Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006746
The Strategic Trade Control Experts opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006746) is a U.S. Department of State grant designed to build and maintain a ready pool of specialized advisors who can be deployed to help partner governments strengthen their strategic trade control (STC) systems. Run by the Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, the program sits within the broader Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) framework and focuses on practical, on-the-ground assistance that helps countries prevent illicit or unauthorized transfers of sensitive goods, software, and technologies that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction programs or other destabilizing military capabilities.
At its core, the grant supports work to help EXBS partner countries develop the full architecture of a functioning national trade control system. That includes drafting or modernizing the legal and regulatory foundation for export, re-export, transit, and brokering controls; setting up workable licensing and authorization processes; creating compliance and outreach mechanisms for industry so exporters understand their obligations; and building enforcement capacity across customs, border agencies, police, and investigative bodies. The opportunity also emphasizes the need for strong interagency coordination inside partner governments so licensing, intelligence, enforcement, and foreign affairs functions are aligned rather than fragmented. In addition, it supports deeper international cooperation, helping partners connect their national systems to multilateral standards and to information-sharing and coordination practices with other governments.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning the government expects an active partnership with the award recipients rather than a hands-off grant. The State Department is looking for implementers who can provide expert-level technical assistance in multiple regions and contexts, adapt to differing legal systems and institutional capacity, and respond to evolving needs as partner countries move from drafting laws to actually running licensing offices and conducting investigations. The goal is not a single training event, but a sustained capability that ISN/ECC can draw on as demands arise, including tailored advisory support, tool and procedure development, capacity building, and follow-through to help partners operationalize reforms.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and listed under CFDA 19.901. The original posting date was April 3, 2020, with an original application deadline of June 5, 2020. The total award ceiling is $4,000,000, with an expectation of making two awards, indicating a plan to support a small number of strong implementers with enough scale to maintain a credible bench of experts and deliver assistance globally. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically signals that a range of organizations such as nonprofits, think tanks, or other qualified entities may apply if they can demonstrate the required technical expertise and ability to operate internationally.
In practical terms, an organization funded under this opportunity would be expected to recruit and manage a cadre of specialists across areas like export licensing, commodity identification, legal drafting, government process design, compliance outreach, investigative techniques, and cross-border cooperation. The deliverable is a flexible, deployable capability that helps countries put in place the laws, institutions, and day-to-day procedures needed to control strategic trade effectively, while building cooperation between agencies and with international partners to reduce proliferation and security risks.Apply for SFOP0006746
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategic Trade Control Experts" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.901.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 03, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2020. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Strategic Trade Control Experts (SFOP0006746) - FAQs
What is the Strategic Trade Control Experts opportunity (SFOP0006746)?
Strategic Trade Control Experts (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006746) is a U.S. Department of State grant designed to build and maintain a ready pool of specialized advisors who can be deployed to assist partner governments in strengthening their strategic trade control (STC) systems. The focus is practical, on-the-ground support to help prevent illicit or unauthorized transfers of sensitive goods, software, and technologies.
Which U.S. government office runs this grant?
The opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. It sits within the broader Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) framework.
What problem is this program trying to address?
The program aims to reduce proliferation and security risks by helping partner governments prevent illicit or unauthorized transfers of sensitive items that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction programs or other destabilizing military capabilities.
What does "strategic trade control (STC)" mean in this context?
In this context, STC refers to national systems that control exports and related activities (such as re-export, transit, and brokering) involving sensitive goods, software, and technologies. These systems typically combine laws and regulations, licensing processes, compliance outreach, and enforcement capabilities.
What is EXBS and how does this opportunity relate to it?
EXBS stands for Export Control and Border Security. This opportunity is part of the EXBS framework and supports partner countries by providing expert advisors and practical assistance to develop and operationalize trade control systems.
What types of assistance does the grant support for partner governments?
The grant supports assistance across the full architecture of a functioning national trade control system, including legal and regulatory development, licensing processes, industry compliance and outreach, enforcement capacity building, interagency coordination, and international cooperation aligned to multilateral standards and information-sharing practices.
Does the program focus only on training workshops?
No. The intent is not a single training event. The opportunity emphasizes sustained capability and follow-through, including tailored advisory support, tool and procedure development, capacity building, and support to help partners operationalize reforms.
What legal and regulatory work is included?
The opportunity includes support for drafting or modernizing the legal and regulatory foundation for export, re-export, transit, and brokering controls, so partner governments have the authorities and rules needed for an effective national trade control system.
What licensing-related work is included?
The program supports setting up workable licensing and authorization processes, with a focus on helping partner countries move from having rules on paper to operating day-to-day licensing offices and procedures.
How does the opportunity address compliance by exporters and industry?
It supports the creation of compliance and outreach mechanisms for industry so exporters understand their obligations and can comply with national trade control requirements.
What enforcement capabilities are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes building enforcement capacity across customs, border agencies, police, and investigative bodies, supporting the ability to detect, investigate, and respond to strategic trade violations.
Why is interagency coordination highlighted as a priority?
Strong interagency coordination is emphasized so that licensing, intelligence, enforcement, and foreign affairs functions are aligned rather than fragmented inside partner governments, enabling a more effective and coherent national system.
How does the program support international cooperation?
The opportunity supports deeper international cooperation by helping partner governments connect national systems to multilateral standards and to information-sharing and coordination practices with other governments.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which means the U.S. government expects an active partnership with the award recipients rather than a hands-off grant.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project is managed?
A cooperative agreement implies substantial engagement by the government during implementation. Based on the description, awardees are expected to work closely with the State Department and remain responsive to evolving needs as partner countries progress from drafting laws to running licensing offices and conducting investigations.
What kind of organizations is the State Department looking for?
The State Department is seeking implementers capable of providing expert-level technical assistance in multiple regions and contexts, adapting to different legal systems and institutional capacities, and responding to evolving partner-country needs.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.901.
Is this funding considered discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was April 3, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was June 5, 2020.
What is the total funding ceiling?
The total award ceiling is $4,000,000.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of making two awards.
What does the expectation of two awards suggest about the program's approach?
It suggests the program plans to support a small number of strong implementers at sufficient scale to maintain a credible bench of experts and deliver assistance globally as needs arise.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. This typically signals that a range of qualified entities may apply if they can demonstrate the required technical expertise and ability to operate internationally.
What kinds of technical experts are expected to be part of the deployable pool?
The description indicates a need for specialists across export licensing, commodity identification, legal drafting, government process design, compliance outreach, investigative techniques, and cross-border cooperation.
What is the primary deliverable envisioned for funded organizations?
The deliverable is a flexible, deployable capability: a managed cadre of experts who can be drawn on to provide tailored advisory support, develop tools and procedures, build capacity, and help partner governments operationalize strategic trade control reforms.
Does the opportunity require international or multi-region capability?
Yes. The opportunity describes a need for implementers who can provide expert technical assistance in multiple regions and contexts and adapt to varying legal systems and institutional capacities.
How does the program measure progress conceptually (based on the description)?
Progress is framed as moving partner countries from drafting or modernizing laws and regulations to actually operating licensing processes, building enforcement capacity, improving interagency coordination, and engaging in international cooperation aligned to multilateral standards and information-sharing practices.
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