Search Grant Opportunities

Denying U.S. Adversaries Access to Sensitive Nuclear, Missile, and Advanced Technical Expertise for Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs that Threaten America

ID: DFOP0017252 • Type: Posted
Opportunity Assistant

Hello! Please let me know your questions about this opportunity. I will answer based on the available opportunity documents.

Sign in to upload a capability statement or catalogue for your company

Some suggestions:
Please summarize the work to be completed under this opportunity
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
I'd like to anonymously submit a question to the procurement officer(s)

Description

ISN/CTR created the Nonproliferation Scientist Engagement Program (NSEP) to provide focused, near-term national security engagement to civilian scientists, technicians, and engineers (STE) with nuclear, missile, and other advanced WMD-relevant technical expertise who are geographically displaced or otherwise rendered financially vulnerable to exploitation by Iran, North Korea, China, or other U.S. adversaries for WMD programs that threaten the American homeland, American lives, and American prosperity. Tailored for FY 25/26 to advance President Trump's Maximum Pressure Campaign on Iran, address North Korea's WMD and ballistic missile programs, and deny the Chinese Communist Party access to expertise to advance WMD programs designed to challenge American security and American leadership, NSEP focuses narrowly on the subset of civilian STEs who have scientific or engineering expertise that could be redirected and exploited by U.S. adversaries to support nuclear, ballistic missile, and advanced weapons programs that could be used to attack the United States. Additionally, this program protects America's technological edge by preventing expertise proliferation of sensitive technical expertise to U.S. adversaries and builds U.S. private sector and related scientific partnerships with these scientists instead.
Background
The U.S. Department of State's International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) has established the Nonproliferation Scientist Engagement Program (NSEP) to engage civilian scientists, technicians, and engineers (STE) with expertise in nuclear, missile, and advanced weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The program aims to protect American national security by preventing the exploitation of these experts by adversarial nations such as Iran, North Korea, and China. This initiative is aligned with the U.S. government's broader strategy to mitigate threats posed by WMD programs that endanger American lives and prosperity.

Grant Details
The NSEP will fund activities focused on two main objectives:
1) Rapid delivery of knowledge security training to enhance STEs' ability to safeguard sensitive information and intellectual property from exploitation;
2) Tailored commercialization support to connect STEs with U.S. scientific partners for exploring commercialization opportunities. Implementers are responsible for outreach, participant registration, curriculum development, logistical arrangements, monitoring, and reporting. The program emphasizes cybersecurity best practices tailored to individual STE needs and does not fund work unrelated to nuclear or WMD-related fields.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public or private), foreign non-profits/NGOs, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), Foreign Public Entities (FPEs), and foreign institutions of higher education. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov.

Period of Performance
The performance period for projects is expected to be between 12 to 24 months. Proposed projects ideally should be completed in 15 months or less.

Grant Value
The total available funding for this opportunity is $6,000,000. Individual awards range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000. Up to 10 awards are anticipated based on available funds.

Place of Performance
The primary focus region for this grant opportunity is Europe and Central Asia.
Show All

Overview

Agency
International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) [DOS]
Category of Funding
Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification)
Funding Instruments
Cooperative Agreement
Grant Program (CFDA)
19.033 - Global Threat Reduction
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 5/30/25 International Security and Nonproliferation posted grant opportunity DFOP0017252 for Denying U.S. Adversaries Access to Sensitive Nuclear, Missile, and Advanced Technical Expertise for Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs that Threaten America with funding of $6.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 19.033 Global Threat Reduction. It is expected that 5 total grants will be made worth between $100,000 and $2.0 million.

Timing

Posted Date
May 30, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
July 30, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT Past Due
Last Updated
May 30, 2025, 3:03 p.m. EDT
Version
1

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
The following organizations are eligible to apply: U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses; U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with or without 501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code; U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; foreign-based non-profit organizations/non-government organizations (NGO); Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs); Public International Organizations (PIO) ; Foreign Public Entities (FPE); and foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$2,000,000
Floor
$100,000
Estimated Program Funding
$6,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
5

Contacts

Contact
Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation
Contact Email
none
Contact Phone
(703) 516-1684
Additional Information
Link to Opportunity in MyGrants
Additional Information Site
https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/mygrants?id=mygrants_form&table=x_g_usd4_d_grant_funding_opportunity&sys_id=d8b2d3861b7d6a50baa70fe4604bcb9a&view=Default

Documents

Posted documents for DFOP0017252

Potential Applicants and Partners

Awardees that have recently won grants similar to DFOP0017252

Incumbent or Similar Grants

Similar Active Opportunities

Open grant opportunities similar to DFOP0017252