Protecting American Commercial Investments in Pakistan

The Protecting American Commercial Investments in Pakistan funding opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of Counterterrorism. This program reflects the federal government’s strategic priority to safeguard American economic and national security interests abroad, particularly in regions where access to critical minerals is threatened by instability. The Bureau of Counterterrorism plays a central role in advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives by strengthening partner nations’ capabilities to counter terrorist threats. This opportunity focuses specifically on Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, a region with significant mineral resources and ongoing terrorist activity that threatens infrastructure and economic access. The primary purpose of the program is to enhance the capacity of Pakistani law enforcement agencies to independently detect, deter, and disrupt terrorist threats affecting critical infrastructure. The initiative emphasizes long-term sustainability and self-reliance, aiming to reduce Pakistan’s dependency on U.S. assistance over time. Applicants are expected to design programs that incorporate training, technical assistance, and potentially equipment support, while ensuring that Pakistani institutions retain ownership and operational responsibility. The program aligns with broader U.S. strategic goals of promoting economic security, enabling partner-led solutions, and ensuring uninterrupted access to resources essential for defense and technological advancement. Funding for this opportunity totals $5,821,410, with one award anticipated under a cooperative agreement structure. The period of performance is up to 24 months, with an expected program start date of September 30, 2026. As a cooperative agreement, the Bureau of Counterterrorism will maintain substantial involvement throughout the program lifecycle, including approval of training materials, participation in planning and oversight, and coordination with Pakistani counterparts. Allowable uses of funds include program implementation costs such as training delivery, equipment procurement, personnel, travel, and monitoring and evaluation activities. Restrictions include prohibitions on funding certain entities such as UNRWA and limitations related to compliance with federal regulations, human rights vetting, and prohibited technologies. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, for-profit entities, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. All applicants must maintain a valid Unique Entity Identifier and active registration in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization is permitted. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required and does not influence the competitive ranking of applications. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to operate in complex, high-threat environments and to manage collaborative, multi-stakeholder programs. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or MyGrants and includes mandatory federal forms (SF-424 series), a detailed proposal narrative, a budget justification, and supporting attachments such as resumes, letters of support, and risk analyses. The proposal must include a situational analysis, problem statement, alignment with U.S. counterterrorism strategy, detailed project activities, a logic model, a theory of change, and a performance monitoring plan. Applicants must also outline a timeline, identify key personnel and partners, and describe sustainability strategies. All submissions must adhere to formatting and content requirements specified in the notice. Applications are due by June 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions regarding the opportunity were accepted until April 23, 2026, with responses posted by April 30, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including program quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, program planning, monitoring and evaluation, budget justification, and sustainability. Awards will be determined through a merit review process involving subject matter experts, with final approval by a Department of State Grants Officer. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by July 6, 2026. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring and appears to be a single funding cycle tied to fiscal year appropriations. Reporting requirements for awarded recipients include regular financial and programmatic updates, as well as compliance with federal regulations and performance tracking systems. Contact for application questions is provided via email, and applicants are encouraged to ensure early registration in required federal systems due to processing timelines.

Ensure strong alignment with stated counterterrorism outcomes; provide detailed implementation plan and measurable indicators; demonstrate organizational capacity and prior experience in similar environments