security personnel, and preparation of trained personnel to respond to crises. The program offers up to $1,497,975 in funding through a cooperative agreement, with one award expected. The anticipated program start date is September 30, 2025, and the proposed performance period ranges from 24 to 36 months. Cost-sharing is not required and will not influence the evaluation process. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations (PIOs), government institutions, and for-profit organizations. Only one application per organization is allowed; multiple submissions will result in disqualification. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov or MyGrants by August 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active registration in SAM.gov are required. A pre-submission question period ends July 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST. Required documents include SF-424 forms, a detailed proposal (up to 12 pages), performance monitoring plan, logic model and theory of change, audit documentation, resumes for key personnel, letters of support, risk analysis, and, if applicable, a NICRA. Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and feasibility of the proposal, organizational capacity, cost-effectiveness, program design and methods, planning and ability to achieve outcomes, and sustainability of impact. Proposals must demonstrate a logical connection between activities, outputs, and the intended counterterrorism outcomes, including measurable indicators and a robust performance monitoring plan. Applicants can direct questions to BryAna Stearns at stearnsbe@state.gov. Award notifications are expected following the technical review process. All programmatic and financial reporting will be conducted quarterly, and recipients are expected to use standardized templates provided by the Bureau of Counterterrorism. The Department reserves the right to reject any proposal and funding is contingent upon availability.

highly structured proposals should link activities to CT outcomes and include sustainability plans