Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017103
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and its Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Laboratory Twinning: Genome Sequence Analysis as a Tool Investigating an Alleged Biological Weapons Attack." The focus of the competition is biological weapons threat reduction, specifically building practical capacity and partnerships that improve how laboratories can use genome sequencing and genomic analysis to support credible investigations when a biological weapons incident is alleged. In plain terms, the program is meant to strengthen the technical ability of participating labs and institutions to generate, analyze, and interpret genetic sequence data in ways that would be useful in high-stakes public health and security scenarios, including the kinds of investigations that may be relevant to international nonproliferation and disarmament objectives.
This funding is being competed under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and is administered as a grant. The opportunity sits under CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.224 and is categorized under "Other" for funding activity. The Department of State is looking for proposals that directly advance NDF's biological threat reduction priorities, which typically means work that improves readiness, quality, reliability, and cross-border cooperation for detecting and attributing unusual biological events. The "laboratory twinning" framing signals that the project is expected to emphasize partnership-building, mentorship, and knowledge transfer between organizations (for example, pairing a more experienced sequencing and bioinformatics-capable laboratory with a partner laboratory seeking to build or mature those capabilities), rather than operating as a standalone research project.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and other eligible entities. The NOFO also explicitly invites non-profit/non-governmental organizations, international organizations, educational institutions, and U.S. federal government entities, and it notes that U.S. federal government entities, as well as foreign public entities and public international organizations, are within the applicant universe referenced in the announcement. Applicants should still pay close attention to the full NOFO requirements and any registration or compliance expectations that apply to their entity type, since those details often determine how a proposal must be structured and what documentation is required.
The funding available is limited: the award ceiling is $480,000, and the Department anticipates making one award. That means this is essentially a single-project competition with a defined maximum budget, so proposals need to be tightly scoped, realistic, and clearly aligned to the stated purpose. Because proposals may not exceed the total availability of funds under the NOFO, budgets above the ceiling will not be competitive and may be deemed nonresponsive. Given the anticipated single award, the selection will likely prioritize a project plan that demonstrates clear impact, credible implementation capacity, and measurable outcomes related to genomic sequencing and analysis for incident investigation contexts.
The application deadline listed is January 31, 2025 (original closing date). The opportunity was created on December 27, 2024. Applications must be submitted through the Department of State's MyGrants platform, which is the required submission route for this competition. In practice, that means prospective applicants should plan for enough lead time to navigate platform registration, gather required attachments, and submit a complete application package well before the deadline, since late or incomplete submissions are commonly rejected in federal assistance competitions.
Overall, this NOFO is best understood as a targeted capacity-building and partnership grant in the biosecurity/nonproliferation space. It aims to strengthen the ability of laboratories and associated institutions to apply genome sequence analysis in a way that supports rigorous investigations of alleged biological weapons attacks, while advancing the Department of State's broader biological weapons threat reduction priorities. Key facts to keep in view are the single expected award, the $480,000 ceiling, the MyGrants submission requirement, and the emphasis on practical, collaborative laboratory "twinning" approaches rather than purely academic research outputs.Apply for DFOP0017103
- The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Laboratory Twinning: Genome Sequence Analysis as a Tool Investigating an Alleged Biological Weapons Attack" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.224.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $480,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Laboratory Twinning: Genome Sequence Analysis as a Tool Investigating an Alleged Biological Weapons Attack."
2) Which U.S. government agency is offering this funding?
This funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and its Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF).
3) What type of funding is this (grant, contract, etc.)?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity competed under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and administered as a grant.
4) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.224.
5) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program focuses on biological weapons threat reduction by building practical capacity and partnerships that improve how laboratories generate, analyze, and interpret genome sequencing data in support of credible investigations when a biological weapons incident is alleged.
6) What does "laboratory twinning" mean in this NOFO?
"Laboratory twinning" indicates an emphasis on partnership-building, mentorship, and knowledge transfer between organizations, such as pairing a more experienced genome sequencing and bioinformatics-capable laboratory with a partner laboratory seeking to build or mature those capabilities.
7) Is this opportunity mainly for research?
The opportunity is described as a targeted capacity-building and partnership grant rather than a standalone academic research project. Proposed work is expected to strengthen practical readiness and application of genome sequence analysis for investigation contexts.
8) What kinds of outcomes is the Department of State looking for?
Proposals are expected to directly advance ISN/NDF biological threat reduction priorities, typically by improving readiness, quality, reliability, and cross-border cooperation for detecting and attributing unusual biological events, including alleged biological weapons incidents.
9) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity is categorized as "Other."
10) How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is $480,000.
11) How many awards does the Department expect to make?
The Department anticipates making one award.
12) Can an application budget exceed $480,000?
No. Proposals may not exceed the total availability of funds under the NOFO. Budgets above the $480,000 ceiling will not be competitive and may be deemed nonresponsive.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and other eligible entities.
14) Are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly invites non-profit/non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and educational institutions.
15) Are U.S. federal government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement notes that U.S. federal government entities are within the applicant universe referenced.
16) Are foreign public entities and public international organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement notes that foreign public entities and public international organizations are within the applicant universe referenced.
17) What should applicants watch for despite broad eligibility?
Applicants should pay close attention to the full NOFO requirements and any registration or compliance expectations that apply to their entity type, since those details often determine proposal structure and required documentation.
18) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 27, 2024.
19) What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is January 31, 2025 (original closing date).
20) How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted through the Department of State's MyGrants platform, which is the required submission route for this competition.
21) Is MyGrants submission optional?
No. The information provided indicates MyGrants is the required submission route for this NOFO.
22) What practical planning should applicants consider for submission?
Applicants should allow enough lead time to navigate MyGrants registration, gather required attachments, and submit a complete package well before the deadline, since late or incomplete submissions are commonly rejected in federal assistance competitions.
23) How competitive is this funding opportunity likely to be?
Because the Department anticipates making only one award with a defined ceiling, proposals will likely need to be tightly scoped, realistic, and clearly aligned to the stated capacity-building and laboratory partnership purpose.
24) What will likely make a proposal stronger based on the NOFO description?
The description suggests the selection will likely prioritize clear impact, credible implementation capacity, and measurable outcomes tied to genome sequencing and genomic analysis for incident investigation contexts, especially where partnership-based "twinning" is central.
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