Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009309
The EXBS Balkans Logistics and SME Support opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009309) is a U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement run through the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation under CFDA 19.901. It was posted on January 3, 2023, with an original application closing date of March 4, 2023. The government anticipated making a single award, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $1,220,001. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant action and uses a cooperative agreement structure, which typically signals that the Department of State expects to stay actively involved in guiding or coordinating key aspects of implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.
The core purpose of the award is to provide coordinated, end-to-end logistics support and to help identify and source subject matter experts (SMEs) for EXBS programming across a defined set of countries in the Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. In practical terms, the implementer is being funded to make the training and technical engagements happen smoothly on the ground by handling the organizing functions that partner governments and trainers often cannot cover efficiently themselves. This includes arranging and managing the operational pieces that enable events and assistance activities to run: scheduling, coordination with local counterparts, arranging venues, travel, and other engagement execution needs, along with recruiting or selecting SMEs when regional trainers are not sufficient for a given topic.
A central feature of EXBS programming in the region, as described in the solicitation, is its cost-effective delivery model. The program often relies on no-cost regional trainers, meaning instructors who can deliver training without charging the program a fee for their time, which helps stretch limited resources. The trade-off is that this model only works if the implementer provides strong, all-inclusive logistics support so those trainers can be deployed effectively and the engagements are executed professionally. Where no-cost regional trainers are not available or the technical need is more specialized, the award also supports the selection and use of other SMEs to fill those gaps, ensuring the program can still deliver credible expertise tailored to specific requirements.
The activities supported by this award are aimed at building and strengthening partner capacity in three main pillars that are central to EXBS goals: strategic trade control management, customs enforcement, and border security operations. Strategic trade controls generally relate to the legal and regulatory frameworks and procedures that prevent illicit transfers of sensitive goods and technologies, including export/import controls and interagency coordination. Customs enforcement and border security operations focus more on frontline detection, interdiction, compliance, and operational practices at borders and ports of entry, with the broader objective of countering smuggling and proliferation-related trafficking while improving lawful trade facilitation and security.
Eligibility is presented broadly as “Others,” with a note that additional eligibility detail would be provided in the full notice. That framing commonly indicates the agency is open to a range of capable implementing organizations (for example, nonprofits, for-profits, or other entities) as long as they can demonstrate the ability to manage complex regional logistics, coordinate with multiple governments and stakeholders, and support technical programming with appropriate expertise. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a regional support mechanism: a single implementer is expected to act as the operational backbone for EXBS engagements across multiple Balkan countries, ensuring trainings and capacity-building activities are delivered efficiently, consistently, and in alignment with U.S. government objectives in nonproliferation, border security, and strategic trade controls.Apply for SFOP0009309
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Security-Nonproliferation in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EXBS Balkans Logistics and SME Support" 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 Jan 03, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 04, 2023. (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 $1,220,001.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: EXBS Balkans Logistics and SME Support (SFOP0009309)
What is the EXBS Balkans Logistics and SME Support opportunity?
This opportunity is a U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement to provide coordinated, end-to-end logistics support and to help identify and source subject matter experts (SMEs) for EXBS (Export Control and Border Security) programming across selected Balkan countries.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0009309.
Which U.S. government office is running this award?
It is run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
What is the assistance listing/CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA 19.901.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on January 3, 2023.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was March 4, 2023.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This is a cooperative agreement (a discretionary grant action).
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates the Department of State expects to be actively involved in guiding, coordinating, or overseeing key aspects of implementation, rather than only providing funding and stepping back.
How many awards did the government anticipate making?
The government anticipated making a single award.
What is the maximum funding level (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,220,001.
What is the main purpose of the award?
The main purpose is to serve as a regional support mechanism that makes EXBS training and technical engagements happen smoothly by providing comprehensive logistics and, when needed, sourcing SMEs to deliver specialized expertise.
Which countries are covered under this Balkans-focused effort?
The covered countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
What kinds of activities does the implementer support on the ground?
Based on the description provided, the implementer supports the organizing and operational pieces needed to execute engagements, including scheduling, coordination with local counterparts, arranging venues, managing travel, and other execution needs that enable trainings and technical assistance activities to run professionally.
What does "end-to-end logistics support" mean in this context?
In this context, it refers to providing coordinated operational support across the lifecycle of trainings and engagements (planning, coordination, and execution), so that instructors and partner participants can focus on the substantive content while the implementer handles the operational requirements.
What is the role of subject matter experts (SMEs) in this award?
The implementer is expected to help identify, recruit, or select SMEs when regional trainers are not sufficient for a topic or when the technical need is specialized, ensuring the program can still deliver credible and tailored expertise.
How does the program approach cost-effective delivery?
A central feature described is reliance on no-cost regional trainers (instructors who provide training without charging a fee for their time). This helps stretch limited resources, but it depends on strong, all-inclusive logistics support to deploy those trainers effectively.
When would the program use SMEs instead of no-cost regional trainers?
SMEs may be used when no-cost regional trainers are not available or when the technical requirement is more specialized and requires expertise beyond what regional trainers can provide.
What capacity-building pillars are supported by activities under this award?
The supported pillars are: strategic trade control management, customs enforcement, and border security operations.
What is meant by strategic trade control management in the solicitation summary?
Strategic trade controls generally relate to legal and regulatory frameworks and procedures that prevent illicit transfers of sensitive goods and technologies. This can include export/import controls and interagency coordination.
What is meant by customs enforcement in the solicitation summary?
Customs enforcement focuses on frontline practices such as detection, interdiction, and compliance activities at borders and ports of entry, supporting efforts to counter smuggling and trafficking while improving lawful trade facilitation and security.
What is meant by border security operations in the solicitation summary?
Border security operations relate to operational practices at borders and ports of entry aimed at strengthening security and countering illicit trafficking, including proliferation-related trafficking, while supporting secure and lawful trade and movement.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is presented broadly as "Others," with a note that additional eligibility details would be provided in the full notice. This suggests the agency may be open to a range of implementing organizations, as long as they can demonstrate the ability to manage complex regional logistics, coordinate across multiple governments and stakeholders, and support technical programming with appropriate expertise.
What kind of organization is this opportunity best suited for?
Based on the stated needs, it is best suited for an organization that can act as an operational backbone across multiple countries, handling complex logistics for trainings and technical engagements and supporting the identification and sourcing of qualified SMEs when needed.
Is this opportunity focused on one country or multiple countries?
It is explicitly regional and covers multiple Balkan countries, with a single implementer expected to support engagements across the listed countries.
What is the overall objective of the EXBS engagements supported by this award?
The overall objective is to strengthen partner capacity in nonproliferation-related areas tied to strategic trade controls, customs enforcement, and border security operations, supporting the broader goal of countering smuggling and proliferation-related trafficking while improving secure and lawful trade facilitation.
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