DFOP0016555 - NOFO Scope of Work.pdf

Project NDF-359:

Opportunity Unique Identifier: DFOP0016555

Project Title: Engaging Partners in East and South Africa on illicit People’s Republic of China’s and Russian Proliferation Networks

Project Summary: The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) seeks to award a cooperative agreement(s) to an institution/institutions to support the mapping of proliferation and sanctions evasion networks and related illicit actors as well as their business, financial, and logistics networks based in or operating from South or East Africa that are or may be facilitating Russia’s aggression in Ukraine or the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Military-Civilian Fusion (MCF) industrial base in order to assist partner countries, bilaterally or regionally, in their counter-proliferation and counter-sanctions evasion activities by helping partners identify and disrupt these networks.

To accomplish this, this project consists of two required tasks. First, awardee(s) may conduct mapping and analysis activities on Russian and/or PRC proliferation and sanctions evasion networks in South or East Africa. This analysis may be regionally focused or directed towards a particular country in South or East Africa. Second, the awardee(s) shall conduct foreign partner engagement and capacity building to identify, prevent, and mitigate proliferation and sanctions evasions in that specified region or country. These engagements may include, but are not limited to, governmental representatives to include law enforcement, customs, sanctions, and judicial personnel, nongovernmental organizations, industry and commercial representatives, academia, and others as appropriate.

All proposals must make a clear and compelling case for how and why the proliferation network mapping and analysis work and foreign partner engagement activities will be undertaken, how this work supports the nonproliferation and security objectives of the U.S. Government, and how the grant funding will be used.

Further, all proposals should clearly indicate that the proposer possesses the placement and access in the region or country to be engaged necessary to successfully complete the proposed activities without direct support from the U.S.

government. Proposals may focus on Russian or PRC networks and sanctions evasions, or both. Proposals may also be country-specific, regionally, or sub-regionally focused. The period of performance for this solicitation shall be between 6 and 18 months, though longer periods of performance may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Potential Areas of Mapping and Network Analysis and Foreign Partner Engagement may include but are not limited to:

• Private military or security personnel

• Chemicals of concern, radiological materials, or biological hazards

• Extractive Industries including but not limited to: oil; gas; rare earth minerals; precious metals, minerals, and stones; etc.

• Transnational Organized Criminal elements

Deliverables:

• At least two (2) foreign partner engagements focused on building partner capacity to identify, address, mitigate, and prevent proliferation and sanctions evasion networks.

o For the purposes of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) application only, the proposal may include a notional, hypothetical in-person engagement in East Africa for 30 participants. Proposals could outline for this notional in-person event a facilitation plan to include, but is not limited to, development of training curricula, identification and procurement of a venue, travel, lodging, and per diem of course participants, and translation costs. The proposal may also include a notional, hypothetical virtual event for 50 participants. Proposals could outline a facilitation plan for this notional virtual event to include, but is not limited to, development of training curricula and simultaneous translation.

o Associated agendas, curricula, participant lists, photos, and a post-event report are also required.

• If a proposal includes or requires network mapping, at least one (1) substantive analytical report outlining an agreed upon topic for mapping and analysis containing at a minimum an executive summary, a methodological outline of how the research was conducted including datasets leveraged, any conclusions drawn from the data, and recommended actions to address, mitigate, and/or prevent future proliferation or sanctions evasion.

• Narrative and financial quarterly reports for the entire duration of the period of performance, containing a summary of financial expenditures and updated budget balances, substantive work/accomplishments to date, and remaining/anticipated work/accomplishments.

• A final report that serves as a project close-out report, summarizing all financial expenditures and all reports, activities, and accomplishments.

Eligible Organizations: The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Domestic Not for Profit Organizations

• Foreign Not for Profit Organizations

• For Profit Organizations

• Public Institutions of Higher Education

• Private Institutions of Higher Education

• Foreign Public Entities (FPEs)/Public International Organizations (PIOs)

Nonproliferation Benefit: NDF funding of this NOFO supports the mapping of proliferation networks and related illicit actors as well as their business, financial, and logistics networks associated Russian and/or PRC sanctions evasion and support to the PRC’s Military-Civilian Fusion industrial base or Russia’s current conflict in Ukraine.

Funding Allocation: Up to $950,000.00 per cooperative agreement