NOFO_Illicit Mining.PDF

NOFO

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Countering Foreign Terrorist Organization

Use of Illicit Mining

Bureau of Counterterrorism, Department of State

Opportunity number: DFOP0018686

Application deadline: 07/15/2026

Contents A. Basic Information

B. Eligibility

C. Program Description

D. Application Contents and Format

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

F. Application Review Information

G. Award Notices

H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

I. Other Information

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Counterterrorism

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. Basic Information

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title Countering Foreign Terrorist Organization

Use of Illicit Mining

Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018686

Announcement Type Initial Announcement

Deadline for Applications 07/15/2026 1700 EDT (Washington, DC)

Assistance Listing Number 19.701

Length of Performance Period Up to 24 months

Number of Awards Anticipated At least one award

Award Amounts Up to $4,933,399

Total Available Funding $4,933,399 pending availability of funds

Type of Funding FY25/26 Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) funds under the Foreign Assistance Act

Anticipated Program Start Date 9/30/2026

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or less.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

2. Executive Summary

Priority Region: Western Hemisphere

Executive Summary

Illicit gold mining has emerged as a significant global threat, eroding sovereignty and stability and providing a lucrative revenue stream for violent Foreign Terrorist

Organizations (FTOs) and other criminal networks. Driven by surging global gold prices, experts estimate illegal gold mining has become a larger source of criminal income than narcotics trafficking in several Western Hemisphere countries, generating billions of dollars annually in criminal proceeds that fund FTOs and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) across the region. In countries with high concentrations of FTO activity and illegal gold mining overlap - particularly

Colombia and Mexico - designated groups including FARC dissidents, Clan del

Golfo, Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, and Primeiro Comando da Capital control mining operations and trafficking networks that fuel illegal resource extraction throughout South America. Violent FTOs like Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups have been linked to financing from these FTO illicit mining operations. These violent FTOs and their vast networks attack every layer of the mine-to-market supply chain - from obtaining concessions through corruption, controlling extraction sites, trafficking mercury used in gold extraction, extorting shipments, and laundering proceeds through illicit markets.

Addressing illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere directly advances U.S.

security and economic interests by disrupting a major illicit source of funding for terrorist organizations, reducing their capacity to operate and threaten stability. By curbing the flow of illegally sourced gold into global markets, these efforts also help protect the integrity of American supply chains for U.S. businesses that rely on responsibly sourced materials. In turn, these actions contribute to a safer international environment, a stable global economy, and a stronger foundation for

American prosperity.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) is seeking proposals for an initiative that will address the exploitation of illicit mining by violent FTOs. Special focus should be on the relationship and involvement of

FTOs and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) in the space. Competitive proposals should take an integrated approach to the threat and include civilian law enforcement, mining sector regulators, judges and prosecutors, and civil society where appropriate.

Goals and Objectives:

U.S. Department of State Agency Strategic Plan

• Goal 2: The Western Hemisphere and Establishment of the Donroe

Doctrine.

• Objective 2.1: Counter and reverse our competitors’ influence in the

Western Hemisphere.

• Objective 2.3: Suppress narco-terrorist gangs and cartels.

• Goal 6: Targeted Foreign Assistance that Puts American Interests First.

• Objective 6.1: Leverage assistance as a tool of statecraft.

CT Program Outcomes:

Investigations & Intelligence

• Outcome 1: Protect U.S. citizens and interests by strengthening the investigations of FTOs, Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), TCOs, and other terrorist actors, consistent with U.S.-approved investigative standards and practices.

Counter the Financing of Terrorism

• Outcome 2: Protect the homeland, Americans, and U.S. interests by strengthening the investigation and prosecution of terrorist financing and other illicit activities through collaboration among key national authorities

(including regulators, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and financial intelligence units), and regional and international bodies, as relevant.

Applicants must clearly outline how their proposed activities will directly contribute to these outcomes and the associated lines of effort (LOEs) below (see

Section C.1), with specific metrics and targets to measure progress and success.

B. Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations;

• Public and private educational institutions;

• For-profit organizations; and

• Public International Organizations (PIOs) and Governmental institutions.

CT invites ALL eligible organizations, as described above, to submit an application for a global program to disrupt FTO activities by countering illicit mining operations.

Please follow all instructions below.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation - while encouraged - is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO, and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov at the time of application. Please see

Section E.3 for more information.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

C. Program Description

1. CT Program Outcomes

Threat Overview:

Illicit mining has evolved into a major pillar of transnational organized crime and terrorism financing, particularly in regions where high-value minerals overlap with limited state presence and authority, and weak enforcement capacity and prosecutorial power. Criminal groups and violent FTOs exploit these conditions to seize or infiltrate mining areas, using coercion, forced labor, and violence to control extraction and transportation routes. Unlike other illicit economies, mining provides a relatively low-risk, high-reward revenue stream: gold especially can be easily laundered into legitimate markets, making profits difficult to trace and disrupt. As a result, a wide range of actors—including FTOs, organized crime syndicates, and insurgent groups—have incorporated illicit mining into their portfolios, often alongside activities like narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.

The relationship between illicit mining and terrorism is mutually reinforcing.

Revenues generated from illegal extraction finance weapons procurement, recruitment, and territorial expansion, while control over mining regions strengthens these groups’ political and economic influence. In some cases, criminal and terrorist organizations establish parallel governance structures, taxing local populations and regulating access to mining sites, further eroding state authority. This dynamic contributes to chronic instability, environmental degradation, and corruption, while distorting global commodity markets.

Addressing illicit mining therefore requires a strategic approach that targets both the financial incentives and the enabling conditions that allow criminal networks and violent FTOs to operate, including weak regulatory systems, limited enforcement capacity, and insufficient international coordination.

U.S. Nexus:

U.S. companies, including Newmont Corporation, have significant gold mining operations in Peru, Suriname, and Argentina. Illicit mining controlled by violent

FTOs distorts the legal market and increases risk for U.S. commercial investments in Latin America. It exposes legitimate U.S. companies to unfair competition, supply chain disruptions, revenue loses, and reputational damage. Additionally, it undermines security across key mineral-rich countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. Illicit mining surges often trigger aggressive government crackdowns, such as blanket permit revocations and militarization, which inadvertently halt legal mining operations and disrupt crucial supply chains for legitimate U.S. investments. This rapid, unstable shift in regulatory landscapes, coupled with potential asset seizures and retroactive compliance laws, jeopardizes

U.S. investment by making long-term capital projects financially unviable.

Implementation Plan:

Applications should propose an assessment to identify gaps in regulations and enforcement, and FTO networks in relation to illicit mining in target regions.

Proposals should include approaches to support investigatory mentorship and multi-disciplinary approaches connecting financial intelligence to field operations;

enhance ability of law enforcement to identify, detect, and dismantle illegal mining operations; leverage technology solutions such as satellite imagery, drones, GPS, and AI-enabled tools to improve supply chain traceability and identify irregular trade patterns linked to illegal mining; support evidence-gathering capabilities that can support prosecutions; and incorporate strategies for cross-border coordination and regional harmonization of legal frameworks to prevent foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations from exploiting jurisdictional gaps.

Proposals should demonstrate clear, outcome-oriented approaches that lead to reduced operational capacity of FTOs and TCOs and improved prevention and detection of illegal mining activities.

Strong proposals will demonstrate how the applicant will coordinate with relevant host nation agencies, including financial intelligence units.

Applicants should propose an integrated approach that focuses on the following three primary lines of effort.

1. Capability Assessment: Assessment on identifying gaps in response capabilities of selected host nation enforcement mechanisms and assessment on link between FTOs and illegal mining operations. The assessment should result in actionable recommendations to address these gaps and improve enforcement outcomes.

2. Investigation & Intelligence: Strengthen law enforcement’s ability to safely and effectively detect, deter, and disrupt illicit mining operations. Results associated with this line of effort may include, but are not limited to, measurable increases in the number of investigations initiated, arrests made, and convictions secured against individuals and networks involved in illicit mining activities.

3. Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT): Enhance the country’s or countries’ ability to identify, track, and disrupt the financial flows connected to illicit mining operations. This line of effort should be linked to demonstrable reductions in illicit financial activity, including, but not limited to, the disruption or dismantling of financial networks supporting

FTOs and TCOs, and an increase in successful prosecutions for financial crimes.

In addition to training and mentorship, proposals may include targeted equipment donations when applicable.

Country Selection:

Applicants may propose projects in up to three countries within the Western

Hemisphere where illegal gold mining finances foreign terrorist organizations or transnational criminal organizations, such as Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and others in the Andean region, such as Venezuela, and/or Amazon basin. Final locations will be determined when developing the statement of work with the successful applicant.

2. Substantial Involvement

This award will be structured as a cooperative agreement due to CT’s substantial involvement in program implementation. The U.S. Government anticipates performance to ensure the program achieves its strategic objectives, complements other ongoing USG efforts, and remains responsive to evolving threats and policy priorities.

CT will maintain substantial involvement in the following areas:

• CT will provide ongoing strategic guidance to ensure program activities align with U.S. foreign policy objectives;

• CT will advise on priority countries, regions, and threat actors based on current intelligence and policy priorities;

• CT will coordinate with other U.S. Government agencies to ensure complementarity with broader U.S. Government security efforts in the region.

• A comprehensive security plan for operations in the designated implementation country;

• The development of, and any changes to, an agreed-upon workplan and performance monitoring plan, and action plans for training and mentoring activities;

• The development and finalization of a training and work plan;

• All training curricula, provided at least four weeks in advance of proposed training dates;

• Major programmatic decisions that have policy and/or strategy implementations;

• Any sub-awards and contracts that may be made under this award;

• Program-related participation in media coverage, interviews, engagements with representatives of the media and or publication of media communications including advisories, press releases, statements, news conferences, and other related media outlets, such as internet publishing and social media; and,

• Planned engagements with ministerial-level or higher Federal Government officials on CT-funded activities.

D. Application Contents and Format

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goal(s), objective(s), and CT outcome(s) of this funding opportunity.

• All documents are in English.

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars.

• All pages are numbered.

• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper.

• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New

Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations).

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs).

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (Note: the SF-424B is only required for organizations exempt from registration and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov).

2. Summary Page (optional)

Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (no more than 12 pages, excluding the title page, table of contents, attachments (listed in D.5), mandatory application forms

(listed in D.1))

The proposal should contain sufficient information such that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. Applicants may use their own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including anticipated results and impact that are in alignment with relevant goal, objectives, and CT outcomes noted in the Executive Summary.

• Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing the ability to carry out the project, including information on relevant previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies.

• Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to resolve the stated problem. Program design must include the following:

o Situational Analysis: Open your proposal with a brief review of the current state or conditions surrounding the program that could affect its design, implementation, or results. This analysis should include an assessment of political/legal, security, economic, infrastructure, institutional, and other relevant conditions or factors to understand and define baseline and context.

o Problem Statement: Follow the brief situational analysis with a clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. The program’s activities articulated under the “Program Activities” section below must demonstrate that they address the problem statement. Draw upon the situational analysis to inform the justification.

o Alignment with U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy and Policy: A program must prioritize contributions to stated goal(s), objective(s), and

CT outcome(s) in the Executive Summary. Applicants must clearly identify and describe how the program will meet these goal(s), objective(s), and outcome(s).

o Project Activities: Description of proposed activities to produce specific outputs and outcomes.

o Logic Model and Theory of Change:

• Logic Model: Articulates how and why the program is expected to contribute to achieving the goal(s), objective(s), and outcome(s) noted in the Executive Summary. The logic model sets a foundation for monitoring and evaluating progress. It must also demonstrate the causal linkages between program inputs, activities, outputs, and stated goal(s), objective(s), and outcome(s).

• Theory of Change: A brief statement that ties a logic model together by summarizing why, based on available evidence and consideration of other possible paths, the changes described in the model are expected to occur. It explains why we believe our program activities will result in specific outcomes. These can be written as “If X (activities), then Y (outcomes).”

• CT will provide applicants with a template/guidance for the proposed logic model and theory of change.

o Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP): Applicants must include a preliminary performance monitoring plan (PMP), which is a planning tool for tracking data on program performance. A PMP provides information on data collection against indicators to gauge the direct and near-term effects of activities and whether desired results are occurring as expected during implementation. The plan must consider activities, outputs, and outcomes. The plan must be documented (using CT’s provided template/guidance) and include:

• Illustrative indicators to monitor the progress and measure actual results compared to expected ones.

• At least three relevant CT Indicators, per the CT PMP “How-To” guidance/template (see Annex II for a list of CT indicators).

• Establishment of a baseline, and discussion of how it will be collected.

• Targets established for each performance indicator.

• Establishment of the data source, data collection frequency, and individual responsible for each indicator.

• Note: The PMP’s indicators, activities, and outcomes will be reflected in a Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT), a separate table and companion to the PMP that shows quarter-by-quarter and annual (cumulative) results for each indicator. The

PITT will be required as part of mandatory quarterly performance reporting for the successful applicant but is not part of the NOFO application.

• Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, responsibilities, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. State the proportion of their time that will be used to support the project.

• Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Competitive proposals will describe strategies to sustain program outcomes after the period of performance ends.

4. Budget Justification Narrative

After filling out the SF-424A Budget (noted above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See Section I. Other Information:

Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

• CT Logic Model Template and How to Guide

• CT PMP Template and How to Guide

• 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel proposed for the project.

• Letters of support from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

• Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

• Risk analysis: Identify the internal and external risks associated with the proposed program, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the program, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks.

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application forms required above are available at grants.gov and MyGrants.

2. Department of State Contacts

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact

CT_Grants@state.gov.

Deadline for Receipt of Questions: June 19, 2026, 1700 EDT (Washington, D.C., time). Questions and Answers or FAQ will be posted by 06/19/2026 on grants.gov to answer questions from all potential applicants.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A

UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal

Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI number. Please note the

UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the

United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of War (DoW) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity

(NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their sam.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk

(FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of War. I do not wish to obtain an NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA

NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx

NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=c81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57 http://www.fsd.gov/ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feportal.nspa.nato.int%2FAC135Public%2Fscage%2FCageList.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v3TLT8F%2FNfk5SuTcI2zw7SMhV4HK542OhP9XDx4ln%2BY%3D&reserved=0

NCAGE Code Request Tool (nato.int)

Exemptions

An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline of the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than 07/15/2026 1700 EDT (Washington, D.C. time)

5. Funding Restrictions

i. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

(UNRWA)

None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding

Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations

Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

ii. Prohibition on Funding Activities that Encourage Mass-Migration Caravans towards the United States Southwest Border

None of the funds awarded under this grant may be made available to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans toward the United States southwest border. Funds may not be made available for legal counseling on the United States asylum process and/or for referrals to legal or representation in the United States.

Funds may only be used for cash cards for use in the country in which they are provided or to facilitate assisted voluntary returns and other purposes that do not encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. The provision of humanitarian assistance is permitted.

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/Codification/CageTool/home https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110

iii. Certification Regarding Compliance with applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws

If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

1) Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;

2) It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and

Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color religion, sex, or national origins, such as in training or hiring.

iv. Certification Regarding Compliance with 20 U.S.C. 1011f and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements (only include in NOFOs in which Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) are an eligible applicant type or potential subrecipient).

Applicants are advised that IHEs must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to IHEs:

1) Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United

States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

v. Certification of Trafficking in Persons Compliance and Compliance Plan

Applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award for awards where the estimated value of services to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000:

1) To the best of the Recipient’s knowledge, neither the Recipient, nor any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor of the Recipient or any agent of the https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2010-title20-section1001&num=0&edition=2010 recipient or of such a subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor, is engaged in any of the activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a);

The recipient has implemented a Trafficking in Persons compliance plan to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175(a) and is compliant with this plan;

and the compliance plan must follow the minimum requirements described in 2 CFR 175(b)(5).

2) That the Recipient has and will implement procedures to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a) and to monitor, detect, and terminate any subrecipient, contractor, subcontractor, or employee of the recipient engaging in these activities.

Recipients do not need to submit a copy of the plan. However, they must provide it to the Grants Officer upon request, and as appropriate, must post the useful and relevant contents of the plan or related materials on their website and at the workplace. Recipients must re-certify on an annual basis for the entire award period of performance.

vi. Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities

(a) Definitions.

American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the

Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov

FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.

Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.sam.gov/

(b) Prohibition. Recipients of funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity

(including subawards and subcontracts issued by the recipient) will be prohibited from:

(1) Delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements;

(2) Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award; and

(3) Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system.

(c) Exemptions, exceptions, and waivers. The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies, and the award indicates that such a determination has been made. [See sections

1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 ( 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.)

for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.].

vii. Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA)

Applicants for foreign assistance awards should be aware of requirements in

2 CFR Part 602, 603, and 604.

These policies are referred to collectively as the Promoting Human

Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy.

602: The award term imposes certain abortion-related requirements on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, public international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

603: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to gender ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States

NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

604: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to discriminatory equity ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fuscode.house.gov%2Fview.xhtml%3Freq%3Dgranuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section3901%26num%3D0%26edition%3Dprelim&data=05%7C02%7CCarbullidoCC%40state.gov%7C237266465ee34b736eaf08de3442d869%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C639005658853841398%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vOOQC%2FqEnM0FmwOBiz0sKQU2rkL0QZZz6YPZDhMeP3o%3D&reserved=0 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01519/protecting-life-in-foreign-assistance https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01516/combating-gender-ideology-in-foreign-assistance https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01517/combating-discriminatory-equity-ideology-in-foreign-assistance-rules

(NGOs), United States NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

The Department recognizes there are costs associated with these policies.

Potential one-time and recurring costs the Department identifies for recipients and grantees are for familiarization with the policy, development and delivery of organizational training and implementation guidance, routine compliance monitoring, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

6. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov or MyGrants. The Department of State bears no responsibility for disqualification that results from applicants not being registered before the due date or for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

F. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below. Criteria are listed in order of importance.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points:

• The proposal responds to the NOFO and is appropriate in the context of the proposed country/region.

• The proposal exhibits originality but is feasible.

• The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out.

• The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

• The proposal clearly aligns with the stated goal(s), objective(s), and CT outcome(s) in the Executive Summary.

• The proposal directly connects proposed activities with outputs and desired outcomes in both the logic model and PMP.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points:

• The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds, including a financial management system and a bank account.

• The proposal demonstrates an institutional record of previous successfully implemented programs in issues and regions outlined in this NOFO.

• The proposal articulates past performance and experience in working with relevant host governments, local organizations, and communities.

• The proposal clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of primary staff under this program and relevant counterterrorism expertise.

• The proposal describes the division of labor among the recipient organization and potential implementing partner organization(s) and identifies local partner organization(s) that would assist with implementation, where appropriate.

• The organization has sufficient capabilities and resources to report and monitor the indicators proposed and collect on those.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Program Outcomes – 15 points:

• The proposal provides a detailed and logical model of proposed program activities and includes a clear articulation of how these activities will contribute to or align with the overall outcomes.

• The CT program outcomes in the proposal are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound (SMART).

• The proposal clearly demonstrates how the program will benefit the target population with a sound justification.

• The proposal contains a performance monitoring plan (PMP) containing at least three relevant CT Indicators, per CT’s “How-To” guidance/template.

• The proposal provides a plan to de-conflict (or complement, if appropriate) with other donors and/or organizations that are active or plan to be active in the proposed program country or region.

• The proposal addresses how the program will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders, including host government, to obtain access and conduct programming.

• The proposal includes a contingency plan to account for delays in implementation, achieving program results, or other timeline issues.

Monitoring and Evaluation – 15 points:

• The proposal includes narrative explaining how monitoring will be carried out and who will be responsible for monitoring program activities (including potential contracted experts, if applicable).

• The proposal provides realistic methods for measuring changes that can be correlated with program implementation. These methods may include but are not limited to pre- and/or post-testing of assistance recipients or target audiences, and public perception polling.

• The proposal includes a logic model and theory of change that sequentially maps how program activities are expected to produce results including program inputs, activities, outputs, and CT outcomes.

Budget – 10 points:

• The administration of the proposal budget, including salaries and honoraria, are explained and justified for the work involved.

• Proposed costs are reasonable and necessary and linked to CT program outcomes and demonstrate efficient use of U.S. Government funds.

• Contingency plan demonstrates efficient use of U.S. Government funds.

• The budget justification is detailed.

• Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results.

• The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Sustainability – 10 points:

• Clearly delineates how program will be sustainable with beneficiaries beyond the life of the grant.

• Clearly outlines plan how impact will be maintained by applicant or others after the grant or if follow on engagements will be required.

2. Indirect Costs

If two or more applications receive equivalent scores based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this NOFO, preference will be given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate, as consistent with Executive Order 14332, Section

4(b)(iii). This preference will only be applied as a tie-breaking mechanism and does not supersede the primary evaluation criteria.

3. Review and Selection Process

A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. CT will conduct a merit review of all eligible applications as outlined in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed by an independent review panel consisting of qualified subject matter experts from other Department of State bureaus and offices, U.S.

Embassies, and/or other U.S. Government agencies. Final approval resides with the Department of State Grants Officer.

4. Risk Review

i. Risk factors

Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a

Federal Award, the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

a. Financial stability

b. Management systems and standards

c. History of performance

d. Audit reports and findings

e. Ability to effectively implement requirements

ii. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov

The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S.

government designated integrity and performance system accessible through

SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

An applicant can review and comment on any information about itself in responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the

Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

G. Award Notices

The successful cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and countersignature.

The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the

U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Unsuccessful applicants: Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by October 15, 2026, via email.

Payment Method:

Payments under this award will be made either through the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS) or through submitting Form SF 270 (Request for Advance or Reimbursement form) to the Grants Officer.

Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the

Department of State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each payment request, a detailed explanation justifying the request.

H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at

2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal

Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on

April 22, 2024, particularly on:

o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205), https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and

Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at

Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341), o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2

CFR part 200.322), and o Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State

Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340). For the avoidance of doubt, the Department has sole discretion over the determination that an award no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities, and this provision permits awards to be terminated at the Department’s convenience, including when it determines that the award no longer advances the national interest.

• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT

• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE

COMPENSATION INFORMATION

• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-

FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND

CONDITIONS

• Recipients must comply with all applicable Executive Orders. A searchable list can be found in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/

2. Reporting https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.175&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.183&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterVI.tpl https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.federalregister.gov/

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports, as well as accompanying related CT reporting templates, to include an updated quarterly PITT submission that tracks progress toward established targets over time. The implementer will be required to maintain monthly reporting and monthly calls with CT, as well as ad hoc reporting and communications in support of the areas of substantial involvement. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted.

NOTE: Delays in reporting may result in delays of payment approvals, and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipients’ ability to receive future

U.S. government funds. CT reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial program information during the award period of performance.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of

State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR

Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2

CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and

Performance Matters.

For assistance with MyGrants accounts and technical issues related to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at +1 (888) 313-4567 (toll charges apply for international callers) or through the Self-Service online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home. Customer support is available 24/7.

For assistance with Grants.gov accounts and technical issues related to using the system, please call the Contact Center at +1 (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=027fb85899500d580fc71df69d11573a&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML%20-%20ap2.1.200_1521.i#ap2.1.200_1521.xii https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=027fb85899500d580fc71df69d11573a&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML%20-%20ap2.1.200_1521.i#ap2.1.200_1521.xii https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=027fb85899500d580fc71df69d11573a&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML%20-%20ap2.1.200_1521.i#ap2.1.200_1521.xii

3. Branding and Marking

The Department of State, its programs, and U.S. Government funding and assistance should be easily identifiable to the Department's global audiences.

Recipients of federal assistance awards must follow the branding guidance published at Guidance for Contracts and Grants - U.S. Department of State Brand

System. Branding policy exceptions are outlined in the U.S. Department of State

Foreign Affairs Manual 10 FAM 416, Policy Exceptions.

For more information, visit: https://brand.