Deadline: 30-Jul-25
The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation has launched the call for applications to deny U.S. Adversaries access to Sensitive Nuclear, Missile, and Advanced Technical Expertise for Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs that Threaten America.
Goals and Objectives
- The goal of the Nonproliferation Scientist Engagement Program (NSEP) is to deny U.S. adversaries access to cutting-edge innovation and WMD-relevant scientific knowledge from foreign civilian STEs who are geographically displaced or otherwise rendered financially vulnerable for WMD programs that threaten the American homeland, American lives, American prosperity, and American leadership. In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), the program will fund activities that align with and advance one or more of the objectives below. Proposals should clearly indicate which of the objectives the work is intended to support.
- Rapid-delivery of knowledge security training
- Strengthening STE’s capacity to conduct knowledge security best practices to safeguard dual-use knowledge from inadvertent disclosure, protect their sensitive intellectual property, and implement individual cybersecurity best practices to mitigate the risk of online exploitation from proliferator states. This capacity-building may be conducted via virtual or hybrid formats in locations where STEs are clustered. Implementers will be responsible for leveraging their own networks to identify and conduct outreach to participants, participant registration, agenda and curriculum development and delivery, all logistical arrangements, event implementation, project monitoring and reporting to ISN/CTR. Cybersecurity-related capacity-building should be tailored to the needs of individual STEs; the NSEP does not fund work to strengthen the cybersecurity of CBRN institutes, materials, or facilities.
- Tailored Commercialization Support to seek U.S. Scientific Partnerships
- Matching scientists with U.S. private sector or other U.S. scientific partners in their fields to explore commercialization opportunities, while promoting know-your-collaborator best practices through temporary engagement for scientists’ technological matchmaking, market research, intellectual property protection, publications, presentations and travel support to conferences to meet potential U.S. partners, and other professional engagements that can occur in situ, without requiring participant relocation.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $6,000,000 Pending availability of funds
- Award amounts: Five (5) awards (dependent on amounts). Awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000.
Duration
- Length of performance period: 12-24 months.
Expected Outcomes
- NSEP expected outcomes include:
- STEs apply the knowledge and skills received in ISN/CTR-funded training on knowledge security, know-your-collaborator, and individual cybersecurity best practices to avoid U.S. adversary exploitation of their sensitive knowledge for WMD programs meant to hold American lives at risk.
- Civilian STEs with WMD-relevant expertise find U.S. commercial and scientific partners and collaborators as an alternative to exploitation by U.S. adversaries whose WMD programs threaten the American homeland.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses;
- U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with or without 501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code;
- U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education;
- foreign-based non-profit organizations/non-government organizations (NGO);
- Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs);
- Public International Organizations (PIO);
- Foreign Public Entities (FPE);
- and foreign-based institutions of higher education.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.