CTR Wide Q &A document to be posted 8 Nov.pdf

CTR Wide Q &A document that will be posted along with the other NOFO documents every Friday until 10 Jan 2025.

Mutiple NOFOs

Q: In the latest proposal template, there is an “Introduction to the Organization” section. Should we treat this like the DEIA statement and include a single comprehensive one at the top of each NOFO submission package, or does CTR prefer a concise version with only the most relevant past performance embedded within every project narrative?

A: Please include a single comprehensive statement at the top of each NOFO submission page.

Q: How does CTR want implementers to submit questions that are related to all the NOFOs the process in general? Submit to one NOFO POC and flag as a general issue? Submit to multiple NOFO POCs if applying to multiple NOFOs? Submit to the budget team distro group?

A: Please send all questions to the email identified on the NOFO and the CTR Budget Team email (isn-ctr-budget@state.gov). If the question is not NOFO specific, please contact the CTR Budget Team email (isn-ctr-budget@state.gov).

Q: Is there any way that CTR would consider sending implementers the conference presentations a bit earlier than a week after the conference, given the earlier submission date this year vs. years past?

A: ISN will strive to provide the slides to attendees of the implementers conference as soon as they are available. The slides from the implementers conference will not be posted for public consumption.

Q: Does CTR intend on revising the NOFOs to include a clear statement of budget caps per proposal?

A: Preferred project size may vary by NOFO. CTR will review documents and update the NOFO posting if necessary.

Q: For the monitoring and evaluation section of the NOFO does this need to be filled out per project or per proposal?

A: Please refer to the NOFO for guidance on if proposal documents should proposal wide or project specific. Please include a one-page Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative per project. If you are proposing multiple projects and mailto:isn-ctr-budget@state.gov mailto:isn-ctr-budget@state.gov narrative would be the identical for all projects only submit one narrative document and identify all the projects, it applies to. For the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan/Tracker please submit one document with a unique tab for each project proposed.

Q: The NOFO says that proposals should be submitted in 14 point font, but the template is 12. Which should we use?

A: All proposals documents should be submitted in 14 point font.

Q: Are private institutions from outside of the United States with experience in developing technological solutions in both software and hardware for companies and society eligible to participate?

A: Yes, private institutions from outside of the United States are eligible to participate. Please see the NOFO instructions posted with this announcement on the focus areas, how proposals will be reviewed, and conditions for submission.

Q: What are CTR’s NOFOs and where can they be found?

A: Here is the full listing of active CTR NOFOs posted on Grants.gov.

NOFO Title NOFO #

Build Partner Resilience to Counter Proliferator State Hybrid Threats in the Nonproliferation Arena DFOP0016984

Countering Proliferator State Advanced Conventional Weapons

Proliferation DFOP0016985

Advancing Nuclear Safety, Security, and Nonproliferation through the

FIRST Program DFOP0016986

Build Partner Capabilities to Protect Semiconductor and CHIPS

Technology DFOP0016987

Build Partner Capabilities to Protect Critical Advanced and Emerging

Technologies DFOP0016988

6 Build Partner Capabilities to Counter Global Biological Threats DFOP0016989

7 Building Partner Capacity to Counter Chemical Weapons Threats DFOP0016990

8 Countering WMD and UAS Threats in Iraq DFOP0016991

Build Partner Capabilities to Counter the Russian Federation’s

Chemical and Biological Threats DFOP0016992

10 Countering the Russian Federation’s Sanctions Evasion Activities DFOP0016993

11 Nonproliferation Scientist Engagement Program DFOP0016994

12 Countering DPRK and Iran’s WMD, UAS, and Missile Proliferation DFOP0016995

Q: Is there a dollar cap on project proposals?

A: Preferred project size may vary by NOFO. CTR will review documents and update the NOFO posting if necessary.

Q: What file type should be the budget and the budget narrative respectively?

A: The budget narrative is in word format. The budget template is in excel.

Q: There is a mention of anticipated # of awards. What is that in reference to?

A: This is an estimated number of awards we anticipate issuing as part of this

NOFO.

Q: The individual NOFO Section D.2 requirements for individual project proposal submission differs from the “FY25 CTR Project Narrative Template 241003” file provided.

“Program Activities” is in the NOFO Section D.2, “Program Activities and

Deliverables” is in the template. Both have same description. Are offerors to include Deliverables in response to this section?

A: Yes, please.

Q: The following sections are included in the Project Narrative Template but are not included in the individual NOFO Section D.2. Please advise whether these sections are required in every project proposal:

• Country of Impact

• Nonproliferation Objective and the Project’s Role in Meeting this Objective

• Optional DEIA Role in Meeting this Objective

• Participant Review A: These are absolutely required in every project proposal.

Q: Reference the requirement for “safety for any online programs or communications including independent IT security audits (to include a vulnerability assessment) of any proposed web application or platform.” Will CTR provide additional guidelines on the ‘programs, communications, web applications or platform’ that are being referenced?

A: CTR will not be providing additional clarification.

Q: Do these refer to offeror’s corporate/internal systems (IT infrastructure) or does this refer to external platforms such as Zoom or Concur or Cvent (as examples)?

A: Both.

Q: If the former (internal IT infrastructure), confirm that a corporate IT System

Security Plan that addresses system security and vulnerability assessments fulfills this requirement?

A: Yes.

Q: If this requirement is for standard business platforms or tools such as Zoom or other commercial or third-party platforms, please confirm what IT security audit/vulnerability assessment requirement documentation is required.

A: An corporate IT system security plan should include a risk assessment of the third-party platforms that the organization uses on a regular basis.

Q: Does this requirement apply for in-person events and event venues? Is offeror expected to validate or verify venue IT system security prior to in-person events?

A: We would ask that implementer ask the event venue what IT system security measures they have in place and make a risk-based decision on the information they receive.

Q: Please provide additional guidance and detail on what is required to adequately address the Security Plan requirements.

A: Please ask a more tailored query.

Q: Reference slide 5, does this chart represent only NADR funding or all funding obligated by each CTR program office?

A: All funding.

Countering Proliferator State ACW Proliferation NOFO (DFOP0016985)

Q: We would like to ask if it is obligatory for the application to cover all the project objectives, or it is possible to choose the first pool of objectives (PMCs).

A: Proposals can address all or one of the objectives identified in the NOFO.

CSP NOFO (DFOP0016990)

Q: The pdf of the NOFO, states “Total Funding Ceiling: $4,000,000” and $30 million is not mentioned anywhere in the document. What is the actual amount available?

A: Please see updated NOFO Synopsis information for projected funding ceiling.

Q: If it is $30 million, is the intent to give less implementers a larger award over multiple projects? Or, is the intent to give up to $5 million for one project? Or, some combination there within.

A: Please see updated NOFO Synopsis information for projected award values.

Iraq NOFO (DFOP0016991) & BEP NOFO (DFOP0016989)

Q: We would appreciate any guidance on our eligibility to participate in this opportunity to provide medicines, aligning with our mission to support high-quality healthcare.

A: We do not focus on providing healthcare support to our partners. Please review the NOFO Objectives section for more information on our programming priorities.

Iraq NOFO (DFOP0016991)

Q: Would there be an interest in pursuing a chemical security train-the-trainer workshops for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), and if so, is CTR interested in in-person engagement only or would remote fellowships and/or train-the-trainer mentoring be of interest?

A: We will still be focusing on chemical security work for FY25 and hope to continue to work with the IKR in this space, so proposals on this LOE are encouraged. Remote fellowship or mentoring programs are not a top priority for

CTR this year, but will certainly be considered as part of a larger project to ensure sustainability if it meets the NOFO objectives.

Protect Critical Advanced and Emerging Technologies NOFO (DFOP0016988)

Build Partner Capabilities to Counter Global Biological Threats [BEP] NOFO

(DFOP0016989)

Q: We are inquiring about the reasons why we are not able to apply to this

NOFO? What are the terms and criteria?

A: Information related to the eligibility and terms are listed in the NOFO.

Q: Can you provide the correct link to replace the incorrect embedded link to the first reference file in the ‘Psychosocial Assistance’ section?

A: File has been updated

Q: Could you please confirm the budget ceiling for individual projects submitted as part of the FY25 NOFO DFOP0016989, titled "Build Partner Capabilities to

Counter Global Biological Threats"?

A: $250,000

Build Partner Capabilities to Counter the Russian Federation’s Chemical and

Biological Threats NOFO (DFOP0016992)

Countering the Russian Federation’s Sanctions Evasion Activities

(DFOP0016993)

Q: On page 15 of the NOFO, ISN stipulates that “each proposal package will include one of the following documents that incorporate information on all proposed projects” for the Executive Summary, Timeline, Racial Equity and

Underserved Communities Analysis, Security Plan, Contingency Plan, and

CVs/resumes for each standalone project. To meet the specific challenges and opportunities of each proposed project, can ISN clarify whether applicants may submit multiple, project-specific Executive Summaries, Timelines, Racial Equity and Underserved Communities Analyses, Security Plans, Contingency Plans, and

CVs/resumes for each proposed project?

A: Separate projects may have similar “security plans, contingency plans, CVs, etc.” but in some cases it is necessary to have separate ones.

Q: Can ISN clarify what constitutes a “standalone project”? Under Section A.3

Project Goal, ISN lists 20 Objectives under 5 categories. Does ISN consider each of these 20 Objectives to be a “standalone project”, or can applicants combine multiple objectives in one standalone project to increase efficiency and sustainability and build on linkages between objectives?

A: ISN/CTR accepts proposals that can tackle one objective or proposals that can tackle multiple objectives.

Q: ISN lists the total funding ceiling as $19,500,000 – can ISN clarify what the ceiling is for each standalone project?

A: Preferred project size may vary by NOFO. CTR will review documents and update the NOFO posting if necessary.

Q: Can ISN please clarify the maximum page limits for the Proposal Narrative?

Section D of the NOFO limits applicants to a maximum 3 pages that is inclusive of the required Introduction to the Organization, Problem Statement, Project

Methods and Design, Program Goal, Program Objective(s), Program Activities, Outcomes, Risk Analysis, and Future Funding Sustainability. We note that it will be difficult for applicants to provide a meaningful narrative that addresses all 9 required sections within 3 pages. Would ISN consider allowing applicants a 5-page maximum for the “Proposal Narrative” section of the proposal?

A: The most successful proposals stay within the 3-page limit for the project narrative and focus on the above categories. The narrative does not include the

Cover Page/Executive Summary, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, Key

Personnel, Timeline or Attachments which can take additional sections