Build Partner Resilience to Counter Proliferator State Hybrid Threats in the Nonproliferation Arena (US)

ISN/CTR seeks to address the erosion of nonproliferation norms. Within the last decade, there has been a concerning trend in the willingness of proliferator states to use WMD materials – especially chemical weapons. In particular, the world has witnessed the repeated use of chemical weapons in multiple assassination attempts by different threat actors. This is often accompanied by conflicting and WMD-related false narratives that seek to deflect blame and cause confusion.

Proliferator state officials are increasingly coordinating and supporting false claims about the U.S. and their partners in the nonproliferation arena. The ultimate goal of this effort is to sow distrust against the United States and their allies, and to erode long-standing nonproliferation norms prohibiting the development and use of WMD.

An important deterrent against the use of WMD agents is a robust and secure global detection network. These networks help ensure that decision-makers and security and law enforcement entities are able to affirm the use of prohibited WMD materials by proliferator states or non-state actors. As such, it is vital to secure and provide technical support to these facilities responsible for detecting chemical agents, and ensuring they are devoid of outside interference. These detection and reporting institutions have been repeated targets of proliferator state hybrid threat campaigns seeking to interfere with ongoing chemical weapons use investigations.

Goal

• ISN/CTR will build foreign partner capacity to counter efforts by proliferator states to utilize hybrid threat tactics in the nonproliferation arena:
  • Support cyber security upgrades and training for detection laboratories to defend against cyber and other hybrid threat attacks.
  • Provide technical consultations to partner countries to better understand how to request international assistance in a suspected proliferator state sponsored WMD incident.
  • Support partner country whole-of-government efforts to detect, counter, and mitigate the impact of proliferator state-led hybrid threats in the nonproliferation arena.
  • Engaging public sector stakeholders to raise awareness off, identify, and respond to targeted use of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) – agents as tools of assassination.
  • Develop partners’ capabilities to recognize and counter WMD and private military contractor hybrid threat campaigns that undermine nonproliferation norms and U.S. security interests.

Objectives

• ISN/CTR seeks proposals that will:
  • Build scientific capacity and support cooperation with law enforcement and security officials to identify the signs and symptoms of potential CBR material attacks.
  • Strengthen partner ability to properly request international technical assistance in the case of suspected targeted CBR use.
  • Build inter-ministerial capacity to respond to hybrid threats seeking to undermine detection facilities, including through strategic messaging training and cyber security support.
  • Support technical training for state-of-the-art detection processes and procedures, to meet the highest quality control standards.
  • Work with key laboratories and oversight officials in partner health, scientific, and interior ministries to develop strong cyber incident response plans and strategic communication plans.
  • Develop and strengthen standard operating procedures for partners to identify, respond to, and investigate the use of CBR materials in assassinations.
  • Promote regional and international coordination to ensure authoritative and robust response to proliferator state sponsored CBR use.
  • Sensitize policymakers, law enforcement, CBRN commissions, journalists, and private and public sector cyber security specialists on pre-attack indicators.
  • Provide timely and accurate resources to key audiences who are targeted by active measures campaigns designed to undermine nonproliferation norms.
  • Engages international audiences through a variety of communications tools, messaging campaigns, publications, microgrants, conferences, workshops, and others.
  • Train participants to recognize and respond to concerted active measure and hybrid warfare campaigns that undermine nonproliferation norms.
  • Enhances partner capacity to develop strategic communications plans to respond to targeted active measure campaigns surrounding WMD-related themes.

Funding Information

• Total Funding Ceiling: $9,000,000
• Anticipated number of awards: 10
• Duration: 15 months

Expected Outcomes

• All proposals will measure partner capacity before and after training and engagement, with the expectation that skills, procedures, and abilities have increased due to ISN/CTR support.

Eligibility Criteria

• U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with or without 501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code; foreign-based non-profit organizations/non-government organizations (NGO); Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs); Public International Organizations; Foreign Public Entities; U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; foreign-based institutions of higher education, and U.S. for-profit organizations or businesses.

Application Requirements

• For all application documents, please ensure:
  • All documents are in English, and all costs are in U.S. dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided. If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version;
  • All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;
  • All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper; and,
  • All documents are single-spaced, 14-point Calibri font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Calibri font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.
  • All application materials must be submitted through the online portal unless you are a U.S. Government entity applying for Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) funding.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.