Global Biosecurity Engagement Activities | S ISNCT 18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for S ISNCT 18 002

The Global Biosecurity Engagement Activities opportunity is a U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement run through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), specifically its Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR). The funding comes from the Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account and sits within the Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP), which is part of the Global Threat Reduction (GTR) portfolio. The core purpose is to reduce biological risks in regions where instability and terrorism concerns heighten the chance of dangerous pathogens being stolen, mishandled, or deliberately misused, while also strengthening the systems that prevent and respond to outbreaks.

BEPs mission centers on institutionalizing practical, sustainable biorisk management and biosecurity norms. In plain terms, that means helping countries and institutions build lasting habits, policies, and capabilities that keep laboratories safe, secure, and responsibly managed. The program emphasizes securing life science institutions and dangerous pathogens, lowering the risk that scientists with dual-use expertise could apply their skills toward harmful ends, and reinforcing international commitments that support U.S. biological nonproliferation objectives. The opportunity explicitly links this work to major international frameworks and standards, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, the Biological Weapons Convention, the World Health Organizations International Health Regulations, and relevant CEN/ISO standards, signaling that projects should align with recognized global requirements and best practices rather than ad hoc approaches.

Activities supported under the grant are organized around three main pillars. The first pillar focuses on laboratory biosecurity and biosafety improvements through technical consultations, on-site or institutional risk assessments, and training courses that build local expertise and a culture of responsible laboratory practice. This pillar also extends beyond laboratories by supporting training for foreign law enforcement and security services on how to detect, investigate, and disrupt potential bioterrorism plots, reflecting the idea that biosecurity is not only a scientific issue but also a public safety and national security concern. The second pillar targets infectious disease detection and control, including strengthening public health and veterinary systems so they can safely and effectively detect, report, and contain outbreaks. The third pillar supports scientific engagement and collaboration, aiming to build safe, secure, and sustainable bioscience capacity through joint projects that improve prevention, detection, and response to biological threats while encouraging responsible research conduct.

By the end of the performance period, recipients are expected to have developed and implemented one or more projects that measurably advance BEPs goals. The stated objectives include promoting biorisk management practices, improving security for life science institutions and high-consequence pathogens in priority regions, reducing the likelihood of misuse by individuals with dual-use expertise, and strengthening capabilities to detect, disrupt, mitigate, and investigate bioterrorism activity. Another explicit objective is engaging non-scientific stakeholders, such as policymakers, law enforcement, military, and diplomatic audiences, to broaden ownership of biorisk management and ensure reforms are supported outside the lab. Recipients are also expected to encourage adoption of and compliance with the international frameworks mentioned above, which often translates into policy support, implementation planning, capacity building, and practical steps that demonstrate alignment with treaty obligations and global norms.

Although the program is described as global in scope, it directs resources toward specific priority countries to maximize impact. For the referenced fiscal year, the highest priority countries are Iraq, Turkey, and Yemen, with a second tier that includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Somalia, and Tunisia. Proposals involving other countries can still be considered, including examples like Ukraine, and additional countries across the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. In practice, this means applicants are more competitive when they clearly justify why a proposed country or region fits BEPs risk-reduction goals and when they show a credible pathway to sustained impact in that environment.

The opportunity provides examples of fundable project types rather than an exhaustive list. Competitive proposals may include biorisk management consultations, biosafety and biosecurity training programs, and risk assessments; efforts to secure institutions and pathogen holdings; initiatives that address insider threat and dual-use risk awareness; and programs that improve the ability of security and investigative services to handle bioterrorism-related threats. Proposals can also focus on strengthening public and animal health surveillance and response systems to manage outbreaks safely and responsibly, as well as joint scientific collaborations that improve preparedness while reinforcing safe and secure research practices. Across these categories, the program repeatedly signals a preference for long-term sustainability, suggesting that training-of-trainers models, institutional policy adoption, durable partnerships, and locally owned maintenance plans are likely to be viewed favorably.

Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, and public international organizations. Awards are capped at $500,000 per project, with the option for larger total awards when multiple projects are bundled together, indicating that applicants can propose either a single focused activity or a coordinated package of related activities, so long as the overall design advances the BEP mission and can be managed effectively.

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and the notice emphasizes reviewing all materials in the related documents section to follow the full requirements. The opportunity is issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement or collaboration from the U.S. government during implementation compared to a standard grant. Key listing details include the funding opportunity number (S-ISNCT-18-002), CFDA number 19.033, the administering bureau (International Security and Nonproliferation), and the original closing date of January 19, 2018.

• The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Biosecurity Engagement Activities" 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 2017-11-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-19. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for S ISNCT 18 002

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: