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.Apply for DFOP0016991
- 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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FAQs: Countering WMD and UAS Threats in Iraq (DFOP0016991)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Countering WMD and UAS Threats in Iraq".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0016991.
Which U.S. government agency is administering this opportunity?
It is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
What type of award is being offered?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which means the U.S. government expects to have substantial involvement in shaping, overseeing, or coordinating the project during implementation.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 19.033.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to support practical threat-reduction work in Iraq focused on two connected risks: weapons of mass destruction (WMD) related risks (especially chemical and biological security gaps) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threats (drone attacks) that affect U.S., Iraqi, and partner security forces.
What problem is the program trying to address in Iraq?
The synopsis describes a security environment where terrorist and militia threats remain active, including ISIS and other groups still operating despite recent counterterrorism successes (including leadership losses noted in September and October 2024). It also highlights increasing UAS attacks attributed to Iran-backed militia groups and weak security practices in parts of the legitimate chemical and biological supply chain that could allow diversion or exploitation.
What does "counter-UAS threat reduction" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the synopsis, counter-UAS work is aimed at reducing the operational threat from drone attacks by strengthening the ability of relevant forces or institutions to detect, track, defend against, and respond to UAS incidents, along with support for training, procedures, and coordination mechanisms that reduce vulnerability.
What does the WMD-focused portion emphasize?
The WMD-related focus emphasizes addressing inadequate security practices among legitimate suppliers, vendors, or holders of chemical and biological materials and precursor chemicals. The intent is to reduce opportunities for theft, illicit procurement, diversion, or manipulation that could enable malicious actors to develop or employ WMD capabilities.
What kinds of chemical and biological security improvements are implied by the synopsis?
While the synopsis does not provide a fixed activity list, it points toward improvements such as physical security upgrades, inventory controls, chain-of-custody practices, personnel reliability measures, secure storage, transport safeguards, compliance and oversight mechanisms, and awareness training for entities handling sensitive chemicals, biological materials, or precursor chemicals.
Is the program focused more on immediate threats or long-term risk reduction?
It is framed to address both: near-term force protection concerns linked to UAS attacks and longer-term strategic risk reduction by tightening security around dual-use chemical and biological materials and precursors that could be exploited for WMD purposes.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the synopsis is USD 5,000,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency expects to make approximately five awards.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2024-10-26.
What is the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications is 2025-01-17.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The synopsis lists the following eligible applicant types:
- 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, and state institutions of higher education
- Foreign-based institutions of higher education
- U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses
Does an organization need to be a U.S. non-profit with 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. The synopsis explicitly includes U.S.-based NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status, and it also includes foreign NGOs, universities, for-profit organizations, and other entity types.
Is this opportunity limited to organizations based in the United States?
No. The eligibility list includes foreign-based NGOs, foreign public organizations, and foreign-based institutions of higher education.
What does the cooperative agreement structure mean for implementation and oversight?
It means applicants should expect active U.S. government involvement during implementation, including engagement on workplanning, oversight, coordination, monitoring, and reporting, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate because this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the synopsis, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate strong in-country implementation planning for Iraq, risk management, and measurable outcomes that are clearly tied to threat reduction in the UAS and chemical/biological security areas.
What geographic area is the program focused on?
The program is focused on Iraq.
What kinds of organizations are this opportunity most suited for?
The synopsis suggests it is suited for organizations that can operate in Iraq (or credibly partner with Iraqi stakeholders) and deliver technical or operational support related to counter-UAS defenses and chemical/biological security, including training, technical assistance, systems development, program management, or capacity building.
Why are legitimate chemical and biological suppliers mentioned in the synopsis?
The synopsis highlights that weak security practices in parts of the legitimate supply chain can create openings for diversion or exploitation. The concern is that legitimate vendors or holders of materials and precursors may be vulnerable to theft or illicit procurement, potentially enabling hostile actors to build or use WMD capabilities.
How does the opportunity connect UAS threats and WMD risk?
The framing ties together the growing operational threat of drone attacks with broader nonproliferation goals by focusing on reducing access to dual-use chemical and biological materials and precursors. The synopsis reflects concern that hostile actors may combine emerging technologies (like UAS) with access to sensitive materials to increase impact.
Are specific activities or deliverables mandated in the public synopsis?
No. The synopsis does not provide a detailed menu of required activities, but it signals two main lines of effort: counter-UAS threat reduction and chemical/biological security improvements.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The intended outcomes described in the synopsis are to make it harder for terrorists or hostile actors to use drones effectively and to close security gaps in chemical and biological materials handling so that materials, precursors, and access pathways are less likely to be exploited for WMD-related purposes.
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