Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006533
The Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006533) to support the development of a draft document titled "Ethical Guidelines for Biosecurity." The central aim is to produce practical, ethics-focused guidance that complements existing professional codes and related ethical frameworks already used by biological scientists. The guidelines are intended to reinforce and clarify shared expectations for responsible conduct in the life sciences, with a specific focus on reducing the risk that biological research, knowledge, or tools could be misused for biological weapons purposes.
A key motivation behind the opportunity is strengthening national and international norms against the misuse of life sciences, which is relevant both to preventing bioweapons development by non-state actors and to discouraging prohibited activities by national governments. The envisioned output is not meant to replace existing codes, but to supplement them by addressing biosecurity-specific ethical considerations in a way that is broadly usable across research settings, disciplines, and countries. The guidelines are also intended to be credible and widely adopted, meaning the process should be grounded in input from the biological science community and designed to earn support from both Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) States Parties and relevant professional organizations.
The project is structured to be executed in coordination with the State Department's Office of Biological Policy Staff (BPS) and WMDT. BPS is described as working at the intersection of national security, public health, and science, and it leads U.S. government engagement on BWC-related activities. This indicates that the awardee would not work in isolation; instead, the work would be carried out with ongoing government coordination and likely iterative feedback, consistent with the "cooperative agreement" mechanism.
The guideline development process is expected to take place under the aegis of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), which is a global network comprising 111 national science academies. IAP would select the technical experts who participate in the process, in close cooperation with the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). This governance and expert-selection approach signals that the resulting document is intended to reflect broad international scientific expertise and to be positioned for legitimacy across borders, rather than representing a single institution's view.
From an applicant and funding standpoint, eligible applicants are private institutions of higher education. The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development activities (CFDA 19.901). The award has a ceiling of $125,000, with an expectation of a single award. The opportunity was created February 28, 2020, with an original closing date of May 28, 2021. Overall, this is a relatively focused, single-award effort aimed at producing a draft global-facing ethics document, developed through an international academy network and aligned with BWC-related biosecurity objectives.Apply for SFOP0006533
- 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 "International Guidelines for Biosecurity Ethics" 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 Feb 28, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 28, 2021. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, under Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006533.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project supports the development of a draft document titled "Ethical Guidelines for Biosecurity." The goal is to produce practical, ethics-focused guidance for responsible conduct in the life sciences, specifically aimed at reducing the risk that biological research, knowledge, or tools could be misused for biological weapons purposes.
What is the primary deliverable funded by this award?
The primary deliverable is a draft document: "Ethical Guidelines for Biosecurity."
What kinds of guidance are the "Ethical Guidelines for Biosecurity" intended to provide?
The guidelines are intended to reinforce and clarify shared expectations for responsible conduct in the life sciences by addressing biosecurity-specific ethical considerations. They are meant to be practical and usable across different research settings, disciplines, and countries.
Are these guidelines meant to replace existing professional codes of conduct?
No. The guidelines are intended to complement and supplement existing professional codes and related ethical frameworks already used by biological scientists, not replace them.
What biosecurity concern is this project trying to address?
The project focuses on reducing the risk that life sciences research, knowledge, or tools could be misused for biological weapons purposes.
How does this effort relate to national and international norms?
A key motivation is to strengthen national and international norms against the misuse of life sciences. This is framed as relevant both to preventing bioweapons development by non-state actors and to discouraging prohibited activities by national governments.
How is the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) connected to this opportunity?
The opportunity is aligned with BWC-related biosecurity objectives. The process is intended to earn support from BWC States Parties, and the State Department office leading U.S. engagement on BWC-related activities (the Office of Biological Policy Staff) is expected to coordinate on the project.
Who within the U.S. government is coordinating this work?
The project is structured to be executed in coordination with the State Department's Office of Biological Policy Staff (BPS) and WMDT.
What is the Office of Biological Policy Staff (BPS) as described in the opportunity?
BPS is described as working at the intersection of national security, public health, and science, and as leading U.S. government engagement on BWC-related activities.
What does it mean that this award is a "cooperative agreement"?
Based on the description provided, the cooperative agreement structure indicates the awardee is not expected to work in isolation. The work would be carried out with ongoing government coordination and likely iterative feedback, consistent with the cooperative agreement mechanism.
What organization is expected to provide the umbrella (aegis) for the guideline development process?
The guideline development process is expected to take place under the aegis of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).
What is the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)?
IAP is described as a global network comprising 111 national science academies.
Who selects the technical experts involved in developing the guidelines?
IAP would select the technical experts who participate in the process, in close cooperation with the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
What role does NASEM play in the project structure?
NASEM is expected to work closely with IAP in the expert-selection process for the guideline development effort.
Why is the expert-selection and governance approach emphasized?
The described approach signals an intent for the document to reflect broad international scientific expertise and to be positioned for legitimacy across borders, rather than representing a single institution's view.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants are private institutions of higher education.
What is the program area or category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development activities.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 19.901.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award has a ceiling of $125,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity notes an expectation of a single award.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on February 28, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was May 28, 2021.
Is this project described as broad or narrowly scoped?
It is described as a relatively focused, single-award effort aimed at producing a draft global-facing ethics document aligned with BWC-related biosecurity objectives.
What does "credible and widely adopted" mean in the context provided?
In the context provided, it means the development process should be grounded in input from the biological science community and designed to earn support from both BWC States Parties and relevant professional organizations.
Who is the intended audience or user base for the guidelines?
The guidelines are intended to be broadly usable across research settings, disciplines, and countries, and to complement ethical frameworks already used by biological scientists.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: GP CESU: Survey Wintering and Migratory Birds at TAPR
Previous opportunity: BJA FY 20 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for SFOP0006533
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (SFOP0006533) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Physical Access and Transportation Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0390 Funding Number: HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR REGE 0390 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $925,000 |
| Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing: Scientific Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Fusion Energy Sciences Apply for DE FOA 0002224 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002224 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Theoretical Research in Magnetic Fusion Energy Science Apply for DE FOA 0002226 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002226 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $7,500,000 |
| Innovation Corps @ Department of Defense Program (I-Corps @ DoD Program) Apply for W911NF 20 S 0007 Funding Number: W911NF 20 S 0007 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU Apply for G20AS00041 Funding Number: G20AS00041 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $255,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU Apply for G20AS00040 Funding Number: G20AS00040 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G20AS00038 Funding Number: G20AS00038 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $59,101 |
| Gen-4 Engineering Research Centers Apply for 20 553 Funding Number: 20 553 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| D.2 Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT) Project Apply for NNH19ZEA001N TTT Funding Number: NNH19ZEA001N TTT Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ADVANCE: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions Apply for 20 554 Funding Number: 20 554 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| DoD Bone Marrow Failure, Idea Development Award Apply for W81XWH 20 BMFRP IDA Funding Number: W81XWH 20 BMFRP IDA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR/STTR FY 2020 Phase II Release 2 Apply for DE FOA 0002156 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002156 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,100,000 |
| Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Real Time Pressure Mapping to Reduce Risk of Pressure Ulcers Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0396 Funding Number: HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0396 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Opportunities in Frontier Plasma Science Apply for DE FOA 0002260 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002260 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| Measurement Innovations for Fusion Energy and Plasmas Apply for DE FOA 0002280 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002280 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) Support at Fort Polk, LA Apply for W9126G 20 2 SOI 2762 Funding Number: W9126G 20 2 SOI 2762 Agency: Department of Defense, Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $28,724,226 |
| Multimodal Sensor Systems for Precision Health Enabled by Data Harnessing, Artificial Intelligence, and Learning Apply for 20 556 Funding Number: 20 556 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Lung Cancer, Idea Development Award Apply for W81XWH 20 LCRP IDA Funding Number: W81XWH 20 LCRP IDA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Lung Cancer, Concept Award Apply for W81XWH 20 LCRP CA Funding Number: W81XWH 20 LCRP CA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Lung Cancer, Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award Apply for W81XWH 20 LCRP IITRA Funding Number: W81XWH 20 LCRP IITRA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "SFOP0006533", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.