FIRST Program: Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation

Deadline: 31-Jan-23

The Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) is now seeking applications for Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the FIRST Program.

The Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), sponsors foreign assistance activities funded by the Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account, and focuses on mitigating weapons of mass destruction (WMD), related delivery systems, and advanced conventional weapons proliferation and security threats from proliferator states and non-state actors.

Program Objectives

ISN/CTR sponsors foreign assistance activities funded by the Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account, and focuses on mitigating proliferation and security risks from state and non-state actors.
In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), PNTR will fund activities that align with and support one or more of its four goals. Proposals should clearly indicate which of the four goals the work is intended to support.

PNTR Goals

Empower potential nuclear energy newcomer countries to prioritize nuclear security, nonproliferation, and safety considerations from the outset when evaluating civil nuclear reactor technologies, with an emphasis on SMRs and other advanced reactor designs.
Strengthen partner countries’ capacities to mitigate the nuclear security, proliferation, safety, liability, and sovereignty risks associated with aggressive deployment of early-to-market FNPPs by third countries.
Counter the strategic deployment of nuclear energy-related disinformation, with deleterious nuclear security, proliferation, and national security impacts, to vulnerable third countries.
Strengthen nuclear security practices and mitigate threats from radicalized or coerced personnel at sensitive nuclear facilities.

Priority Regions

FIRST prioritizes nuclear energy newcomer countries and, in some cases, current nuclear energy countries located primarily in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, and potentially the Middle East. The FNPP-focused programming is primarily focused on partner countries in South and Southeast Asia, littoral states in Africa, and potentially the Middle East. PNTR’s exploratory line of effort on nuclear energy disinformation is primarily focused on countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Priorities for PNTR in the nuclear security culture line of effort include South Africa, United Arab Emirates, India, and other South Asian states that leverage PNTR capacity-building to advance shared nuclear security and insider threat mitigation priorities. As a U.S. foreign assistance program authorized to deliver nonproliferation capacity-building abroad, PNTR does not fund projects intended to strengthen nuclear security of U.S. institutions, to promote the U.S. nuclear industry, or to train personnel in U.S.-based institutions.

Funding Information

Length of performance period: Twelve (12) Months
Number of awards anticipated: 30 awards (dependent on amounts)
Number of awards applications: 300
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000
Total available funding: $4,175,000