Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005180
The Libya Security Sector Planning opportunity (SFOP0005180) is a U.S. Department of State grant solicitation designed to strengthen Libyan and international work on security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (SSR/DDR). The core aim is to help Libya move security provision away from fragmented or militia-based arrangements and toward a coherent, state-led system where legitimate national institutions are clearly responsible for internal security and defense. The program is framed as strategic, coordination-heavy assistance that builds on earlier U.S. government analysis and recommendations, and it is meant to push Libyan stakeholders and international partners toward a shared plan that can actually be implemented, not just drafted.
The Department of State units involved include the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) as the lead, working in coordination with the Libya External Office (LEO), NEA Office of Maghreb Affairs, the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO), and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM). This lineup signals that the project is not limited to technical police or military training; it is intended to sit at the intersection of political stabilization, security governance, and donor coordination. A major emphasis is consolidating and prioritizing efforts across Libyan actors, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and other international donors so that separate initiatives do not compete or pull in different directions.
Substantively, the opportunity seeks proposals that can advance development of a unified SSR/DDR strategy and help operationalize it through coordination with donor mechanisms. In practice, that means helping align planning, sequencing, and division of labor among Libyan ministries, UNSMIL-facilitated processes, and external partners. Support can include technical advice and other strategic-level assistance to key Libyan state security institutions, specifically naming the Government of Libya Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Defense (MOD). At the same time, the description anticipates engagement with relevant non-state actors at national or municipal levels, reflecting the reality that local armed groups and local security arrangements often shape security outcomes and therefore must be considered in implementation planning.
A central condition of the work is political alignment: implementation of key parts of the Libyan SSR/DDR strategy is expected to be consistent with the UN-facilitated political reconciliation process and a unified political and security strategy. This is essentially a guardrail to ensure the project supports broader peace and governance objectives rather than reinforcing parallel structures or fragmented authorities. The program is therefore as much about creating workable national consensus and coordination frameworks as it is about the content of reforms themselves.
From a funding and administration standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically implies substantial U.S. government involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. The award ceiling is up to $2,000,000, with an expectation of a single award. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.600. The notice was created June 12, 2018, and the original closing date was July 26, 2018.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a high-level planning and coordination effort meant to help Libya and its partners move from fragmented SSR/DDR activity toward an integrated, nationally owned strategy that can be implemented in a way that supports UN-led reconciliation and the consolidation of legitimate state security institutions.Apply for SFOP0005180
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Libya Security Sector Planning" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 12, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2018. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Libya Security Sector Planning opportunity (SFOP0005180)?
The Libya Security Sector Planning opportunity (SFOP0005180) is a U.S. Department of State grant solicitation focused on strengthening Libyan and international work on security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (SSR/DDR). It is designed to support a strategic, coordination-heavy effort that helps Libyan stakeholders and international partners align around a shared plan that can be implemented.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core aim is to help Libya shift security provision away from fragmented or militia-based arrangements and toward a coherent, state-led system where legitimate national institutions are clearly responsible for internal security and defense.
What does SSR/DDR mean in the context of this opportunity?
Within this opportunity, SSR/DDR refers to security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. The solicitation emphasizes building a unified strategy and helping move it toward implementation through coordinated planning among Libyan institutions and international partners.
Is this opportunity more about planning and coordination or about direct training and equipment?
Based on the description, this opportunity is primarily a high-level planning and coordination effort. It is framed as strategic assistance that builds on prior U.S. government analysis and recommendations and emphasizes developing and operationalizing a unified SSR/DDR strategy through donor and stakeholder coordination, rather than focusing narrowly on technical police or military training.
Which U.S. Department of State offices are involved?
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) is the lead. The effort is coordinated with the Libya External Office (LEO), NEA Office of Maghreb Affairs, the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO), and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM).
What does the mix of State Department offices suggest about the project?
The lineup indicates the project is intended to sit at the intersection of political stabilization, security governance, and donor coordination. It is not described as limited to technical security training; it is meant to support broader stabilization and governance-oriented security planning.
What types of activities or support are expected under this opportunity?
The solicitation seeks proposals that can advance development of a unified SSR/DDR strategy and help operationalize it through coordination with donor mechanisms. This can include aligning planning, sequencing, and division of labor among Libyan ministries, UN-facilitated processes, and external partners, as well as providing technical advice and other strategic-level assistance.
Which Libyan institutions are specifically named as key counterparts?
The opportunity specifically names the Government of Libya Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Defense (MOD) as key Libyan state security institutions that may receive technical advice and other strategic-level assistance.
Does the opportunity anticipate engagement beyond national-level institutions?
Yes. The description anticipates engagement with relevant non-state actors at national or municipal levels, reflecting the role that local armed groups and local security arrangements can play in shaping security outcomes and implementation planning.
How does the UN political process relate to this program?
A central condition is political alignment. Implementation of key parts of the Libyan SSR/DDR strategy is expected to be consistent with the UN-facilitated political reconciliation process and a unified political and security strategy.
Why is political alignment emphasized as a condition of the work?
The program description frames alignment as a guardrail to ensure the project supports broader peace and governance objectives and does not reinforce parallel structures or fragmented authorities.
What role does UNSMIL play in the coordination described?
UNSMIL (the United Nations Support Mission in Libya) is referenced as a key partner in the broader coordination environment. The opportunity emphasizes consolidating and prioritizing efforts across Libyan actors, UNSMIL-facilitated processes, and other international donors so separate initiatives do not compete or pull in different directions.
Is the program intended to result in an implementable plan, not just a written strategy?
Yes. The opportunity is described as pushing stakeholders and partners toward a shared plan that can actually be implemented, not just drafted, with a strong emphasis on operationalization through coordination with donor mechanisms.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply for project implementation?
The description notes that a Cooperative Agreement typically implies substantial U.S. government involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $2,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses).
Is a nonprofit required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes, for-profit organizations are eligible, except for small businesses (the eligibility statement specifies for-profit organizations other than small businesses).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.600.
When was the notice created and when was it originally due?
The notice was created on June 12, 2018, and the original closing date was July 26, 2018.
What is the overall focus of the opportunity in plain terms?
Overall, it is a high-level effort to help Libya and its partners move from fragmented SSR/DDR activity toward an integrated, nationally owned strategy, with strong coordination among Libyan institutions, UNSMIL-related processes, and international donors, and with implementation aligned to UN-facilitated reconciliation.
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