Identifying and Mitigating Russian Chemical and Biological Threat (RCBT) | SFOP0010111

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Identifying and Mitigating Russian Chemical and Biological Threat (RCBT) grant opportunity?

The RCBT grant opportunity is a discretionary U.S. government funding program focused on countering Russian chemical and biological weapons-related activities. It supports practical work that helps the United States and partner countries better identify, understand, and inhibit Russian weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation efforts tied to chemical and biological weapons (CBW).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0010111.

Which U.S. government bureau runs this program?

The program is run by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is under CFDA 19.033.

How does this opportunity relate to Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR)?

The opportunity sits within the broader Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) mission area and is specifically focused on countering Russian chemical and biological weapons-related activities within that broader nonproliferation and threat reduction context.

What is the central purpose of the RCBT program?

The central purpose is to support practical work that improves the ability of the United States and partner countries to identify, understand, and inhibit Russian CBW-related WMD proliferation efforts, including efforts tied to procurement networks and hidden ownership structures.

Why is the program framed as necessary or urgent?

The opportunity cites widely documented incidents involving chemical agents and highlights ongoing U.S. and allied policy responses. It references high-profile attempted assassinations involving chemical agents, including the 2018 attack targeting Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom and the 2020 poisoning of Aleksey Navalny in Russia, as context for continued risk and the need for sustained monitoring, investigative capacity, and disruption efforts.

What kinds of threats or activities is the program concerned with?

The program is concerned with Russian chemical and biological weapons-related proliferation efforts, including the enabling activities that support those programs. A major emphasis is placed on complex procurement strategies and beneficial ownership structures used to conceal who is buying sensitive items, what they are buying, and for whom.

What does the opportunity mean by "complex procurement strategies" and "beneficial ownership structures"?

In the framing of the notice, these terms refer to tactics such as using front companies, layered intermediaries, indirect purchasing routes, opaque corporate ownership, and other methods intended to hide the true end user or end purpose behind purchases that could support CBW-related proliferation.

Is the program focused only on materials and equipment?

No. The program emphasizes not only recognizing potentially dangerous materials or equipment, but also mapping and understanding the networks behind procurement and ownership so that partners can identify red flags, close loopholes, and prevent sensitive items, know-how, or enabling services from reaching prohibited end users.

Does the opportunity list specific project types?

The public description provided does not list specific project types in detail. However, the framing clearly signals interest in work that strengthens identification and disruption of procurement and ownership networks, improves understanding of how Russian-linked entities operate, and supports broader nonproliferation objectives shared by the U.S. and allied governments.

How does sanctions and designation activity relate to this funding opportunity?

The notice points to U.S. government actions such as sanctions and formal designations as part of the broader response to proliferation concerns. It notes that the U.S. Department of Commerce has publicly identified at least 19 Russian and Russian-linked entities believed to be associated with Russian chemical and biological weapons programs, and that the Departments of Treasury and State have also designated Russian-linked entities connected to chemical weapons development.

What does the mention of identified entities suggest about the government’s view of the threat?

Based on the notice language, it underscores that the U.S. government views the threat as connected to identifiable organizations and supply chains, rather than being purely theoretical.

Who is eligible to apply for RCBT funding?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations), public and private educational institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and for-profit organizations. The opportunity also allows participation by public international organizations and governmental institutions.

Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations are listed among eligible applicants.

Are nonprofits and NGOs eligible to apply?

Yes. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations, are explicitly listed as eligible.

Are universities and other educational institutions eligible?

Yes. Both public and private educational institutions are included in the eligibility list.

Are federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) eligible?

Yes. FFRDCs are explicitly included as eligible applicants.

Can governmental institutions or public international organizations participate?

Yes. The opportunity states that public international organizations and governmental institutions are allowed to participate.

What is the award ceiling for this grant opportunity?

The award ceiling is $300,000 per award.

How many awards does the program expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of up to 25 awards.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on October 30, 2023.

What was the original closing date for the opportunity?

The original closing date was January 31, 2024.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is listed as "Other."

What are the opportunity category and activity category?

Both the opportunity category and the activity category are labeled "Other."

What does it mean that the instrument and categories are labeled "Other"?

Based on the description provided, labeling the instrument type and categories as "Other" often signals that awards may be structured flexibly depending on project needs and the agency’s intended use of funds.

What types of expertise does the eligibility scope suggest the program may support?

The wide eligibility range suggests openness to proposals that draw on analytic, technical, and operationally oriented expertise. The description points to potential contributions such as policy research, financial and corporate network analysis, and tradecraft around procurement detection, as long as the work contributes to counterproliferation outcomes tied to Russian CBW-related activities.

What outcomes is this program generally trying to achieve?

Overall, the program is described as a targeted counterproliferation funding call designed to improve the ability of the U.S. and its partners to detect, attribute, and impede Russian chemical and biological weapons enabling networks, particularly where those networks rely on concealed procurement pathways and opaque ownership arrangements.