Bringing Oman into the U.S. Orbit: Countering Malign Influence in Space for Military Advantages

On behalf of the United States Department of State, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), CRDF Global is seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with demonstrated expertise in space security, responsible development of dual-use technologies, and international collaboration to support a series of engagements designed to strengthen Oman’s space ecosystem. 

This program will include multiple activities between September and November 2026, including: 

1. Two in-person workshops in Muscat, Oman 

1. One U.S.-based Research & Collaboration Security Conference 

1. One, one-week U.S. study tour. 

These engagements will bringing together Omani stakeholders from government, academic, and private sector institutions to engage with U.S. counterparts from government, defense, industry, and academia.  

CRDF Global is issuing separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for each activity under this program, which are linked below. Qualified experts and organizations are welcome to apply to one or multiple RFPs, or submit a single proposal covering multiple engagements, provided that the technical approach and associated costs are clearly defined and differentiated for each activity. 

Request for Proposals: 

RFP 1: Space Threats & KYC/Due Diligence Workshops
The selected SME(s) will design and deliver two (2) two-day workshops in Muscat, Oman on the following topics: 

1. Space Technology Threats & Risk Mitigation: Focus on space technology threats, including dual-use considerations, counterspace risks, foreign malign influence, and risk mitigation practices relevant to domestic space ecosystem development.  
2. Secure Contracting & Know-Your-Customer (KYC): Focus on secure contracting and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) practices, including risk-based contracting approaches, due diligence frameworks, licensing and screening mechanisms, insider threat awareness, and technical standards applicable to space-related services and infrastructure. 

 Qualified experts and organizations are welcome to apply to one or both events, depending on their expertise and capacity.  

 RFP 2: Research & Collaboration Security Conference 

The selected SME(s) will contribute to the development and delivery of a three-day Research & Collaboration Security Conference to be held at a prominent U.S. research institution for approximately 30 Omani academics and university leaders. The conference will focus on aerospace and space research advancement, research security best practices, secure collaboration agreements, and responsible talent exchange models, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational policy development. 

RFP 3: U.S. Study Tour 

The selected SME(s) will contribute to the design and delivery of a one-week U.S.-based study tour for Omani government, academic, and private sector space decision-makers. Throughout the study tour, participants will engage with U.S. government, academic, and industry stakeholders in Washington, DC and another agreed-upon location integral to US space technology (such as Florida or Texas) to explore regulatory frameworks, space security practices, innovation ecosystems, American spaceports, and partnership development models relevant to responsible space sector growth.