Defense, Security

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Limiting Language 
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal; however, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).

Overview
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) seeks an implementing partner to address a critical security sector skills gap that exposes U.S. citizens and businesses in Kenya to heightened risks.

This program will strengthen Kenyan police command and control during critical incidents by training commanders, officers, and recruit trainees scheduled to begin service in late 2026, focusing on public order management. By building these capabilities, the program will enhance stability and protect U.S. interests in Kenya.

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Limiting Language 
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will b considered ineligible for funding. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal; however, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).

Overview 
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to advance Morocco's forensic science capabilities. Morocco serves as a critical transit point for illicit goods, threatening regional security and legitimate commerce conducted by U.S. businesses. This project will combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that threaten U.S. security interests by enhancing evidence-based investigations and prosecutions of drug trafficking and other transnational crimes through strengthened forensic capabilities that enable Moroccan authorities to disrupt criminal networks more effectively and support regional security cooperation.

Limit: 3 (one per Thrust Area) // Tickets Available: 0

Thrust Area 1: Y. Takashima (Optical Sciences)
Thrust Area 2: C. Fucetola (Astronomy & Steward Observatory)
Thrust Area 3: G. Cole (Wyant College of Optical Sciences)

Limiting Language
A proposing organization, identified by a unique CAGE Code, may submit no more than one Abstract per Thrust Area. Each Abstract submitted by the same organization must identify a different Principal Investigator, technical team, and represent a distinct technical approach. 

Eligibility 
Universities whose proposed Principal Investigator has not previously served as a Principal Investigator under a DARPA-funded award.

Thrust Areas
Thrust Area 1: A world beyond electronics 
The “a world beyond electronics” thrust seeks to develop non-electronic and hybrid physical approachesto advance sub-functions and unit operations to create future warfighting systems and capabilities. These sub-functions and unit operations include but are not limited to: 

• Sensing and communications beyond electronics. While we will continue to need sensing and communications, novel approaches can not only improve upon what modern radio-frequency systems deliver for the existing battlespace but also invent functions leading to new capability for the future battlespace. Examples of non-electronic developments could include optical, quantum, organic, and acoustic devices. The addressable physical stimuli (e.g., optical thermal, acoustic, chemical, etc.) and/or appropriate information buses (e.g., photonic, fluidic, or otherwise) for the proposed device should be provided in detail as well as performance estimates. 

Thrust Area 2: Foundations beyond components 
The “foundations beyond components” thrust explores technologies and methods that survive and even thrive in hostile and challenging environments. Production and use of these components can then be used in novel and previously unforeseen applications. 

• Extreme environments are both natural and man-made. The natural extreme environments of interest include space, undersea, and the arctic. Technologies and methods should lead to systems subjected to a wide range of environmental conditions and natural attacks such as corrosion. Man-made environmental impacts, including the actions of adversaries, add system effects such as shock and vibration. 
• Advanced capabilities will require increasing amounts of intelligence, automation, endurance and survivability. Assuming that humans are not present, a heterogeneous mix of distributed uncrewed systems may be warranted requiring advanced sensing, actuation, orientation, processing, communication, and power. Each of these has its own research challenges. 
• Making and sustaining these components and systems require unique approaches to leverage the local environment itself, use what is in place, and erase the line between equipment and environment. 

Thrust Area 3: Materials beyond nature and current synthetic practice 
The “materials beyond nature and current synthetic practice” thrust seeks the discovery and fabrication of new materials that exceed what can be found in nature or are currently produced. MXO believes that novel applications, research breakthroughs, and advanced capability development will benefit from new materials used in new ways. 

• Material properties realized after fabrication. Beyond phase change materials, how do we identify future programmable material and synthesize component properties? Examples include ad-hoc tunable electrical, magnetic, optical, and mechanical properties beyond the state of the art.
• Built-in autonomous property resiliency of materials/components. Imagine if we could maintain pre-determined material and component properties without humans in the loop. Examples include self-healing (recovery of material properties or improvement in their reliability), self-deformation (material as sensor and actuator), or self-protection (anti-break, anti-rust, anti-aging). 
• Artificially created new material properties. How do we identify previously unattainable material properties followed by the manufacturing and realization of this new material? Examples include room temperature superconductor and inorganic-like electrical characteristics in organic material systems

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Limiting Language
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity.

Executive Summary
The U.S. Department of State’s Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and U.S. Consulate General Surabaya, Indonesia announces an open competition to implement a program to organizations.

In 2024, trade in goods and services between the United States and ASEAN reached almost $572 billion, supporting over 625,000 American jobs. As a hub for some of the world’s most important manufacturers and shipping routes, Southeast Asia depends on secure, resilient, and diversified supply chains grounded in fair and reciprocal trade practices. President Trump’s America First foreign policy prioritizes secure supply chains that strengthen U.S. economic and national security while advancing cooperation with allies and partners. This is especially important in the critical minerals sector, where the United States is working with regional partners to diversify supply chains in alignment with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy.” 

Against this backdrop, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) will host a regional workshop titled Securing Supply Chains: Market Opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City and U.S. Consulate General Surabaya seek proposals to design and implement a four-day workshop in Vietnam and Indonesia for up to 55 ASEAN leaders ages 22–35 occurring in May 2027. Vietnam and Indonesia represent two of the most promising markets for increased commercial cooperation with the United States and bring complementary expertise in critical minerals (Indonesia) and in integrated and resilient supply chains (Vietnam). 

Participants will examine supply chain resilience, critical minerals, and emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI through case studies, interactive exercises, and collaborative problem- solving. The program will equip early-stage professionals with practical skills to strengthen regional supply chains, support informed investment decisions, and advance U.S. and Southeast Asian prosperity and security.

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Limiting Langauge
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal; however, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).

Description
This project will fully support a newly established analytical center within the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Prosecutors Office that can provide a data-driven analysis and tailored investigative mentoring to combat TCOs that threaten U.S. security through illicit finance, corruption, narcotics trafficking, and other cross-border criminal activity.

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Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant. Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424.

Executive Summary 
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 (Academic Year 2027-2028) Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and outbound Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) travel component. The CBYX for Young Professionals and CBBSX programs advance America’s national interests by building lasting personal and institutional relationships that promote prosperity and security between the United States and Germany.

 

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0 

J. Osorio (Government and Public Policy)

Limiting Language
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Executive Summary
Illicit gold mining has emerged as a significant global threat, eroding sovereignty and stability and providing a lucrative revenue stream for violent Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and other criminal networks. Driven by surging global gold prices, experts estimate illegal gold mining has become a larger source of criminal income than narcotics trafficking in several Western Hemisphere countries, generating billions of dollars annually in criminal proceeds that fund FTOs and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) across the region. In countries with high concentrations of FTO activity and illegal gold mining overlap - particularly Colombia and Mexico - designated groups including FARC dissidents, Clan del Golfo, Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, and Primeiro Comando da Capital control mining operations and trafficking networks that fuel illegal resource extraction throughout South America. Violent FTOs like Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups have been linked to financing from these FTO illicit mining operations. These violent FTOs and their vast networks attack every layer of the mine-to-market supply chain - from obtaining concessions through corruption, controlling extraction sites, trafficking mercury used in gold extraction, extorting shipments, and laundering proceeds through illicit markets. 

Addressing illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere directly advances U.S. security and economic interests by disrupting a major illicit source of funding for terrorist organizations, reducing their capacity to operate and threaten stability. By curbing the flow of illegally sourced gold into global markets, these efforts also help protect the integrity of American supply chains for U.S. businesses that rely on responsibly sourced materials. In turn, these actions contribute to a safer international environment, a stable global economy, and a stronger foundation for American prosperity. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) is seeking proposals for an initiative that will address the exploitation of illicit mining by violent FTOs. Special focus should be on the relationship and involvement of FTOs and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) in the space. Competitive proposals should take an integrated approach to the threat and include civilian law enforcement, mining sector regulators, judges and prosecutors, and civil society where appropriate.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Executive Summary
U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), including jihadist networks, drug cartels, and individual extremists, continue to act on violent ideations and inspire others globally. Recruitment efforts are increasingly digital, thus making counterterrorism investigations more complex across borders. Furthermore, emerging technology, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), are enhancing recruitment effectiveness with target populations.The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism, announces this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to support law enforcement in countering U.S.-designated FTO online recruitment, pending the availability of funds. Regional locations of interest include but are not limited to those listed above in the “Priority Region” section and should be tailored appropriately to the recruitment contexts of each location as applicable. If proposing multiple locations, applicants should articulate how and under what criteria participating countries will be selected.

Goal(s) and Objective(s):

• National Security Strategy
  • Counter cross-border threats, such as terrorism, that seeks to threaten the U.S.homeland.
• U.S. Department of State Agency Strategic Plan, FY 2026-2030
  • Goal 6: Targeted Foreign Assistance that Puts American Interests First
    • Objective 6.1: Leveraging assistance as a tool of statecraft.

CT Program Outcome(s):

• Outcome 1: Adopt U.S.-approved investigative and related counterterrorism law enforcement intelligence standards and practices enabling the investigation of FTOs and other terrorist actors that threaten the U.S. homeland, persons, and facilities.
• Outcome 2: Protect U.S. citizens and interests by strengthening the investigation of FTOs and other terrorist actors, consistent with U.S.-approved investigative standards and practices.
• Outcome 3: Adopt U.S.-approved legal standards and practices enabling the prosecution of FTOs and other terrorist actors that threaten the U.S. homeland, persons, and facilities.
• Outcome 4: Protect U.S. citizens and interests by strengthening the prosecution of FTOs and other terrorist actors, consistent with U.S.-approved legal standards and practices.

Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0 

B. Vasic (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
M. Hassan (Physics)
E. Hamden (Space Institute) 

Limiting Language 
We will be accepting up to 3 proposals per university for review

Program Overview
JPL has formal strategic partnerships with 15 universities that have major commitments to space exploration, and broad connections to JPL. The Strategic University Research Partnerships (SURP) program supports these partnerships, providing resources to foster strong collaborative relationships. The program works with JPL researchers and our strategic partners to develop new science and technology opportunities and provide accelerated innovation for NASA’s missions.
 

The July 2026 deadline is institutionally coordinated. For more information, please contact RDS.