Effectively Strengthening Safety and Security of Biological Research Globally | DFOP0017442

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017442

The grant opportunity titled "Effectively Strengthening Safety and Security of Biological Research Globally" is a discretionary funding program (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017442) run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. Its core purpose is to help other countries strengthen how they carry out their obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), with a practical focus on improving biosafety and biosecurity in biological research settings. Although the program is global in scope, it places priority on engagements involving Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while still leaving room to work beyond that list if it supports the program goals.

The funding is designed to build national-level capacity and infrastructure for effective BWC implementation. In real terms, this means helping governments and relevant institutions create or improve policies, oversight systems, and day-to-day practices that reduce biological risks. The opportunity emphasizes safer and more secure biological research through national policies and related measures, aligning with U.S. policy direction reflected in Executive Order 14292, "Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research." The underlying rationale is that stronger biosafety and biosecurity abroad reduces the chances of biological weapons proliferation and lowers the risk of laboratory incidents that could have international consequences, including potential harm to the United States and its citizens.

Program activities are intended to support concrete improvements such as developing national policies and standardized practices for the safe and secure operation of high-containment laboratories, strengthening oversight structures to promote responsible conduct of research, and applying data-informed best practices for biological risk management. The work is expected to be delivered primarily through workshops and trainings, suggesting a strong capacity-building approach that focuses on knowledge transfer, practical implementation guidance, and institutional strengthening rather than infrastructure construction or purely academic research. Overall, the program frames biosafety and biosecurity as both a nonproliferation objective and a public safety objective, aiming to prevent both deliberate misuse (biological weapons acquisition, development, or use) and accidental events (laboratory accidents).

In terms of funding details, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of USD 2,000,000 and anticipates making one award. The original closing date is 2025-08-11, and the opportunity was created on 2025-07-11. It is categorized under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 19.334, and the funding instrument type is labeled "Other," with activity category also listed as "Other," which often indicates the substance of the award will be defined by the specific program design and the applicant's proposed approach within the agency's guidelines.

Eligibility is broad and includes a mix of U.S. and non-U.S. entities that can credibly deliver international capacity-building work in biosafety, biosecurity, and nonproliferation implementation. Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit organizations and businesses; U.S.-based nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; foreign-based nonprofit organizations and NGOs; federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs); public international organizations (PIOs); foreign public entities (FPEs); and foreign-based institutions of higher education. This wide eligibility pool signals that the government is open to different implementation models, including technical NGOs, university-led training consortia, specialized contractors, and multilateral or government-affiliated implementers, as long as the proposed work directly supports stronger BWC implementation and measurable improvements in biosafety and biosecurity practices.

• The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effectively Strengthening Safety and Security of Biological Research Globally" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.334.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-11. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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