Seeking SMEs to Strengthen Research Security and Supply Chain Security in the Balkans to Protect U.S. Technologies and Prevent PRC Interference and Theft

On behalf of the United States Department of State, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), CRDF Global is seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to design, develop, and deliver two multilateral workshops focused on strengthening research security and supply chain security across the Balkans research and innovation ecosystem. 

This program will include two in-person workshops in Thessaloniki, Greece: 

1. One Research Security workshop 
2. One Supply Chain Security workshop 

 These engagements will bring together research, administrative, compliance, legal, and operational professionals from academic institutions, research organizations, and private-sector companies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Türkiye. 

CRDF Global is issuing one Request for Proposals (RFP) covering both workshops. Qualified experts and organizations are welcome to apply to support one or both events, provided that the technical approach and associated costs are clearly defined and differentiated for each activity. 

The selected SME(s) will design and deliver two (2) two-day workshops in Thessaloniki, Greece on the following topics: 

1.  Research Security: Focus on protecting sensitive and dual-use research and development environments, including governance, partner evaluation, international collaboration risk management, protection of intellectual assets, and practical institutional mitigation measures. 
2. Supply Chain Security: Focus on procurement integrity, vendor due diligence, supply chain resilience, and management of materials, equipment, and services that support advanced technology work, including AI, quantum computing, space technologies, semiconductors, and other sensitive or dual-use technology areas. 

The selected SME(s) will develop tailored curricula, training materials, case studies, practical exercises, and leave-behind resources for participants from universities, research organizations, laboratories, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Workshop materials should include foundational content for audiences with limited prior exposure, followed by applied, scenario-based, and interactive modules focused on institutional implementation, governance practices, due diligence, risk assessment, and mitigation planning. 

Across both workshops, participants will engage in facilitated discussions, case-study presentations, scenario-based exercises, and action-oriented planning sessions designed to help institutions strengthen research security awareness, improve collaboration and procurement risk management, and develop practical tools that can be adapted within their own organizations. 

Proposal Requirements:

Each proposal must include:

• Statement of Interest and Technical Capabilities
  • Detailed description of services offered in correlation with the RFP scope and tasks. Your vision for the completed scope and individual deliverables.
  • Technical approach, including CVs and/or bios for the proposed team who can travel to Greece in September for implementation of both workshops.
  • Description of the approach to curriculum and agenda development, including (a) the methodology that will be used to ensure the engagements remain interactive, case-based, and outcome-oriented including approaches to participant engagement, facilitated discussion, scenario exercises, and practical implementation plannings; and (b) how content will be tailored to participants with varying levels of prior familiarity with research security, supply chain resilience, or institutional risk management concepts.
  • List of recent experience in designing, developing, and delivering customized research security training; supporting institutional governance, due diligence, compliance, or supply chain resilience efforts; working with university or research institution engagement in research security, due diligence, institutional governance, compliance, or supply chain resilience; and work in Central, Eastern, or Southeast Europe (preferred).
• Sample agenda, training materials, facilitation approach, or implementation tools from comparable prior engagements (sanitized/redacted versions acceptable).
• 10-page limit excluding CVs and cost proposals.
• Cost Proposal in USD
  • NOTE: Applicants are required to submit their cost proposal using the budget template provided below. Applicants may add additional rows or sub-categories as needed to include travel costs, cost-sharing, leveraged resources, in-kind contributions, or any other items required to fully represent their technical and cost approach. All additions should be clearly labeled.
  • Travel Cost Proposal: If travel is required under the proposed Scope of Work, the Applicant must include a detailed travel budget that reflects the nature of the proposed technical approach and implementation plan. Travel costs must be reasonable, necessary, and directly allocable to the performance of the project. The travel budget must, at a minimum, include: number of travelers, origin and destination, estimated airfare (economy/coach class only unless otherwise justified), lodging costs, meals & incidental expenses (M&IE), ground transportation, any visa or required travel documentation costs.
    • All proposed travel costs must be prepared in accordance with applicable Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates, as applicable to the travel location. Lodging and M&IE rates shall not exceed the allowable federal per diem rates unless specifically justified and approved in writing.
    • In addition, all air travel funded under this award must comply with the Fly America Act (49 U.S.C. § 40118). Applicants must budget for U.S. flag air carriers unless a documented exception applies under the Fly America Act or applicable Open Skies Agreement.
    • Failure to provide a detailed and compliant travel budget may result in the cost proposal being deemed non-responsive.
  • CV(s)
  • List of recent experience in the RFP Subject Matter area and applicable references/past performance
  • Any Small or Disadvantaged Business Designations (Veteran Owned, HUB Zone, Women Owned, Disadvantaged Businesses)
  • NAICS Codes: 541620 Environmental Consulting Services- Small Business Threshold $15 million, 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services – $15 million