Preventing Iranian Proxy and ISIS Activities Along Iraq's Western Border
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018090
- Agency
-
Bureau of Counterterrorism
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $6,808,090
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Unrestricted
- Points of contact
-
- Cheyenne Arbogast arbogastc@state.gov
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism seeks applicants to strengthen Iraq's capacity to investigate and respond to terrorist attacks and border incursions along the Iraq-Syria border, with particular focus on countering Iran-aligned militia groups and ISIS activities. The cooperative agreement requires applicants to deliver advanced response training, investigative capabilities, and a train-the-trainer component that builds sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities while reducing long-term U.S. resource dependency. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, for-profit organizations (if permitted), and public international organizations; all must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration before submission. Evaluation will assess quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and grant history (20 points), program planning and ability to achieve outcomes (15 points), monitoring and evaluation (15 points), budget (10 points), and sustainability (10 points). The application deadline is June 8, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. (Washington, D.C. time), with questions accepted through April 23, 2026.
The single anticipated award is $6,808,090 in FY25/26 Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) funds, with a 24-month performance period commencing September 30, 2026. Applicants must submit a proposal not exceeding 12 pages addressing situational analysis, problem statement, project activities, logic model, theory of change, performance monitoring plan, and sustainability strategies, along with required SF-424 forms, budget justification, organizational CVs, partner letters of support, and risk analysis. Performance will take place primarily in Iraq, with the selected implementer responsible for coordinating training locations across Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region while emphasizing Iraqi facilities when feasible, and the Bureau of Counterterrorism maintaining substantial involvement through curriculum approval, participant vetting, and quarterly performance reporting.
Synopsis
The Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to strengthen Iraq's ability to investigate and respond to terrorist attacks and incursions along the Iraq-Syria border during a critical period of regional transition. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by reducing threats to U.S. diplomatic and military facilities, safeguarding American commercial operations, and preventing terrorist attacks that endanger Americans abroad. The proliferation of Iran-aligned militia groups (IAMGs) and continued presence of ISIS in the region have created a fragile security environment with elevated risks of border exploitation for weapons, explosives, and human smuggling. Porous borders enable IAMGs and other terrorist organizations to move personnel, material, and illicit goods that directly threaten U.S. personnel, American commercial interests, and regional stability affecting U.S. security. Recent events illustrate the ongoing threat from IAMGs, who attacked numerous U.S. personnel and facilities in Erbil and Baghdad since February 28. They have historically conducted rocket and drone attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities, military installations, and commercial facilities. By supporting Iraq's border security capabilities, this program reduces terrorist operational capacity that threatens U.S. interests. This program should be designed to reduce Iraq's long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities to independently respond to attacks and dismantle illicit transit networks. Consistent with the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS)'s principle of "burden-sharing and burden-shifting," this program should include a train-the-trainer component to enable Iraqi civilian forces to establish an Iraqi-owned training capability, reducing long-term U.S. resource commitments.
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Posting history
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