Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia

The U.S. Department of State, through its International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Addressing Development and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons by Russia.” This funding opportunity (DFOP0017240) is designed to mitigate threats posed by the proliferation and use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by the Russian Federation. The NOFO responds to intelligence assessments indicating that Russia continues to develop CBW capabilities and has used such weapons in recent years, notably in the cases of Navalny and the Skripals, and more recently against Ukrainian forces. The program's main goals are to prevent Russian acquisition of critical biological, biotechnology, chemical, and pharmaceutical (BBCP) materials and equipment; to train first responders and laboratory staff to respond to CBW use; and to deter further use by building sustainable regional detection capabilities. This includes due diligence training for BBCP industries, developing law enforcement capacities to detect CBW threats, and enhancing cyber hygiene and infrastructure for detection labs. Activities must support clear objectives, including private consultations with industry executives, Know Your Customer (KYC) training, and the development of detection protocols meeting high international standards. Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit and non-profit organizations, U.S.-based and foreign institutions of higher education, foreign NGOs, Public International Organizations (PIOs), Foreign Public Entities (FPEs), and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Each applicant must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. The NOFO accepts one application per organization, which may contain multiple standalone projects. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov or emailed if applying for Inter-Agency Agreements. Required application materials include standard federal forms (e.g., SF-424, SF-424A), a summary page, key personnel information, monitoring and evaluation documents, a consolidated project list, detailed project narratives, and budget justifications. ISN/CTR provides specific templates and formatting requirements, including font size, margins, and document structure. Proposals will be evaluated based on project quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability. The application deadline is July 30, 2025, at 11:59 P.M. EDT. The anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. The total funding available is $15 million, with awards ranging from $250,000 to $10 million. ISN/CTR anticipates awarding approximately ten grants, depending on funding availability and proposal merit. Awardees will be notified by October 15, 2025. All questions regarding the NOFO must be submitted via the provided email addresses, and FAQs will be updated weekly until July 25, 2025.

Ensure all documents are in English and formatted correctly; strictly adhere to page limits; provide detailed budgets and M&E plans; review FAQs updated weekly until July 25, 2025