Countering WMD and UAS Threats in Iraq | DFOP0016991

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016991

The grant opportunity titled "Countering WMD and UAS Threats in Iraq" (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0016991) is a U.S. government discretionary funding program administered by the Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the government expects to have substantial involvement in shaping, overseeing, or coordinating the project during implementation rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The program falls under CFDA 19.033 and is focused on practical threat-reduction work in Iraq related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) risks and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threats.

The driving problem statement is that Iraq continues to face active terrorist and militia threats even after major counterterrorism successes. The notice highlights that ISIS and other terrorist groups remain operational in Iraq despite recent losses of senior leadership as recently as September and October 2024. At the same time, U.S., Iraqi, and partner security forces are increasingly being targeted by UAS attacks attributed to Iran-backed militia groups. In parallel, weak security practices in parts of the legitimate chemical and biological supply chain create opportunities for diversion or exploitation. The concern is that legitimate suppliers, vendors, or holders of chemical and biological materials and precursor chemicals may be vulnerable to theft, illicit procurement, or manipulation, enabling malicious actors to develop or employ WMD capabilities. In other words, the opportunity is aimed at reducing both the immediate operational threat from drones and the longer-term strategic risk posed by insecure access to dual-use chemical and biological materials.

While the public synopsis does not lay out a detailed menu of activities, the description signals two main lines of effort: counter-UAS threat reduction and chemical/biological security improvements. On the UAS side, that typically implies support that strengthens the ability of relevant forces or institutions to detect, track, defend against, and respond to drone attacks, alongside training, procedures, and coordination mechanisms that reduce vulnerability to recurring UAS incidents. On the WMD side, the emphasis on "inadequate security practices" among legitimate material and precursor suppliers suggests projects focused on upgrading physical security, inventory controls, chain-of-custody practices, personnel reliability, secure storage, transport safeguards, compliance and oversight mechanisms, and awareness training for entities that produce, handle, or sell sensitive chemicals, biological materials, or related precursors. The overall intent is to make it harder for terrorists or other hostile actors to source materials, expertise, or access pathways that could be repurposed for WMD use, while also improving resilience against drone-enabled attacks.

The funding parameters indicate a relatively substantial program scale. The award ceiling is listed as USD 5,000,000, and the agency expects to make approximately five awards. Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants should generally anticipate more back-and-forth with the U.S. government on workplanning, monitoring, and reporting, and they should be prepared to demonstrate strong in-country implementation planning, risk management, and measurable outcomes tied to threat reduction. The opportunity was created on 2024-10-26, and the original closing date for applications is 2025-01-17.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizational types. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), foreign-based NGOs, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), public international organizations, foreign public organizations, U.S.-based private/public/state institutions of higher education, foreign-based institutions of higher education, and U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses. This wide eligibility suggests the government is open to technical implementers with specialized capabilities, including academic, research, operational, and private-sector entities that can deliver training, technical assistance, systems development, program management, or capacity building related to counter-UAS defenses and chemical/biological security.

In practical terms, this opportunity is aimed at organizations that can operate in Iraq or credibly partner with Iraqi stakeholders to reduce real-world risks: limiting terrorist and militia ability to use drones effectively, and closing gaps in the chemical and biological materials ecosystem that could be exploited to support WMD development or attacks. The program’s framing ties together near-term force protection concerns (UAS attacks) with broader nonproliferation and counter-WMD objectives (securing materials and precursors), reflecting a threat environment where hostile actors may combine emerging technologies with access to dual-use materials to increase impact.

• The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering WMD and UAS 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 2024-10-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-17. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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