Countering WMD Threats in Iraq | SFOP0010110

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010110

The grant opportunity titled "Countering WMD Threats in Iraq" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0010110) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, under CFDA 19.033. It sits within the Counter Threat Reduction (CTR) framework and specifically supports CTR's Iraq program, which is part of the broader Global Threat Reduction portfolio. The core purpose is to reduce the risk that chemical and biological materials and capabilities in Iraq could be diverted, exploited, or weaponized, particularly by non-state actors, by strengthening security around sensitive assets and improving national readiness to deal with chemical or biological incidents.

The program focus is twofold. First, it aims to secure chemical and biological materials as well as dual-use equipment, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure that could be misused. "Dual-use" in this context generally refers to items and know-how that have legitimate civilian or research purposes but could also be repurposed for harmful applications. Activities aligned with this goal typically include improving physical security and inventory control, strengthening biosafety and biosecurity practices in laboratories and storage facilities, helping partners assess vulnerabilities, and putting procedures in place to reduce theft, diversion, or unauthorized access. Second, the opportunity emphasizes operational preparedness: helping Iraqi partners build the capability to prevent, detect, and respond to chemical and biological incidents. That generally points to capacity-building efforts such as training, development of response protocols, coordination mechanisms, detection and diagnostic support, and other measures that improve early warning and effective incident management.

Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes multiple organization types that could credibly support technical, training, programmatic, or operational work in this space. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations), public and private educational institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), for-profit organizations, as well as public international organizations and governmental institutions. This mix suggests the program expects proposals ranging from hands-on technical assistance and field implementation to research, training, and institutional capacity building, potentially involving partnerships between implementers and Iraqi stakeholders.

In terms of funding parameters, the award ceiling is listed as $250,000 per award, and the agency expected to make up to 25 awards, indicating an intent to support multiple projects rather than a single large implementer. The closing date provided is January 31, 2024, and the opportunity was created on October 30, 2023. The funding instrument type is labeled as "Other," and the activity category is also listed as "Other," which often signals flexibility in how the agency structures agreements and the types of activities it will consider, as long as they align with the stated nonproliferation and threat-reduction objectives.

Overall, this opportunity is geared toward practical, risk-reduction outcomes in Iraq: locking down or responsibly managing sensitive chemical and biological assets and strengthening systems that allow Iraqi institutions to anticipate, detect, and respond to incidents involving these agents. The emphasis on preventing misuse by non-state actors, combined with incident preparedness, makes it especially relevant to applicants with experience in chemical and biological security, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, dual-use risk management, emergency preparedness, and cross-institutional coordination in complex operating environments.

• The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering WMD Threats in Iraq" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.033.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for SFOP0010110

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