Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010103
The Fellowship for Counter Smuggling in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0010103) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, specifically through the Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF). The program is designed to place up to five one-year fellows who are former Afghan partners of the U.S. Government. These individuals previously worked for the Afghan government on efforts to prevent the smuggling of nuclear or radiological materials, and they have since relocated to the United States under Department of State and/or Department of Homeland Security immigration pathways such as refugee status, humanitarian parole, Priority-1, or Priority-2, with work authorization pursued as part of that transition.
The core purpose of the grant is to fund host organizations that can employ these fellows full-time (40 hours per week) in roles directly connected to counter nuclear smuggling and related security missions. The Department of State is looking for fellows with relevant backgrounds in law enforcement or security fields tied to counter nuclear smuggling, export controls, or border security. A key requirement is that the fellows must lead or participate in projects or activities that are new and not already funded by the U.S. Government, meaning applicants need to show that the fellowship work will expand capacity or address gaps rather than duplicate existing federally supported efforts.
Selection and matching of fellows is not left solely to the applicant organization. Instead, an interagency planning and assignment panel will identify the candidates and collaborate with the grant recipient(s) to align each fellow's expertise with the host organization's needs and proposed activities. The opportunity is flexible in terms of how many fellows a single organization may support: proposals may request to host anywhere from one to all five fellows, and applications will not be penalized if they propose fewer than five. The fellowship structure can also be in-person, virtual, or hybrid, allowing organizations to tailor supervision and work plans to operational realities while still meeting the full-time engagement expectation.
Applicants must make a clear, detailed case for how they will employ the fellow(s) in substantive counter-smuggling or nonproliferation-related work for the full work week, how that work advances U.S. Government nonproliferation and security objectives, and exactly how grant funds will be used to support the fellowship(s). In practical terms, the strongest proposals would be expected to describe specific deliverables and activities (for example, developing or improving export control compliance approaches, supporting border or interdiction capacity-building concepts, contributing to nuclear security outreach and training materials, conducting threat and network analysis related to illicit trafficking, or building partnerships and information-sharing practices) while staying within the requirement that the activities are new and not already supported by U.S. Government funding.
Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $400,000, with the opportunity anticipating a single award (Expected Awards: 1). Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The opportunity falls under CFDA 19.224. The posting lists a creation date of October 26, 2023, and an original closing date of January 10, 2024.Apply for SFOP0010103
- 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 "Fellowship for Counter Smuggling in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.224.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 10, 2024. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled the "Fellowship for Counter Smuggling in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0010103.
Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), through the Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF).
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program funds host organizations to employ up to five one-year fellows full-time in roles directly connected to counter nuclear smuggling and related security and nonproliferation missions, in support of U.S. Government objectives.
Who are the fellows intended to be?
The fellows are intended to be former Afghan partners of the U.S. Government who previously worked for the Afghan government on efforts to prevent smuggling of nuclear or radiological materials.
Where are the fellows currently located?
The fellows have relocated to the United States under Department of State and/or Department of Homeland Security immigration pathways.
Which immigration pathways are mentioned for eligible fellows?
The opportunity references refugee status, humanitarian parole, Priority-1, and Priority-2 pathways.
Is work authorization addressed for fellows?
Yes. The description indicates work authorization is pursued as part of the fellows' transition to the United States.
How many fellows can be supported under this program?
The program is designed to place up to five fellows total.
How long is each fellowship placement?
Each fellowship is planned to be one year.
What is the expected work schedule for fellows?
Host organizations must employ fellows full-time, defined as 40 hours per week.
What types of backgrounds is the Department of State seeking in fellows?
The Department of State is looking for fellows with relevant backgrounds in law enforcement or security fields tied to counter nuclear smuggling, export controls, or border security.
What kinds of activities should fellows work on?
Fellows must lead or participate in substantive work directly connected to counter nuclear smuggling and related security missions, advancing U.S. Government nonproliferation and security objectives.
Do fellowship activities need to be new?
Yes. A key requirement is that the fellows must lead or participate in projects or activities that are new and not already funded by the U.S. Government. The intent is to expand capacity or address gaps rather than duplicate existing federally supported efforts.
Can an organization propose activities that are already supported by U.S. Government funding?
No. The fellowship work must not duplicate activities already funded by the U.S. Government. Applicants are expected to show how the proposed work expands capacity or addresses unmet needs.
Who selects the fellows?
An interagency planning and assignment panel identifies the candidates and collaborates with the grant recipient(s) to align each fellow's expertise with the host organization's needs and proposed activities.
Does the applicant organization get to pick specific individuals as fellows?
The selection and matching process is not left solely to the applicant. Candidate identification is handled by an interagency planning and assignment panel, which then collaborates with the recipient(s) on alignment and placement.
How many fellows can a single host organization propose to support?
Proposals may request to host anywhere from one to all five fellows.
Will an application be penalized for proposing fewer than five fellows?
No. Applications will not be penalized if they propose fewer than five fellows.
Are fellowships required to be in-person?
No. The fellowship structure can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid.
Even if the fellowship is virtual or hybrid, is full-time engagement still expected?
Yes. The structure can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid, but the expectation remains full-time engagement (40 hours per week).
What should applicants include in a strong proposal?
Applicants should make a clear, detailed case for (1) how they will employ the fellow(s) in substantive counter-smuggling or nonproliferation-related work for the full work week, (2) how the work advances U.S. Government nonproliferation and security objectives, and (3) exactly how grant funds will be used to support the fellowship(s). Strong proposals are expected to describe specific deliverables and activities while meeting the requirement that the activities are new and not already supported by U.S. Government funding.
What are examples of deliverables or activities mentioned for fellows?
Examples include developing or improving export control compliance approaches; supporting border or interdiction capacity-building concepts; contributing to nuclear security outreach and training materials; conducting threat and network analysis related to illicit trafficking; and building partnerships and information-sharing practices.
What is the maximum amount of funding available?
The award ceiling is $400,000.
How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
No. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from eligibility.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.224.
When was this opportunity created/posted?
The posting lists a creation date of October 26, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was January 10, 2024.
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