Protecting U.S. Critical Energy Investments Through C-UAS and UAS Surveillance Capabilities in Iraq

The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of Counterterrorism, is offering a funding opportunity titled Protecting U.S. Critical Energy Investments Through C-UAS and UAS Surveillance Capabilities in Iraq. This initiative is designed to safeguard American economic interests and personnel operating in Iraq by strengthening the Government of Iraq’s capacity to counter threats from unmanned aircraft systems. The Bureau of Counterterrorism plays a central role in advancing U.S. national security priorities, particularly those involving counterterrorism operations, foreign assistance, and protection of U.S. assets abroad. This funding opportunity aligns with broader strategic frameworks including the Department of State Agency Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2026–2030 and national security directives aimed at countering Iran and affiliated militia groups. The program’s primary objective is to mitigate risks posed by increasingly sophisticated drone attacks targeting U.S. investments in Iraq’s oil and gas sector. These investments represent billions of dollars in American commercial activity and are vital to both U.S. economic interests and Iraqi stability. The program seeks to deliver measurable outcomes by enhancing Iraqi capabilities in both counter-UAS operations and proactive surveillance. This includes enabling Iraqi civilian and security forces to detect, track, identify, and neutralize hostile drones, as well as conduct surveillance operations to prevent attacks before they occur. The program emphasizes long-term sustainability and aims to transition Iraqi institutions toward self-reliance without ongoing U.S. assistance. Funding under this opportunity totals $6,808,090 and will be awarded as a single cooperative agreement, contingent upon the availability of funds. The anticipated period of performance is up to 24 months, with a projected start date of September 30, 2026. The cooperative agreement structure indicates substantial involvement from the Bureau of Counterterrorism throughout the lifecycle of the program, including approval of program design, training curricula, personnel selection, and monitoring and evaluation activities. Applicants must be prepared for ongoing collaboration and oversight, as well as coordination with the U.S. Mission in Iraq. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as nonprofit entities, educational institutions, for-profit organizations where permitted, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. All applicants must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier and active registration in SAM.gov at the time of application. Only one proposal per organization is allowed. While cost sharing is encouraged, it is not required and does not influence the competitive evaluation. Applicants must also comply with various federal regulations and certifications, including those related to anti-discrimination, trafficking in persons, and the use of prohibited unmanned aircraft systems. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or MyGrants and includes several mandatory components such as standard federal forms (SF-424 series), a detailed proposal narrative, a budget justification, and supporting attachments. The proposal must clearly outline the program’s design, including situational analysis, problem statement, alignment with counterterrorism strategies, detailed activities, and a logic model with a theory of change. Applicants must also include a performance monitoring plan with specific indicators and a timeline for implementation. The application deadline is June 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, and questions must be submitted by April 23, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria such as the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity, planning and ability to achieve outcomes, monitoring and evaluation strategies, budget justification, and sustainability. A review panel composed of subject matter experts will assess proposals, with final approval granted by a Department of State Grants Officer. Successful applicants will be notified by July 6, 2026, and must adhere to post-award requirements including regular reporting, compliance with federal regulations, and coordination with U.S. government stakeholders. This funding opportunity is not recurring and represents a targeted, strategic investment in enhancing Iraq’s security capabilities while protecting U.S. interests abroad. It reflects a broader shift toward building partner nation capacity and reducing long-term dependency on U.S. assistance.

Ensure strong alignment with counterterrorism objectives; provide detailed logic model and PMP; demonstrate organizational capacity and prior experience; ensure feasibility and sustainability of program design