Countering Biological Weapons Threats | DFOP0017244

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Countering Biological Weapons Threats (DFOP0017244)

What is this grant opportunity?

"Countering Biological Weapons Threats" (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017244) is a U.S. government discretionary grant opportunity awarded under a cooperative agreement. It is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), through the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP).

Which U.S. government office is running this program?

The opportunity is managed by the Department of State's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), specifically through ISN/CTR's Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP).

What is the main purpose of the funding?

The funding supports projects that strengthen biosecurity and biosafety capacity in partner countries to reduce the likelihood that hostile actors can develop, acquire, or use biological weapons against the United States and its interests.

How is the program framed at a policy level?

The program is framed around the Executive Order on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research. It emphasizes two goals at the same time: reducing the risk of catastrophic biological incidents while still supporting preparedness against biological threats and sustaining U.S. leadership in biotechnology, countermeasures, biosecurity, and health research.

Is this focused only on traditional laboratory safety upgrades?

No. The description explicitly notes that BEP's focus is not limited to "lab safety" improvements. The opportunity highlights a broader set of protections, including safeguarding U.S.-linked biotechnologies, sensitive research data, and intellectual property (IP), and reducing vulnerabilities that could be exploited by U.S. adversaries.

What kinds of risks or threats is the program trying to reduce?

The opportunity targets risks associated with malicious activity and dual-use concerns, including the theft, coercion, exploitation, or misuse of sensitive biological materials, advanced biological capabilities, valuable datasets, and IP in partner-country environments.

How does cybersecurity fit into a biosecurity grant like this?

The opportunity indicates that competitive projects will likely include cybersecurity for laboratories and repositories, along with protection of sensitive data and IP. This reflects an integrated view of biosecurity that includes information security alongside physical and operational controls.

What does the opportunity suggest about what makes a proposal competitive?

Based on the description, strong proposals are likely to integrate multiple dimensions of security and responsible practice, such as physical security, operational biosafety, information security, and responsible research practices. The text also signals competitiveness where advanced biological capabilities or valuable datasets could be targeted for theft, coercion, or misuse.

Does the opportunity connect biosecurity work to strategic or economic competition?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly connects biosecurity engagement to economic and strategic competition. It references private sector engagement to reinforce U.S. leadership in global biotechnology markets and describes an intent to "outcompete China" by promoting adoption of U.S.-aligned laboratory security, safety, and cybersecurity standards.

What kinds of activities or focus areas does the opportunity imply may be supported?

The description signals that projects may address partner-country needs related to laboratory security and resilience, biosafety and biosecurity governance, cybersecurity for labs and repositories, protection of sensitive data and intellectual property, and strengthening professional networks and standards that reduce biological weapons risk and raise the baseline of responsible biological research.

Who are the intended partners or counterpart organizations for engagement?

The opportunity anticipates working with a broad set of partners across the research and innovation pipeline, including biological and biotechnology laboratories, universities and other higher education institutions, bio- and data repositories, national academies or science and technology organizations, foreign government entities, professional biosafety associations, and private industry.

What is meant by building "durable capabilities" in partner countries?

The overall intent is to establish lasting capabilities, policies, and practices that help partner countries detect and deter malicious activity, manage dual-use risks, secure sensitive materials and data, and resist predatory or exploitative approaches by adversarial states or networks.

What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered under a cooperative agreement (as opposed to a standard grant). The description indicates applicants should anticipate substantial involvement by the U.S. government in shaping or coordinating elements of project implementation, milestones, and oversight.

What does "substantial involvement" mean for applicants in practice?

Based on the opportunity description, applicants should expect the U.S. government to play an active role in coordinating or shaping aspects of implementation, including milestones and oversight. This is consistent with the cooperative agreement instrument described in the opportunity summary.

What is the maximum funding amount per award?

The award ceiling is $5,000,000 per award.

How many awards does the program expect to make?

The opportunity states an expectation of around 10 awards.

What is the application deadline?

The closing date listed is July 30, 2025.

What Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is associated with this opportunity?

The assistance listing references CFDA (now commonly referred to as an Assistance Listing) 19.033, aligning with State Department nonproliferation and threat reduction programming.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. The opportunity lists the following as eligible applicants: U.S. for-profit businesses; U.S.-based nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); U.S. private, public, and state institutions of higher education; foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs; federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs); public international organizations (PIOs); foreign public entities (FPEs); and foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, public international organizations, foreign public entities, and foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Are U.S. for-profit companies eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. for-profit businesses are explicitly included in the eligibility list.

Do U.S. nonprofits need 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?

No. The opportunity states that U.S.-based nonprofits are eligible with or without 501(c)(3) status.

Are universities and higher education institutions eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. private/public/state institutions of higher education as well as foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Why is eligibility so broad for this program?

The description explains that the wide eligibility reflects the program's emphasis on real-world implementation capacity and on bringing together technical expertise, institutional access, and cross-border partnerships to harden the global biosecurity environment in ways that advance U.S. national security and economic interests.

What outcomes is BEP trying to achieve through these projects?

The opportunity emphasizes outcomes such as strengthening detection and deterrence of malicious activity, improving management of dual-use risks, securing sensitive materials and data, protecting U.S.-linked technologies and IP, and reinforcing standards and professional networks that reduce biological weapons risk.

Does the opportunity emphasize protecting intellectual property (IP) and sensitive research data?

Yes. A major theme is safeguarding U.S.-linked biotechnologies, sensitive research data, and intellectual property, and reducing vulnerabilities to exploitation by U.S. adversaries.

Does the opportunity emphasize private sector engagement?

Yes. The opportunity references reinforcing U.S. leadership in global biotechnology markets through private sector engagement, alongside promotion of U.S.-aligned security, safety, and cybersecurity standards.

What kinds of organizations might be involved as counterparts in partner countries?

The opportunity lists potential counterparts such as laboratories, universities, repositories (bio- and data repositories), national academies, science and technology organizations, foreign government entities, professional biosafety associations, and private industry.