Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006247
The "2020 CTR Securing WMD Expertise at Higher Education Institutions" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006247) is a U.S. Department of State grant program run through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation under the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) mission. Its core purpose is to help universities and other higher education institutions strengthen their ability to stop the loss, theft, or improper transfer of sensitive knowledge, technology, and research capabilities that could support weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. The program is framed around the risk that proliferator states and their procurement networks may target academic environments because universities often host advanced research, specialized equipment, and international collaborations that can be exploited if security and vetting systems are weak or inconsistent.
The opportunity is specifically focused on preventing transfers of proliferation-sensitive technology and expertise to countries identified in the announcement as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iran, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Syria. Rather than funding basic research itself, CTR is looking for practical, programmatic activities that improve institutional controls and decision-making. In plain terms, the Department of State is asking applicants to propose ways to help academic institutions know what they have (sensitive research and equipment), understand who is gaining access (students, faculty, visiting scholars, researchers, collaborators, and grant beneficiaries), and put durable processes in place to reduce the chance that WMD-relevant expertise or materials are diverted to hostile or sanctioned actors.
A major emphasis is on two complementary areas. The first is controlling access to proliferation-sensitive research and equipment, which typically involves strengthening internal compliance and security measures around laboratories, specialized instrumentation, controlled technical information, data, and research workflows. This can include improving how institutions identify which projects or assets carry proliferation risk, how they restrict physical and digital access, and how they monitor or manage high-risk activities such as certain kinds of international collaboration, equipment use, or sharing of technical data. The second emphasis is comprehensive vetting: establishing or improving processes to screen and evaluate individuals connected to WMD-applicable fields, including students, faculty, researchers, and recipients of research funding. The intent is to help institutions implement consistent, defensible due diligence practices that can detect red flags, reduce insider risk, and ensure that participation in sensitive work is appropriately reviewed.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, meaning the government anticipates substantial involvement during the period of performance rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal interaction. The program is listed under CFDA 19.033 and is open eligibility-wise (described as "unrestricted," meaning any entity may apply unless additional eligibility details in the full notice narrow that scope). The announcement was created on November 1, 2019, with an original closing date of January 31, 2020. The award ceiling is listed as 1 (as shown in the source data), and the program anticipated making up to 10 awards, suggesting CTR intended to support multiple efforts across institutions or implementing partners rather than a single national program.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as capacity-building for university security and compliance in WMD-relevant domains. It is designed to move institutions toward more mature, standardized controls that protect sensitive research ecosystems from exploitation by proliferator states, while also formalizing vetting and review processes that address the human side of the risk (who participates, who gets access, and under what conditions).Apply for SFOP0006247
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2020 CTR Securing WMD Expertise at Higher Education Institutions" 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 Nov 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 31, 2020. (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 $1.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| 2020 CTR Countering Threats from Acquisition or Misuse of Emerging and Advanced Technologies for WMD and WMD-Related Delivery Systems Apply for SFOP0006248 Funding Number: SFOP0006248 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 CTR Preventing the Transfer of Proliferation Sensitive Technology to Iran Apply for SFOP0006246 Funding Number: SFOP0006246 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 Countering WMD Threats in Iraq Apply for SFOP0006245 Funding Number: SFOP0006245 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 CTR Countering the Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons to States of Proliferation Concern Apply for SFOP0006254 Funding Number: SFOP0006254 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 CTR Strengthening International Nonproliferation Norms Apply for SFOP0006253 Funding Number: SFOP0006253 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 CTR Reducing Resurgent State Weapons of Mass Destruction Threats Apply for SFOP0006255 Funding Number: SFOP0006255 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Small Grants Apply for PAS JOR FY20 001 Funding Number: PAS JOR FY20 001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| 2020 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Large Grants Apply for PAS JOR FY20 002 Funding Number: PAS JOR FY20 002 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Annual Program Statement, Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy Harare Apply for DOS HRE FY2020 Funding Number: DOS HRE FY2020 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $24,999 |
| 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the United States and Vietnam Apply for SVM700 20 PAS 002 Funding Number: SVM700 20 PAS 002 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Vietnam Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Reception and Placement Program Apply for SFOP0006252 Funding Number: SFOP0006252 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2020 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Large Grants Program Apply for 2020 AFCP JA LARGEGRANTS Funding Number: 2020 AFCP JA LARGEGRANTS Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jamaica Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| 2020 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Small Grants Competition Apply for 2020 AFCP JA SMALLGRANTS Funding Number: 2020 AFCP JA SMALLGRANTS Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jamaica Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020 Apply for VP 20 003 Funding Number: VP 20 003 Agency: Department of Defense, USUHS Medical Research Projects Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Statements of Interest: CHINA PROGRAMS Apply for SFOP0006265 Funding Number: SFOP0006265 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Visiting Speakers Series on University Internationalization and Linkages Apply for 20 PHL NOFO EDUSA Funding Number: 20 PHL NOFO EDUSA Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to the Philippines Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| Regional Conference on Protecting Marine Resources and Fisheries in Southeast Asia Apply for 20 PHL NOFO MTM Funding Number: 20 PHL NOFO MTM Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to the Philippines Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2020 Apply for SMK80020PAS001 Funding Number: SMK80020PAS001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2020 001 Funding Number: DOS BAGHDAD PD 2020 001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Iraq Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Fund for Media Innovation Activity Apply for RFI Funding Number: RFI Agency: Agency for International Development, Serbia USAID-Belgrade Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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