Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019193
The Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019193) is a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Funded through foreign assistance resources from the Pax Fund, the program is positioned as a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening global AI supply chain security. The central idea is to reduce the risk of tampering, diversion, counterfeit components, and other integrity threats in the AI hardware and related supply chain by building a trusted system for supply chain credentialing and provenance across partner countries and economies.
At the core of the project is the creation of a trusted credentialing and provenance platform. In practical terms, this means developing a way to reliably confirm who handled a component, where it has been, what compliance checks it passed, and whether it can be trusted, using verifiable records rather than informal assurances. The emphasis on provenance signals a focus on traceability and auditability, where supply chain data can be validated and relied upon for enforcement, trade facilitation, and risk management. The goal is not just tracking for tracking's sake, but making the AI supply chain more secure and predictable for governments and market participants operating in partner regions.
A major deliverable described in the notice is the establishment of a "Silicon Highway," characterized as a digital-physical corridor designed to speed logistics and compliance operations among partner countries. The corridor concept suggests an integrated framework that links digital verification systems with real-world movement of goods, enabling faster and more trusted cross-border flows. The notice highlights several operational mechanisms expected to underpin this corridor: cryptographic cargo verification (using cryptographic methods to ensure that cargo identity and associated records cannot be easily altered), AI-expedited risk assessment (applying AI tools to prioritize inspections and manage risk more efficiently), and pre-approved expedited processing early in the supply chain (front-loading compliance so that later stages, including border processing, can be accelerated when goods and actors meet defined trust criteria). Collectively, these elements point to a model similar to trusted trader or pre-clearance approaches, but tailored to AI-related supply chains and strengthened by modern verification and analytics.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the U.S. government in the project during implementation, such as collaboration on technical direction, oversight, coordination with international partners, or alignment with policy objectives. The opportunity is categorized under Business and Commerce and is associated with CFDA number 19.322. Eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses, indicating that larger commercial entities with the capacity to build and operate complex platforms, integrate cryptographic systems, and coordinate multinational logistics or compliance solutions are the intended applicants.
Financially, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $50,000,000, with an expectation of three awards, suggesting a program large enough to support multiple major performers or consortia delivering complementary pieces of the broader corridor and platform vision. The opportunity was created on 2026-07-17, and the original closing date is 2026-08-20, which sets a relatively defined window for proposal preparation and submission. Finally, the notice explicitly states that the Department maintains rights of use to intangible property created under the project under 2 CFR 200.315, meaning that while recipients may develop software, documentation, methods, or other intellectual outputs, the government retains certain rights to use those outputs consistent with federal grant rules. This is an important term for applicants to factor into their IP strategy, commercialization plans, and data rights assumptions when designing their proposed solution.Apply for DFOP0019193
- The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project" 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 2026-07-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-20. (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 $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For-profit organizations other than small businesses.
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FAQs: Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project (DFOP0019193)
What is the Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project?
The Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project is a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. It is described as a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on strengthening global AI supply chain security.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0019193.
Which U.S. government office administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.
How is this program funded?
The program is funded through foreign assistance resources from the Pax Fund.
What problem is this project trying to solve?
The project aims to reduce risks in AI hardware and related supply chains, including tampering, diversion, counterfeit components, and other integrity threats, by creating a trusted approach to credentialing and provenance across partner countries and economies.
What does "supply chain credentialing and provenance" mean in this notice?
It refers to building a reliable system to confirm who handled a component, where it has been, what compliance checks it passed, and whether it can be trusted, using verifiable records rather than informal assurances. The notice emphasizes traceability and auditability so supply chain data can be validated and relied upon for enforcement, trade facilitation, and risk management.
What is the main technical deliverable described in the opportunity?
A core deliverable is the creation of a trusted credentialing and provenance platform designed to provide verifiable records about handling, location history, and compliance checks for components in the AI supply chain.
What is the "Silicon Highway" mentioned in the notice?
The "Silicon Highway" is described as a digital-physical corridor designed to speed logistics and compliance operations among partner countries. It is intended to link digital verification systems with the real-world movement of goods to enable faster and more trusted cross-border flows.
What operational mechanisms are expected to support the Silicon Highway?
The notice highlights cryptographic cargo verification, AI-expedited risk assessment, and pre-approved expedited processing early in the supply chain as mechanisms expected to underpin the corridor.
What is cryptographic cargo verification in the context of this program?
Cryptographic cargo verification refers to using cryptographic methods to help ensure cargo identity and associated records cannot be easily altered, supporting integrity and trust in the supply chain records.
What is meant by AI-expedited risk assessment?
AI-expedited risk assessment refers to applying AI tools to prioritize inspections and manage risk more efficiently, supporting faster movement of trusted goods and actors while focusing attention on higher-risk shipments.
What does "pre-approved expedited processing early in the supply chain" imply?
It implies front-loading compliance so later stages, including border processing, can be accelerated when goods and actors meet defined trust criteria.
Is the goal simply to track items in the supply chain?
No. The notice emphasizes that the goal is not tracking for its own sake, but making the AI supply chain more secure and predictable for governments and market participants operating in partner regions, with records that can be used for enforcement, trade facilitation, and risk management.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement suggest about government involvement?
A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by the U.S. government during implementation, such as collaboration on technical direction, oversight, coordination with international partners, or alignment with policy objectives.
What is the program category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Business and Commerce.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.322.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
No. The notice states that eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
What does the eligibility limitation suggest about the intended applicants?
It suggests the intended applicants are larger commercial entities with the capacity to build and operate complex platforms, integrate cryptographic systems, and coordinate multinational logistics or compliance solutions.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $50,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of three awards.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-07-17.
What is the closing date for submissions?
The original closing date is 2026-08-20.
What is the significance of the IP statement referencing 2 CFR 200.315?
The notice states that the Department maintains rights of use to intangible property created under the project under 2 CFR 200.315. This means recipients may develop software, documentation, methods, or other intellectual outputs, but the government retains certain rights to use those outputs consistent with federal grant rules.
What kinds of outputs are considered "intangible property" under this notice?
The notice gives examples such as software, documentation, methods, or other intellectual outputs created under the project.
Why should applicants pay attention to the government's rights of use?
Because it can affect an applicant's intellectual property strategy, commercialization plans, and data rights assumptions when designing the proposed solution.
Does the opportunity mention where the platform will be implemented?
It references implementation across partner countries and economies and emphasizes faster logistics and compliance operations among partner countries, but it does not list specific partner countries in the provided information.
What supply chain threats are explicitly called out?
The notice explicitly references tampering, diversion, counterfeit components, and other integrity threats.
What kinds of supply chains are in scope?
The notice focuses on AI hardware and the related supply chain, with an emphasis on secure and trusted cross-border movement supported by credentialing, provenance, and verification.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Business and Commerce
Previous opportunity: Fiscal Year 2026 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - Region 10
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