Global Chemical Security Engagement Activities | S ISNCT 18 005

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Global Chemical Security Engagement Activities

1) What is the Global Chemical Security Engagement Activities opportunity?

Global Chemical Security Engagement Activities is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR). It supports the Chemical Security Program (CSP) to help reduce the risk of chemical weapons use by terrorists and proliferant states by strengthening partner countries' ability to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to chemical attack threats.

2) What is the main purpose of this funding call?

The overall purpose is risk reduction: helping partner countries reduce the likelihood and impact of chemical attacks by building practical, sustainable chemical security capacity (not just one-time trainings or isolated equipment purchases).

3) What kinds of chemical threats does the program focus on?

The program addresses the full spectrum of chemical threats, ranging from crude improvised chemical weapons to more sophisticated chemical agents that may be used in conflict settings.

4) Is this considered foreign assistance, and what account funds it?

Yes. The program is positioned as foreign assistance funded through the NADR account.

5) Which regions and countries are prioritized?

The notice emphasizes frontline states and higher-risk regions where terrorist threats are increasing, including parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

6) What are the four core goals of the Chemical Security Program (CSP) that projects should fit under?

Proposed projects are expected to align with one or more of CSP's four core goals:

• Strengthen partner governments' ability to disrupt chemical attacks.
• Prevent chemical attacks by raising awareness and expanding adoption of threat-mitigation best practices.
• Secure chemical weapons-related assets across the chemical supply chain.
• Develop innovative strategies and explore new tools to keep pace with evolving chemical weapons threats.

7) What does "disrupt chemical attacks" mean in this notice?

Activities under this goal include improving national and facility-level oversight policies and programs, building operational readiness through training and (where appropriate) equipping relevant entities, and improving coordination among government agencies and key communities (such as law enforcement, technical specialists, medical personnel, and first responders) to strengthen detection and investigation of chemical attack plotting.

8) What types of activities are included under the prevention goal?

Prevention activities include raising awareness of chemical threats and expanding adoption of threat-mitigation best practices. Examples include promoting chemical security norms and management standards such as responsible use policies, employee vetting approaches, and know-your-customer style practices to reduce diversion or misuse.

9) Does the program support work related to international obligations like the Chemical Weapons Convention?

Yes. The notice specifically highlights efforts that help partner countries understand and comply with key international obligations and frameworks, including the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 1540.

10) Does the notice encourage sustainability and local ownership?

Yes. The emphasis is on practical, sustainable improvements. Proposals that build local ownership and continuity, including train-the-trainer models designed for long-term sustainability, are explicitly encouraged.

11) What does "secure chemical weapons-related assets across the chemical supply chain" include?

This goal includes training to identify and close physical and procedural security gaps, including use of facility-appropriate vulnerability assessment methodologies. It also includes countering exploitation by terrorist networks through measures such as insider threat mitigation and specialized security force training.

12) Can projects include physical security upgrades at facilities?

Yes. The notice states CSP may support targeted physical security upgrades intended to prevent unauthorized access to dangerous chemicals, equipment, or expertise, including rapid upgrades for high-risk materials and facilities and measures tied to safe neutralization protocols where relevant.

13) Is there a particular focus on precursor chemicals used to produce nerve agents?

Yes. A notable emphasis is on developing sustainable controls over precursor chemicals that could be used to produce nerve agents such as sarin and VX, reflecting a focus on upstream prevention.

14) What kinds of "innovative strategies" or "new tools" does CSP want to explore?

The notice points to proposals addressing emerging and complex challenges, such as mapping laboratories and industrial sites that possess dangerous precursors to improve situational awareness and prioritization.

15) Does the opportunity mention rapid train-and-equip efforts?

Yes. The notice calls out rapid train-and-equip efforts that can reduce casualties, including support for chemical weapons detection devices and incident command systems to strengthen response posture, with an explicit reference to countering ISIS-related threats.

16) Does the program address insider threats?

Yes. Insider threat mitigation appears in multiple places, including specialized security training and advanced insider threat training for law enforcement, industry staff, and university officials to help them recognize warning signs such as potential radicalization and other indicators of elevated risk.

17) What type of award is this?

The opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.

18) What does a "cooperative agreement" imply for project implementation?

A cooperative agreement implies substantive engagement and coordination with the U.S. government during implementation, rather than a fully hands-off grant.

19) Is there a preferred project budget size?

Yes. ISN/CTR expresses a cost preference and generally favors projects under $250,000.

20) Can the total funding exceed $250,000?

Potentially, yes. The notice indicates awards could involve multiple projects whose combined total exceeds $250,000, even though the general preference is for projects under $250,000.

21) How are proposals expected to be evaluated in terms of cost?

Selection is framed around efficiently meeting the notice and program goals at the lowest technically acceptable cost. Lean, targeted proposals clearly tied to measurable risk reduction are likely to be more competitive than broad or overly ambitious designs.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities, including not-for-profit organizations, public or private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, and public international organizations.

23) Who are the intended stakeholders or beneficiaries?

Stakeholders and intended beneficiaries include government ministries and regulators with chemical oversight responsibilities, law enforcement and security services, university and research chemical departments, industrial facilities that manufacture or handle weaponizable chemicals and precursors, relevant professional or industry associations, and international organizations with complementary missions in WMD prevention and chemical management.

24) How and where are applications submitted?

Applications are submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and applicants are directed to follow the full instructions in the notice of funding opportunity and related materials.

25) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number listed?

The Funding Opportunity Number is S-ISNCT-18-005, and the CFDA number is 19.033.

26) Which U.S. government office issued the opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation (ISN), under the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR).

27) What was the closing date listed for the referenced notice?

The original closing date listed for the specific FY2018 notice was January 19, 2018.

28) What is the program trying to avoid in terms of project design?

The notice emphasizes sustainable capacity improvements rather than one-time trainings or purchases, and it suggests that broad or overly ambitious designs may be less competitive than lean, targeted projects tied to measurable risk reduction.