Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017236
The Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017236) is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, under CFDA 19.033. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the U.S. government expects to remain actively involved during the period of performance rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program is centered on the growing national security and foreign policy challenge posed by Russia and China using exports of advanced conventional weapons (often referred to as ACW systems) to generate revenue, expand political and military influence, and lock purchasing countries into long-term dependencies for maintenance, parts, upgrades, training, and doctrine.
The opportunity is motivated by two reinforcing trends. First, Russia and China are increasingly treating arms sales as a strategic tool, not just a commercial activity, to shape partners strategic choices and create leverage over their defense sectors. Second, real-world performance and supply realities are shifting how countries view these systems. Many states that already have ACW contracts are watching similar Russian systems being used in the war in Ukraine, while also dealing with the downstream effects of production constraints and supply chain shortages. In parallel, sanctions pressure has pushed Russia to rely more heavily on China for materials, technologies, and logistics that support Russias defense industrial base, especially for critical, high-priority items. That reliance is described as creating tighter, more durable collaboration networks between the two countries, which can further accelerate proliferation pathways and complicate efforts to disrupt them.
Funding is available with an award ceiling of $6,500,000, and the program anticipates making around 10 awards. The original closing date for applications is July 30, 2025, and the opportunity was created on May 30, 2025. While the notice text provided does not list specific project activities, the framing indicates the program is looking for efforts that help counter or reduce the spread and influence of Russian and Chinese advanced conventional weapons exports. In practical terms, projects under a program like this often include analytical work to map and understand procurement and supply networks, capacity-building with partner governments to strengthen export controls or procurement due diligence, initiatives that help countries assess risks tied to long-term sustainment dependencies, and other interventions designed to blunt malign influence and limit proliferation impacts. The cooperative agreement format also suggests selected implementers may coordinate closely with the Department of State on priorities, geographic focus, and deliverables as conditions evolve.
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit organizations and businesses; U.S.-based nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; foreign-based nonprofit/NGO organizations; 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 indicates the program is open to a mix of implementers, including research institutions, policy organizations, technical experts, and international bodies that can operate across borders and sectors to address ACW proliferation and the associated strategic dependencies.Apply for DFOP0017236
- The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.033.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-05-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-30. (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 $6,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017236.
3) Which U.S. government office is running this program?
This is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of State, specifically the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
4) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.033.
5) What type of award is expected (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the U.S. government expects to remain actively involved during the period of performance rather than only providing funding and stepping back.
6) What is the main purpose or focus of the program?
The program focuses on countering or reducing the spread and influence of Russian and Chinese exports of advanced conventional weapons (ACW systems). The framing emphasizes how these exports can generate revenue, expand political and military influence, and create long-term dependencies for purchasing countries (for maintenance, parts, upgrades, training, and doctrine).
7) Why is the U.S. government funding work in this area now?
The opportunity is motivated by two reinforcing trends described in the notice:
- Strategic use of arms sales: Russia and China are increasingly treating arms exports as a strategic tool to shape partners' strategic choices and build leverage over their defense sectors, rather than treating sales as purely commercial transactions.
- Shifting perceptions and supply realities: Many countries with existing ACW contracts are watching similar Russian systems being used in the war in Ukraine while also experiencing the downstream effects of production constraints and supply chain shortages.
8) How does Russia-China collaboration factor into this opportunity?
The notice describes how sanctions pressure has pushed Russia to rely more heavily on China for materials, technologies, and logistics supporting Russia's defense industrial base, especially for critical, high-priority items. This reliance is characterized as creating tighter, more durable collaboration networks that may accelerate proliferation pathways and make disruption efforts more difficult.
9) How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $6,500,000. (The notice text provided does not specify a minimum award amount.)
10) How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making around 10 awards.
11) Is this a discretionary funding program?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding program.
12) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is July 30, 2025.
13) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 30, 2025.
14) What kinds of activities or projects is the program looking to support?
The notice text provided does not list specific required project activities. However, based on the framing, the opportunity is looking for efforts that help counter or reduce the spread and influence of Russian and Chinese ACW exports. The description notes that projects under a program like this often include:
- Analytical work to map and understand procurement and supply networks
- Capacity-building with partner governments to strengthen export controls or procurement due diligence
- Initiatives that help countries assess risks tied to long-term sustainment dependencies (maintenance, parts, upgrades, training, doctrine)
- Other interventions designed to blunt malign influence and limit proliferation impacts
15) What does "advanced conventional weapons (ACW)" mean in this opportunity?
The notice refers to advanced conventional weapons as ACW systems and discusses them in the context of exports used to build influence and long-term defense-sector dependencies. (No additional technical definition is included in the text provided.)
16) Does the cooperative agreement structure affect how projects will be managed?
Yes. The cooperative agreement format suggests selected implementers may coordinate closely with the Department of State on priorities, geographic focus, and deliverables as conditions evolve, reflecting active U.S. government involvement during implementation.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. The eligible applicant types listed include:
- U.S. for-profit organizations and businesses
- U.S.-based nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education
- Foreign-based nonprofit/NGO organizations
- Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)
- Public International Organizations (PIOs)
- Foreign Public Entities (FPEs)
- Foreign-based institutions of higher education
18) Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply directly?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, Foreign Public Entities (FPEs), Public International Organizations (PIOs), and foreign-based institutions of higher education.
19) Are U.S. nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status?
No. U.S.-based nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations are listed as eligible with or without 501(c)(3) status.
20) Are universities and research institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education and foreign-based institutions of higher education. The eligibility list also includes FFRDCs, which often conduct research and analysis work.
21) Are for-profit entities eligible?
Yes. U.S. for-profit organizations and businesses are listed as eligible.
22) Does the opportunity specify particular countries or regions of focus?
The text provided does not list specific countries or regions. It notes that cooperative agreement recipients may coordinate closely with the Department of State on geographic focus as conditions evolve.
23) Does the opportunity describe why ACW exports create long-term dependencies?
Yes. It highlights dependencies related to maintenance, parts, upgrades, training, and doctrine, which can lock purchasing countries into long-term relationships and influence.
24) What is the broader policy challenge this opportunity is responding to?
The opportunity frames the issue as a growing national security and foreign policy challenge in which Russia and China use ACW exports to generate revenue, expand political and military influence, and create leverage over partner defense sectors through long-term sustainment and institutional dependencies.
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