DRL FY 2025 China Programs

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the U.S. Department of State is soliciting proposals under the DRL FY 2025 China Programs to address widespread and ongoing human rights abuses in China, including genocide, crimes against humanity, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and religion, forced labor, arbitrary detention, and the extraterritorial targeting of dissidents. The program aims to counter CCP propaganda, dismantle systems of lawfare used to silence activists beyond China’s borders, map and expose sanctions evasion through corporate and financial investigations, and safeguard the rights of persecuted minority groups both within China and among global diasporas. Funding is allocated across two distinct programs: one focused on promoting freedom of expression and access to information with a proposed award of $1,973,359, and another targeting the extraterritorial application of national security legislation with a proposed award of $2,466,699, for a total estimated funding range of $1.97 million to $4.44 million. Projects must be completed within 24 to 48 months, with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2026, and performance activities are prioritized across all regions of China, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet. Applicants must submit comprehensive proposals via Grants.gov or MyGrants by the September 4, 2026 deadline, using mandatory forms including the SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF-LLL if applicable. All applicants, regardless of location, must hold a Unique Entity Identifier and be actively registered in SAM.gov, with non-U.S. entities lacking an IRS EIN required to enter 44-444444 in the EIN field. Proposals are evaluated based on program quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, ability to achieve objectives, budget reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation rigor, and sustainability of impact, with preference given to those with lower indirect cost rates in the event of a tie. Award recipients are subject to strict compliance requirements, including adherence to the Department of State branding guidelines, implementation of Trafficking in Persons compliance plans, prohibition of funding for UNRWA or mass-migration caravans, and restrictions on abortion-related activities and gender ideology programming under 2 CFR Part 602–604. Financial reporting must occur quarterly through the HHS Payment Management System, with all draws