Fellowship for Afghan Chemical and Biological Experts in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects | SFOP0009255

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009255

The Fellowship for Afghan Chemical and Biological Experts in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, specifically its Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF). The program is built around one-year fellowships for up to five Afghan chemical and biological subject-matter experts who previously worked as U.S. Government partners and were employed either by the former Afghan government or within chemical/biological industry or academia. The basic idea is to place these specialists in a structured fellowship environment where their knowledge can be used in a controlled, security-focused way to strengthen U.S. nonproliferation efforts related to Afghanistan.

The core objective is practical: support U.S. efforts to prevent Afghanistan-based terrorist groups from getting access, through foreign suppliers, to materials and equipment that could be turned into chemical or biological weapons capabilities. The solicitation emphasizes several categories of concern. On the chemical side, it references weaponizable chemical agent precursors, including precursors that could be used to generate rudimentary or toxic gases, as well as other threat-material precursor classes. On the biological side, it highlights biological agents, including highly infectious endemic diseases and, in particular, samples of especially dangerous pathogens. It also focuses on dual-use equipment, meaning items that have legitimate civilian or research purposes but could also be repurposed for harmful applications. Examples provided include laboratory equipment and dissemination-related devices such as agricultural sprayer systems, other sprayers, and fermenters. The fellowships are intended to help U.S. programs identify, understand, and disrupt pathways by which these materials, pathogens, or tools could be sourced and moved.

The fellowships are expected to provide support in forms such as research, guidance, training, and related professional activities aligned with U.S. security and nonproliferation priorities. While the announcement does not spell out specific workplans in the summary text, the framing implies that fellows would contribute specialized regional and technical insight, help assess procurement or trafficking risks, support analytical work tied to supply chain and foreign supplier networks, and strengthen the knowledge base needed to prevent diversion of dual-use materials and equipment. The program is therefore less about broad academic research and more about targeted, applied work that improves the U.S. Government's ability to block access to sensitive chemical/biological precursors, biological samples, and enabling equipment.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant (not a contract) under Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009255, with the activity category listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The CFDA/assistance listing number is 19.224. The total funding parameters in the notice include an award ceiling of $800,000, and the Department anticipates making up to five awards. The opportunity was posted on November 10, 2022, with an original application closing date of January 10, 2023. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), meaning the Department is looking for capable nonprofit implementers that can manage fellowships, provide oversight and support structures, and handle the operational, administrative, and compliance responsibilities that come with hosting or running a security-relevant fellowship program.

The notice points applicants to the full solicitation materials hosted on SAMS Domestic for complete application instructions, which is where the detailed requirements would typically appear, such as the expected program design, deliverables, reporting, budget rules, security or vetting expectations, monitoring and evaluation, and any coordination requirements with the Department of State. In short, the opportunity funds nonprofit-run, one-year fellowships for a small cohort of vetted Afghan experts, with the explicit national security purpose of helping the United States and its partners reduce the risk that terrorists can obtain chemical and biological weapon precursors, dangerous pathogens or samples, and dual-use equipment through external supply channels.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fellowship for Afghan Chemical and Biological Experts in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.224.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 10, 2023. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for SFOP0009255

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