Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0002111
The Department of State, through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), is seeking proposals for a cooperative agreement focused on "Mapping and Understanding Illicit Proliferation Networks" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0002111, CFDA 19.033). The core purpose is to strengthen the U.S. and international community's ability to spot, understand, and counter networks that support the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related controlled or dual-use items. The opportunity is rooted in the reality that both state and non-state actors can rely on complex external procurement channels and trade-based schemes to obtain restricted technology, materials, or financing, often by exploiting gaps in enforcement, weak controls, or opaque commercial structures.
The opportunity emphasizes that these procurement and trade networks operate in defiance of a broad set of global and national restrictions, including domestic export control laws, nonproliferation treaties, multilateral export control regimes, and international and national sanctions frameworks designed to curb WMD proliferation. It specifically highlights the role of UN Security Council Resolutions that obligate all states to prevent WMD proliferation, establish effective domestic controls to stop illicit trafficking of related materials, and restrict dealings with entities known to be involved in or facilitating prohibited trade. ISN/CTR is looking to improve its comprehensive understanding of how these illicit networks function in practice, how they adapt, and where the key vulnerabilities and indicators of proliferation activity may lie.
A central feature of the project is the systematic use of open-source information. The Department is seeking work that can gather and organize publicly available data relevant to proliferation-linked procurement and trade networks, then apply expert analysis to that data to identify proliferation concerns, suspicious patterns, and potential illicit technology transfers. The idea is that well-structured open-source collection and analysis can support proactive monitoring and enforcement by informing governments and partners about emerging methods, nodes, facilitators, and risk signals within procurement chains. The outputs are meant to be practical and policy-relevant, not just descriptive, and to contribute to future ISN/CTR capacity-building activities by helping shape where training, tools, partnerships, and interventions should be focused.
The stated objectives for the period of performance are threefold. First, the recipient is expected to gather publicly available data on proliferation and related trade networks, which can include information on entities, transactions, shipping routes, front companies, procurement agents, intermediaries, and other network components, as available through legitimate open sources. Second, the recipient must use subject matter experts to analyze that data, with the explicit goal of identifying proliferation concerns and illicit technology transfers, meaning the analysis should move beyond raw compilation into assessment, network mapping, and identification of concerning linkages or behaviors. Third, the recipient must produce a series of reports that include original data and can directly inform policy decisions and threat reduction activities, implying that deliverables should be structured, defensible, and usable by practitioners working on nonproliferation, sanctions implementation, export controls, and related enforcement or capacity-building work.
Administratively, this was posted as a discretionary funding opportunity with a cooperative agreement instrument type, under the Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation. The award ceiling listed is $400,000. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity was created on June 8, 2017, with an original closing date of July 10, 2017. Overall, the grant is best understood as funding for rigorous open-source data collection and expert-driven analytical reporting designed to illuminate how illicit proliferation procurement networks operate and to support targeted, real-world threat reduction and policy responses.Apply for SFOP0002111
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mapping and Understanding Illicit Proliferation Networks" 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 Jun 08, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2017. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the focus of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity supports a cooperative agreement project titled "Mapping and Understanding Illicit Proliferation Networks." The work is intended to strengthen the ability of the United States and international partners to detect, understand, and counter networks involved in the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related controlled or dual-use items.
Who is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0002111, and the CFDA number is 19.033.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates a funded assistance relationship where there may be substantial involvement by the federal agency in the project, consistent with the terms of the cooperative agreement.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The listed award ceiling is $400,000.
Is eligibility limited to certain types of organizations?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may be included in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on June 8, 2017, and the original closing date was July 10, 2017.
Why is the Department of State interested in this work?
The opportunity is based on the reality that both state and non-state actors can use complex procurement channels and trade-based schemes to acquire restricted technology, materials, or financing. These networks may exploit weak controls, enforcement gaps, and opaque commercial structures. ISN/CTR is seeking a more comprehensive understanding of how these networks operate, adapt, and where vulnerabilities and indicators of proliferation-related activity exist.
What kinds of illicit activity are being addressed?
The project targets networks that support proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related controlled or dual-use items. The description notes that these networks can involve external procurement channels, trade-based schemes, and the use of intermediaries or opaque commercial structures to obtain restricted items or financing.
How does this opportunity relate to international and national restrictions?
The opportunity emphasizes that illicit procurement and trade networks operate in defiance of domestic export control laws, nonproliferation treaties, multilateral export control regimes, and international and national sanctions frameworks. It also highlights UN Security Council Resolutions obligating states to prevent WMD proliferation, establish effective domestic controls, and restrict dealings with entities involved in prohibited trade.
What is the role of open-source information in this project?
Open-source information is a central feature. The project is expected to systematically gather and organize publicly available data relevant to proliferation-linked procurement and trade networks, and then apply expert analysis to identify proliferation concerns, suspicious patterns, and potential illicit technology transfers.
What are the main objectives during the period of performance?
The stated objectives include: (1) collecting publicly available data on proliferation and related trade networks; (2) using subject matter experts to analyze the collected data to identify proliferation concerns and illicit technology transfers; and (3) producing a series of reports that include original data and can directly inform policy decisions and threat reduction activities.
What types of data might be collected using open sources?
The opportunity describes collecting publicly available information on components of procurement and trade networks, which can include entities, transactions, shipping routes, front companies, procurement agents, intermediaries, and other network components, as available through legitimate open sources.
What does the analysis component need to include?
The analysis must go beyond compiling information. The opportunity calls for subject matter experts to assess the data, conduct network mapping, and identify concerning linkages or behaviors tied to proliferation concerns and potential illicit technology transfers.
What deliverables are expected from the recipient?
The recipient is expected to produce a series of reports that include original data. The reports should be structured and usable by decision-makers and practitioners, with the intent of informing policy decisions and threat reduction activities.
Are the expected outputs meant to be purely descriptive research?
No. The opportunity states that outputs are meant to be practical and policy-relevant, not merely descriptive. The work should support proactive monitoring and enforcement by identifying methods, nodes, facilitators, and risk signals within procurement chains.
How will the work support ISN/CTR beyond the reports themselves?
The outputs are intended to contribute to future ISN/CTR capacity-building activities by helping shape where training, tools, partnerships, and interventions should be focused.
What are "illicit proliferation networks" in the context of this project?
In this context, illicit proliferation networks refer to procurement and trade-linked networks that enable actors to acquire restricted WMD-related items, technology, or financing, often through intermediaries, front companies, or trade-based schemes that attempt to evade export controls and sanctions.
What kinds of indicators or vulnerabilities is the Department looking to identify?
The opportunity indicates an interest in identifying key vulnerabilities and indicators of proliferation activity within procurement and trade networks, including suspicious patterns, network nodes, facilitators, and risk signals that could support monitoring and enforcement.
Which government bureau is associated with this posting?
The posting is under the Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. It was posted as a discretionary funding opportunity.
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