Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations in the Near East | DFOP0018683

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations in the Near East."

2) What agency is offering this grant?

It is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT).

3) What type of funding instrument is being used?

This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement.

4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0018683.

5) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.701.

6) What problem is this program trying to address?

The program is designed to address the security risks created by large amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind after Iran's extensive use of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems during the 2026 conflict.

7) Why is UXO considered a high-priority threat in this notice?

The notice frames remaining UXO as an immediate risk to regional stability and U.S. national security, including threats to U.S. facilities, critical infrastructure, and civilian soft targets.

8) What is "explosive harvesting" as described in the announcement?

"Explosive harvesting" refers to the collection of unexploded ordnance or explosive materials by hostile actors so they can be repurposed for attacks.

9) Why does the announcement emphasize Iranian-origin explosive materials?

The announcement describes the explosive materials as technically sophisticated and Iranian-origin, and presents their potential diversion and reuse as a significant security concern.

10) What is the overall goal of the program?

The goal is to strengthen partner governments' ability to find, identify, disarm or render safe, and properly dispose of UXO and other explosive materials before they can be diverted into illicit use.

11) What countries are the focus of the program?

The program focuses on Iraq, Lebanon, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

12) Which GCC countries are included?

The GCC member states listed are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

13) Who are the primary beneficiaries named in the announcement?

The announcement explicitly names Iraqi security forces, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), and security services across the GCC states.

14) What kinds of activities does the program seek to support?

The program seeks practical, operational capacity-building support, including explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) training, post-blast investigation training, and the provision of related equipment.

15) Is this opportunity focused more on training, equipment, or both?

Based on the description, it implies a combined training-and-equipment package, even though line-item deliverables are not listed.

16) What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this notice?

In this context, capacity-building refers to strengthening the practical ability of partner security forces to safely handle and dispose of UXO and other explosive materials, and to investigate explosive incidents after they occur.

17) What EOD outcomes is the program trying to improve?

The intended outcomes include improving partners' ability to locate UXO, correctly identify it, disarm or render it safe, and dispose of it properly.

18) What is the secondary objective related to post-blast investigations?

A major secondary objective is improving post-blast investigation capabilities so local services can analyze incidents after an explosion, support attribution, and enable prosecution of those who attempt to weaponize harvested explosive materials.

19) How does post-blast investigation connect to deterrence and disruption?

The notice links post-blast investigation improvements to attribution and prosecution, with the broader aim of deterring follow-on attacks and disrupting terrorist or militant procurement chains.

20) Does the announcement specify exact deliverables or line-item requirements?

No. The announcement does not list line-item deliverables, but it clearly implies operational training and related equipment provision across multiple countries.

21) How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

22) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $3,946,719.

23) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs), U.S. and foreign public and private educational institutions, U.S. and foreign for-profit organizations, public international organizations (PIOs), and governmental institutions.

24) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. and foreign for-profit organizations.

25) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes both U.S. and foreign entities across multiple organization types.

26) Are governmental institutions eligible?

Yes. Governmental institutions are included in the eligibility categories.

27) Does the opportunity indicate whether it wants one implementing partner or multiple partners?

It seeks one implementing partner.

28) What kind of organizational capabilities does the notice imply are important?

It implies the selected organization will likely need regional reach, experience operating in sensitive environments, and the ability to coordinate with multiple host-nation counterparts and U.S. government stakeholders under a cooperative agreement model.

29) What is the application timeline based on the posted dates?

The opportunity was created on 2026-07-17 and lists a closing date of 2026-07-20, indicating a very short application window.

30) What is the original closing date listed?

The original closing date listed is 2026-07-20.