Fellowship for Afghan Radiation and Nuclear Technology Experts in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects | SFOP0009256

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009256

The Department of State, through its Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and specifically the Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF), announced a discretionary grant opportunity to fund one-year fellowships for up to five Afghan radiation and nuclear technology specialists who previously worked for the Afghan government. The purpose is twofold: to retain and apply these experts skills in the United States after their relocation, and to strengthen U.S. security and nonproliferation goals by placing them in practical roles focused on radiological and nuclear threat reduction.

Under this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009256; CFDA 19.224), the Department seeks to award grants to one or more host institutions that can employ these fellows full-time (40 hours per week) in radiological or nuclear security and nonproliferation programming. A central requirement is that each fellow must lead or meaningfully participate in new projects or activities that are not already funded by the U.S. Government, so proposals need to show clear added value rather than repackaging existing federally supported work. The program is designed to be flexible in how fellows are engaged, allowing in-person, virtual, or hybrid arrangements, depending on what best supports the work and the host organizations capacity.

Candidate selection is not left to applicants alone. Instead, an interagency planning and assignment panel will identify and select the individuals and then coordinate with the grant recipient(s) to match each fellow's expertise with the needs of the proposed work. The fellows are described as former U.S. Government partners who have resettled in the United States through Department of State and/or Department of Homeland Security pathways such as refugee status, humanitarian parole, or Priority-1/Priority-2 designations, and they seek work authorization through those processes. Applicants therefore need to be prepared to onboard and employ fellows consistent with U.S. work authorization rules and typical hiring compliance requirements.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that are not institutions of higher education. Applicants may propose to host anywhere from one to all five fellows, and proposals will not be penalized if they do not include placements for all five. The solicitation listed an award ceiling of $800,000 and anticipated up to five awards, reflecting an intent to support multiple hosts or configurations of fellow placements. To be competitive, proposals must make a clear, persuasive case for what the fellow(s) will do day-to-day, how that work directly advances nuclear and radiological risk reduction and U.S. nonproliferation and security objectives, and how grant funds will be used to support the fellowship activities and related program costs.

The opportunity was created on November 10, 2022, with an original application closing date of January 10, 2023. Full application requirements and submission instructions were provided through the attached documentation in SAMS Domestic, which applicants would need to follow for detailed budget, program narrative, and compliance expectations.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fellowship for Afghan Radiation and Nuclear Technology Experts in Support of U.S. Security and Nonproliferation Projects" 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 Nov 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 10, 2023. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for SFOP0009256

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: