Sister Ports Program: Bolstering Economic and Security Resilience in Foreign Ports | DFOP0016597

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016597

The Sister Ports Program: Bolstering Economic and Security Resilience in Foreign Ports (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0016597) is a U.S. Department of State initiative run by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs under CFDA 19.322. It is a discretionary funding opportunity that will be awarded through a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government is likely to remain actively involved in shaping or overseeing implementation rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal engagement. The program is designed to strengthen both economic resilience and security resilience in foreign ports by creating structured partnerships between ports abroad and comparable ports in the United States, with an emphasis on practical, peer-to-peer learning and relationship building.

At the core of the opportunity is a "sister port" pairing model. The program intends to match one foreign port with one U.S. port based on similar size, operational function (for example, container, bulk, energy, mixed-use, or passenger operations), or strategic interest. The idea is that ports facing similar operational realities can exchange concrete practices that translate into real improvements, especially in areas like port security procedures, governance, operations, and sustainable development approaches. The program also places value on in-person engagement: it explicitly mentions creating opportunities for international and domestic ports to visit with each other, which suggests site visits, delegations, workshops, and meetings that allow port leadership and relevant stakeholders to observe operations firsthand and build durable working relationships.

A major goal is to expand the network of trusted commercial and government partners available to participating ports. The opportunity is framed not only as a technical exchange but as a way to introduce foreign ports to new trade relationships, relevant U.S. government partners, and vetted maritime technology and industry representatives. In practice, this often means facilitating connections with U.S. agencies involved in maritime security and trade, and creating exposure to trusted technology providers and operational solutions that align with secure, transparent, and sustainable port development. The emphasis on "trusted" representatives signals an underlying focus on resilience against coercive or high-risk actors and on promoting secure supply chains and infrastructure decisions.

Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $789,200, and the agency anticipates making one award, indicating a single implementing organization will likely be responsible for running the overall program, coordinating both ports, organizing exchanges, and delivering the planned activities and outcomes. The original application closing date listed is July 8, 2024, and the opportunity was posted on May 23, 2024. Because only one award is expected, the competition is likely to favor applicants that can demonstrate strong program management capacity, credible maritime or port-sector experience, established networks, and the ability to coordinate across international partners, government stakeholders, and private-sector technology or industry participants.

Eligibility information in the source data highlights "Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education." However, the description also notes additional categories such as foreign-based nonprofit organizations and nongovernment organizations, public international organizations, foreign public organizations, and U.S. for-profit organizations, with a specific instruction to consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) section titled "Eligible Applicants" on page 1 for the definitive eligibility rules. In other words, while the listing points to 501(c)(3) nonprofits as eligible, the full NOFO appears to provide a broader or more nuanced set of eligible applicant types, and applicants would need to rely on the NOFO language as the controlling reference.

Overall, this opportunity is essentially a structured port-to-port partnership program intended to turn relationship-building into measurable improvements in security practices, sustainable port development, and economic connectivity. It uses a cooperative agreement structure to support a guided exchange between a U.S. port and a foreign port, while also weaving in U.S. government engagement and access to trusted maritime industry and technology stakeholders to strengthen long-term resilience and dependable trade linkages.

• The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sister Ports Program: Bolstering Economic and Security Resilience in Foreign Ports" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.322.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-08. (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 $789,200.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DFOP0016597

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: