FY26 All CTR Non-Proliferation Programing NOFO Q&A - 260130.docx

ACN/CTR answers to questions received about 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

An ACN/CTR Wide Q &A document will be posted along with the other NOFO documents and updated every Friday until 27 February 2026. This document representants every question received before 11:59:59 PM on Friday 9 January 2026.

ACN/CTR will not conduct individual meetings to discuss the specifics of a proposal or provide additional information on the needs of the NOFO before they close.

Overarching Questions Q: The NOFO specifies the UID format as Implementer_Country_Fiscal Year_001 (IMPL_EFF_YR_001). In prior years, we have included the relevant Line of Effort (LOE) within the UID. Should the LOE be incorporated into the UID for this solicitation?

A: Yes. Please use (IMPL_LOE_EFF_YR_001)

Q: As we are considering applying under multiple, distinct LOEs, we would appreciate guidance on whether the following components should be consolidated or differentiated by LOE:

· Q: Budget Narrative Document: Should applicants submit a single consolidated budget narrative, or a separate budget narrative for each LOE?

A: Each proposal should include a single budget narrative for each LOE you are responding to with that includes a standalone section for each project proposed. You should group projects by LOE if you are submitting multiple projects to multiple LOEs.

· Q: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Narrative: Should the M&E narrative be consolidated across all LOEs, or submitted separately for each LOE?

A: Each proposal should include a single M&E narrative that includes a standalone section for each project proposed. You may group projects by LOE if you are submitting multiple projects to multiple LOEs.

· Q: Key Personnel: Should key personnel be listed collectively for the proposal as a whole, or broken out by LOE?

A: Each Project proposed should identify key personnel.

· Q: Should the summary page be for the complete NOFO package or for each LOE?

A: The summary page should cover all proposed projects

Q: Within the NOFO, the terms “proposal” and “project” appear to be used interchangeably in some sections. We would appreciate clarification on whether these terms are intended to be distinct. For example, the NOFO states: “Budget Narrative Document: 3 pages maximum per project.” Should this be interpreted as requiring one budget narrative per individual project, one budget narrative for the proposal as a whole, or one budget narrative per LOE?

A: No, they are separate terms. An organization can submit one proposal to this NOFO that should include all required documents. Each document submitted can include a section for each project submitted. As an example, if you are proposing multiple projects to this NOFO, the single project narrative document should include a separate 3-page section for each project you are proposing.

Q: Is a multi-project narrative allowed to have separate project-specific narratives (i.e. 3 pages per project, with each project stitched together into a single multi-project narrative file) or is the expectation that a multi-project narrative is limited to 3 pages?

A: Each proposal should include a single project narrative per LOE you are responding to that includes a standalone 3-page section for each project proposed.

Q: Can application-level documents (Key Personnel, Project Monitoring Narrative and M&E Plan) be added to each LOE, or each project, as the required details requested can dramatically shift from project to project and LOE to LOE?

A: That information can be identified in the project narrative document and expanded in the other documents. Please do not include full CVs of the key personnel those can be included as addition attachments.

Q: Within the M&E Plan Excel table, do we include a separate tab for each project or each LOE (assuming multiple projects per LOE)?

A: Yes

Q: If we have a multi-country project to submit, where we propose to conduct the same work in each country, is that considered a multi-project narrative (i.e. one 3-page narrative per country) or a single 3-page narrative covering all countries where that proposed work would be covered? We would like to make sure that enough detail as to why these countries are included.

A: If your project includes multiple engagements in different counties delivering the same material, please submit that as one project.

Q: Given that no priority countries have been provided (unlike previous RFPs), but only regions, should proposals be written to address a region (with an outline of how many countries the work could occur in) or should they address specific countries within the highlighted regions?

A: Both are acceptable depending on the type of project you are proposing.

Q: The proposal evaluation criteria indicate applicants can receive up to 5 points for any project that includes at least $25,000 of cost sharing or matching. Is the cost share evaluated at the project-level, the LOE-level, or the overall application-level when the review panel makes the assessments?

A: Project level. If there will be a cap on overall available funding if multiple projects are approved, please identify it.

Q: Will region-specific or LOE-specific teams be evaluating the proposals? We would like to know whether it is worthwhile to pitch similarly designed proposals for different regions, given that CTR may have differing priorities they want to address across various regions.

A: Teams with expertise in each LOE identified in the NOFO will be reviewing the proposals

Q: May the implementer submit an M&E Plan (indicators table) at the LOE Level? And, may the implementer submit a 2-page M&E narrative at the NOFO level? [References: Pages 29-30, Section D.5 Project Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative and Plan/Tracker.

A: Yes the M&E narrative should cover all projects included in your proposal. You may submit a M&E plan table document with multiple tabs that are project spacific, or one comprehensive document that identified how you intend to monitor all proposed projects. Implementers should choose the option they believe is the best fit for their proposal.

Q: For implementers proposing multiple projects for each LOE, can CTR please confirm that key personnel may be listed at the LOE level rather than at the individual project level?

A: Key personnel can be identified in at the project or overall proposal level.

Q: Would a proposal that addresses objectives across various Lines of Efforts also be likely to receive a higher evaluation? Or should each proposal only address one Line of Effort?

A: Projects that address one or multiple spacific aim identified with a LOE are more likely to receive a higher evaluation. Implementers can submit multiple projects for one LOE or that address multiple LOEs, except LOE 11 and 12. Implementers submitting projects to LOE 11 and 12 should not be submitting to other LOEs.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please clarify if Offerors should submit separate SF-424 and SF-424A forms for each individual proposed project or, if just one SF-424 and SF-424A are required, what amounts should be included on the SF-424 forms if multiple projects are submitted?

A: Offerors should include one SF-424 and SF-424A per proposal. The amount on the forms should be reflective of the total funding requested for all projects being proposed.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please confirm that Offerors should submit one SF-424B and one SF-LLL for the proposal package?

A: Confirmed.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please clarify if the summary page is limited to a one-page document that includes all proposed projects’ information, or if it consists of one multi-page document that compiles each project’s respective one-page summary?

A: Offerors should submit a single one-page documents that address the entire proposal at a high level.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please clarify if the M&E Narrative is a 2-page document that includes the proposal’s M&E narrative and project(s) subsections, or is it one multi-page document that compiles each project’s respective 2-page M&E narratives?

A: Yes the M&E narrative should cover all projects included in your proposal.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please confirm that Offerors should submit separate M&E excel plans for each proposed project?

A: You may submit a M&E plan table document with multiple tabs that are project spacific, or one comprehensive document that identified how you intend to monitor all proposed projects. Implementers should choose the option they believe is the best fit for their proposal.

Q: Could ACN/CTR please confirm that key personnel CVs may be included in separate documents for each project A: Confirmed.

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Line of Effort 1: Countering Russian Chemical and Biological Threats

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Line of Effort 2: Countering Biological Weapons Threats, Protecting Biotechnologies, and Strengthening Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention

Q: Could the BEP team specify the priority countries more clearly? The NOFO states, "Priority regions are WHA and EAP, followed by EUR and SCA, although priority countries may be in other regions"—previously, specific countries were listed. If possible, please provide additional details so we can confirm we're responding to the NOFO for ACN-CTR-approved countries.

A: Offers my proposed projects to one country or multiple counties within those regions.

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Line of Effort 3: Countering Chemical Weapons Threats

Q: Is it OK to submit proposals on Syria under this NOFO?

A: Yes. We will review and consider all project proposals submitted to counter chemical weapons threats in Syria.

Q: The NOFO states, "The Chemical Security Program’s Anticipated Countries of Impact for the following objectives are EAP, EUR, NEA, and SCA.” However, these are not countries but rather regions. Could the CSP team specify the priority countries more clearly? Additional details would be helpful so we can confirm we’re responding to the NOFO for ACN-CTR-approved countries.

A: Offers my proposed projects to one country or multiple counties within those regions.

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Line of Effort 4: Countering Chinese and Russian Proliferation of Advanced Conventional Weapons

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Line of Effort 5: Countering Iran and DPRK’s WMD, Nuclear, Ballistic Missile, and Drone Proliferation

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Line of Effort 6: Countering U.S. Adversary WMD and Drone Threats in Iraq

Q: In previous NOFOs, CTR provided guidance on in-person implementation. Can CTR clarify if, for this LOE, in-person engagements involve third-country pull-outs, or if an implementer can suggest conducting in-country implementation?

A: Both are acceptable.

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Line of Effort 7: Denying U.S. Adversaries Access to Sensitive Nuclear, Missile, and Advanced Technical Expertise for Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs that Threaten America

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Line of Effort 8: Enforcing Sanctions on China and Russia

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Line of Effort 9: Preventing U.S. Adversaries’ Access to Critical Technologies and Exploitation of Scientific and Commercial Facilities for Military Advancement

Q: From the way the NOFO is written, it appears that the regions of interest listed under LOE 9 (Preventing U.S. Adversaries’ Access to Critical Technologies and Exploitation of Scientific and Commercial Facilities for Military Advancement) are specifically tied to Specific Aim 2, focused on semiconductors. Can you clarify if the main target regions (EAP, EUR, NEA, and SCA) are only for Aim 2, or for the entirety of the LOE?

A: Yes, the listed regions are the main interest for Specific Aim 2. LOE 9 is global.

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Line of Effort 10: Unleashing American Energy Dominance and Expediting Responsible and Secure U.S. Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Deployment through the FIRST Program

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