Scientific Research - Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (12.351)
Scientific Research - Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (Assistance Listing 12.351) is run by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, part of the Department of Defense. It awarded $266 million in 175 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.5 million per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $895,000. Half of the 175 awards fell between $255,317 and $1.9 million, and they ranged from $428 to $39.7 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$266 million
- Grant awards175
- Typical award$895,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$24.1 million
- Size rank536 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements, project grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $74.0 million in fiscal 2021 to $24.1 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 536th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 67% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 30 states and territories.
What the program funds
To support and stimulate basic, applied and advanced research at educational or research institutions, non-profit organizations, and commercial firms, which support the advancement of fundamental knowledge and understanding of the sciences with an emphasis on exploring new and innovative research for combating or countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
As stated in individual program BAAs. Generally, competitions are open to private and public educational accredited institutions of higher education that carry out science and engineering research and/or related science and engineering education on a non-profit basis. Some awards are made to other non-profit and for profit organizations that conduct research. Awards are not made to individuals.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Uses and restrictions are specified in individual program BAAs and award documents issued by and codified regulations applicable to awards. These are submitted at the time of proposal or prior to award, as specified by executive agents. Fee is not an allowable cost.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Code of Federal Regulations - Financial, Part 200, Subpart N/A,Public Law N/A.N/AMatching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Review the appropriate funding announcement for due date and deadline information.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range from $100,000 per year to $1,000,000 per year over a 5-year period.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2024: Option exercises: Exercised one option on an active Epipointe LLC grant, “One Health Surveillance Approach Focusing on High-Risk Occupations to Identify Hotspots of Zoonoses in India”, which was then cancelled in August 2025. This grant aimed to support the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) mission to protect the United States and its Armed Forces from biological threats by strengthening the capabilities of partner nations to prevent, detect, and prepare for the threat of biological weapons use by an adversary.Fiscal Year2025: Continues to fund ongoing research projects in fundamental research as well as two cooperative agreements that encompass a consortia of universities. Research was performed in both medical and physical sciences including a deep machine-learning guided approach has resulted in five new antibiotics against antimicrobial resistance as well as a highly adaptable experimental model system capable of storing the energy of natural light to efficiently decompose chemical warfare agents in the dark and under ambient conditions. Research also furthered support of the Biological Threat Reduction Program mission to strengthen the capabilities of partner nations and the international community to prevent, detect, and prepare for outbreaks caused by high threat pathogens.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Scientific Research - Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (12.351) awarded$266 million across 175 grant awards, an average of $1.5 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 85% of the money, nonprofits 8.4% and small businesses 2.3%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 136 | $226 million | 85% |
| Nonprofits | 18 | $22.2 million | 8.4% |
| Small businesses | 5 | $6.1 million | 2.3% |
| State and local governments | 2 | $5.5 million | 2.1% |
| Businesses | 5 | $3.3 million | 1.3% |
| Other | 9 | $3.0 million | 1.1% |
By state
20 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 17 | $53.7 million |
| Maryland | 6 | $45.1 million |
| California | 21 | $33.8 million |
| North Carolina | 6 | $12.8 million |
| Massachusetts | 13 | $11.5 million |
| Virginia | 17 | $11.2 million |
| Texas | 11 | $10.4 million |
| Illinois | 9 | $9.0 million |
| Washington | 5 | $8.0 million |
| Florida | 6 | $7.4 million |
| Arizona | 5 | $7.3 million |
| Michigan | 5 | $7.1 million |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $6.5 million |
| New York | 6 | $4.4 million |
| New Mexico | 5 | $3.4 million |
| West Virginia | 3 | $2.9 million |
| Alabama | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $1.4 million |
| Iowa | 2 | $1.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $931,302 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $705,458 |
| Missouri | 1 | $535,954 |
| Ohio | 1 | $513,480 |
| Georgia | 3 | $492,798 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $487,963 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $481,680 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $277,860 |
| Oregon | 1 | $165,612 |
| Nevada | 1 | $428 |