Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017248
The grant opportunity titled "Preventing U.S. Adversaries' Access to Critical Technologies and Exploitation of Scientific and Commercial Facilities for Military Advancement" is a U.S. Department of State effort, managed by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, focused on reducing the risk that hostile foreign actors gain access to sensitive, advanced, or emerging technologies and then use them to strengthen military capabilities, support weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, or improve advanced conventional weapons. The central concern is that U.S. adversaries, explicitly including China, actively seek technologies, know-how, and talent that can be diverted from legitimate commercial or academic use into military applications. The opportunity frames this problem as both a technology protection challenge and a broader security challenge involving the misuse of commercial and scientific infrastructure.
A key theme is the "dual-use" nature of many modern technologies. The description highlights that many governments, research institutions, companies, and start-up ecosystems outside the United States may not fully recognize how certain innovations can be repurposed for military end uses, making them vulnerable to theft, improper transfers, and exploitation. The program calls out semiconductors as a clear example: while they are essential building blocks of everyday electronics, they are also a foundational input for military systems, WMD-related development, delivery systems, and enabling technologies with dual-use potential such as artificial intelligence. In practical terms, this opportunity is aimed at efforts that help partners recognize these risks earlier, reduce exposure of sensitive data and intellectual property, and strengthen safeguards around technology development and collaboration.
Beyond technology acquisition, the opportunity also addresses how adversaries exploit commercial and scientific facilities, training centers, and even maritime domains ("the seas") to conduct illegal military operations. This signals an interest in projects that go beyond purely cyber or IP protection and into operational security, compliance, and detection of covert or illicit activity that leverages legitimate venues. While the notice does not list specific project types in the provided text, the problem statement strongly implies activities like awareness-building, training, best-practice implementation, risk assessments, and capacity building that make institutions and industries harder to exploit for military advancement.
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the government expects substantial involvement during project performance (for example, collaboration on planning, deliverables, or coordination with other initiatives). The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017248, and the associated CFDA number is 19.033. The opportunity was created on 2025-05-30, and the original application closing date is 2025-07-30.
Funding parameters indicate up to 10 expected awards, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award. The activity category is listed as "Other," which often reflects cross-cutting national security and nonproliferation programming that does not fit neatly into a single standard category.
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses; U.S.-based nonprofits/NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status; U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; foreign-based nonprofits/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 aligns with the international nature of the risk described in the notice, since vulnerabilities in overseas research ecosystems, technology hubs, and commercial facilities can be leveraged by adversaries to reach U.S. national security-relevant outcomes.
Overall, the opportunity is designed to fund practical, cooperative projects that reduce adversaries' ability to acquire or exploit sensitive technologies, data, intellectual property, expertise, and facilities for military modernization or WMD-related ends, with particular attention to dual-use sectors like semiconductors and AI and to the exploitation of legitimate commercial and scientific environments for illicit military activity.Apply for DFOP0017248
- The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Preventing U.S. Adversaries’ Access to Critical Technologies and Exploitation of Scientific and Commercial Facilities for Military Advancement" 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 $1,000,000.00 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 title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Preventing U.S. Adversaries' Access to Critical Technologies and Exploitation of Scientific and Commercial Facilities for Military Advancement."
2) Which U.S. government agency is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of State effort, managed by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
3) What problem is this opportunity trying to address?
The program focuses on reducing the risk that hostile foreign actors gain access to sensitive, advanced, or emerging technologies and then use them to strengthen military capabilities, support weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, or improve advanced conventional weapons.
4) Which adversaries are specifically mentioned?
The description explicitly includes China as an example of a U.S. adversary actively seeking technology, know-how, and talent that can be diverted from legitimate commercial or academic use into military applications.
5) What does the opportunity mean by "dual-use" technology?
"Dual-use" refers to technologies that have legitimate commercial or academic applications but can also be repurposed for military end uses. The opportunity emphasizes that many institutions and companies outside the United States may not fully recognize how innovations can be diverted into military applications, increasing vulnerability to theft, improper transfers, and exploitation.
6) Why are semiconductors highlighted in the description?
Semiconductors are presented as a clear example of dual-use risk. They are foundational components of everyday electronics, but also key inputs for military systems and WMD-related development and delivery systems. They are also described as enabling technologies for other dual-use capabilities, such as artificial intelligence.
7) What kinds of outcomes is the program aiming for?
Based on the description, the program aims to help partners recognize technology protection risks earlier, reduce exposure of sensitive data and intellectual property, and strengthen safeguards around technology development and collaboration so that adversaries have fewer opportunities to exploit these ecosystems.
8) Is this opportunity only about cybersecurity or protecting intellectual property?
No. While protection of sensitive data and intellectual property is part of the risk described, the opportunity also addresses adversaries exploiting commercial and scientific facilities, training centers, and maritime domains ("the seas") to conduct illegal military operations. This suggests a wider focus that can include operational security, compliance, and detection of covert or illicit activity that leverages legitimate venues.
9) What types of projects does the notice suggest (based on the problem statement)?
The provided text does not list specific project types. However, the problem statement strongly implies activities such as awareness-building, training, best-practice implementation, risk assessments, and capacity building to make institutions and industries harder to exploit for military advancement.
10) What funding instrument will be used?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement.
11) What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
A Cooperative Agreement typically means the government expects substantial involvement during project performance. The description gives examples such as collaboration on planning, deliverables, or coordination with other initiatives.
12) How many awards are expected?
The funding parameters indicate up to 10 expected awards.
13) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017248.
15) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 19.033.
16) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2025-05-30.
17) What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2025-07-30.
18) What is the listed activity category?
The activity category is listed as "Other," which often reflects cross-cutting national security and nonproliferation programming that does not fit neatly into a single standard category.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses
- U.S.-based nonprofits/NGOs with or without 501(c)(3) status
- U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education
- Foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs
- Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)
- Public International Organizations (PIOs)
- Foreign Public Entities (FPEs)
- Foreign-based institutions of higher education
20) Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, foreign public entities, public international organizations, and foreign-based institutions of higher education.
21) Why is eligibility so broad?
The description ties broad eligibility to the international nature of the risk. Vulnerabilities in overseas research ecosystems, technology hubs, and commercial facilities can be leveraged by adversaries in ways that produce U.S. national security-relevant outcomes.
22) What kinds of risks does the program want partners to recognize earlier?
The description emphasizes early recognition of how advanced, emerging, or sensitive technologies can be repurposed for military end uses, and how legitimate research and commercial environments can be targeted for theft, improper transfer, and exploitation.
23) What does the opportunity say about exploitation of facilities and training centers?
It states that adversaries exploit commercial and scientific facilities and training centers, and also exploit maritime domains ("the seas"), to conduct illegal military operations. This points to interest in reducing how legitimate venues can be used as cover or infrastructure for illicit military activity.
24) What does success look like for a project under this opportunity (based on the provided description)?
Success would align with practical, cooperative efforts that reduce adversaries' ability to acquire or exploit sensitive technologies, data, intellectual property, expertise, and facilities for military modernization or WMD-related ends, with attention to dual-use sectors such as semiconductors and AI and to the exploitation of legitimate commercial and scientific environments.
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