Global Biological Threat Reduction and Border Security
Deadline: 22-Nov-21
The Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation is inviting non-profit/non-governmental organizations, international organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit organizations to submit proposals for projects that will advance the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund’s (NDF) nonproliferation mission through abiological threat reduction and border security program.
The Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF), part of the Department’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), develops and executes projects in support of US Government disarmament and proliferation threat reduction priorities. ISN / NDF efforts prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), missiles, and advanced or destabilizing conventional weapons to terrorists and other rogue entities; support bilateral and multilateral efforts to halt the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, related technologies, and other weapons; and secure, remove, or destroy WMD and its delivery systems.
Lines of Effort (LOEs)
LOE 1. Build indigenous capacity and improve capabilities to quickly and accurately detect and identify outbreaks of high consequence pathogens. Funded proposal (s) will emphasize:
Building capacity to detect biological incidents using molecular diagnostics techniques and advanced molecular diagnostic approaches including bioinformatics analysis and interpretation.
Improving field surveillance and coordination within diagnostic laboratory networks for public health and animal health sectors as well as communication among relevant sectors to include government, academic, and private institutions.
Improving case reporting, cooperation with international organizations, and adoption of relevant international standards such as International Health Regulations (IHR).
Improving regional coordination to detect and respond to transboundary outbreaks of high consequence pathogens.
Improving sample transportation networks and protocols.
LOE 2. Build indigenous capacity to improve biorisk management, biosecurity, and biosafety practices in diagnostic and research laboratories and medical facilities that work with or may encounter high consequence pathogens. Funded proposals will emphasize:
Improving biorisk management and biosecurity in government, academic, and clinical laboratories to include new labs established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Improving biorisk management, biosecurity, and infection prevention and control in medical facilities.
Improving sample and facility decontamination methods and proper waste management at diagnostic and research laboratories and medical facilities.
Improving physical security of laboratories through risk assessment training and infrastructure improvements.
Improving sample security by developing and operationalizing priority pathogen lists, pathogen inventory systems, promoting pathogen consolidation, and sample management protocols.
Training researchers and other stakeholders on the risks of dual-use research and how to mitigate these risks with a focus on facilities that conduct advanced research, those that handle high consequence pathogens, and / or those that work on the development and production of therapeutics and vaccines.
Improving evidence-based protocols for applied biosafety and biosecurity to better inform standard operating procedure development for labs of varying resource levels.
Promoting sustainable biosecurity and biorisk management expertise within countries and regions of interest.
LOE 3. Enhance and promote multisectoral coordination across animal health, human health, border, and other related security sectors to mitigate biological threats. Funded proposals will emphasize:
Developing or improving biological incident preparedness plans and operationalization of these plans for human and animal health sectors along with law enforcement, first responders, disaster response teams, and border security sectors.
Developing or improving emergency management operationalization for human health, animal health, law enforcement, and border security sectors.
Improving coordination between national public health authorities and border security authorities to develop customized operational procedures to support quarantine, reporting, and information sharing in keeping with international regulations.
LOE 4th Augment border security to mitigate biological threats and promote legitimate use and innovation of life sciences and biotechnology. Funded proposals will emphasize:
Improving foreign government development of laws, regulations, policies and / or standard operating procedures in coordination with industry, academic and private sectors on tangible and intangible technology, equipment, or data crossing borders that may have applications in biological proliferation.
Ensuring supply chain security to prevent transfers of illicit or counterfeit dual-use healthcare goods, pharmaceutical products, and WMD-applicable materials as well as their theft or diversion.
Developing scenario-based incident command system and emergency response training for CBRNe response units or equivalent entities at ports of entry to mitigate dissemination of biological threats.
For all LOEs, potential regions (countries) of impact include but are not limited to: Sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan), Near East (Egypt , Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia), East Asia and Pacific (Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam), and South and Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India), and Western Hemisphere (Argentina, Brazil, Peru).
Funding information
Available Funding : $ 8,500,000
Award Floor : $ 750,000
Award Period : 12 to 24 months, though longer periods of performance may be considered on a case-by-case basis. ISN / NDF will provide an additional 3 months for project close out.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply (both domestic and international):
Not-for-profit organizations
Public and private educational institutions
For-profit organizations
Public international organizations
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=335887