Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project
🏛 Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations strengthening global AI supply chain security through trusted platforms and digital infrastructure. Applicants should be capable of establishing secure supply chain credentialing systems and managing international logistics operations across partner countries. The program supports creation of expedited processing corridors with cryptographic verification and AI-powered risk assessment. Eligible applicants typically include tech firms, supply chain organizations, and international development entities with expertise in AI, logistics, and cross-border commerce. Geographic scope is international, targeting partner countries and economies.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
Leveraging foreign assistance from the Pax Fund, this NOFO launches the Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistance Project—a historic first-of-its-kind programmatic initiative to strengthen global AI supply chain security by creating a trusted supply chain credentialing and provenance platform to secure the AI supply chain in partner countries and economies. This NOFO seeks to fund the establishment of a Silicon Highway: a digital-physical corridor that accelerates logistics and compliance operations among partner countries with cryptographic cargo verification, AI-expedited risk assessment, and pre-approved expedited processing early in the supply chain. The Department maintains its rights of use to intangible property created under this project per 2 CFR 200.315.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project narrative detailing platform architecture and implementation timeline
- Organizational capability statement demonstrating AI and supply chain expertise
- Budget and budget narrative
- Letters of support from partner countries and logistics stakeholders
- Security and data privacy plan
- Work plan with specific milestones
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
- 📞 202-890-9795
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.322 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$13,799,998
-
$3,106,476
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$1,775,700
-
$1,490,989
-
$768,045
-
$498,699
-
$450,000
-
$400,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.322). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this AI supply chain security grant?
Organizations with expertise in AI systems, supply chain management, and international logistics. Experience working across multiple countries and with cryptographic technologies is typically required.
What is the deadline and funding range?
The deadline is August 20, 2026. Awards range from $1,000,000 to $50,000,000.
What activities does this grant fund?
Establishment of trusted supply chain credentialing platforms, digital-physical "Silicon Highway" corridors, cryptographic cargo verification systems, and AI-expedited risk assessment tools.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant.
What is the funding mechanism?
Awards are structured as cooperative agreements, meaning active collaboration with the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs throughout the project.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate proven expertise in AI systems and cryptographic technologies applied to supply chain operations. Show past successful deployments across international borders.
- Build partnerships with logistics providers, government agencies, and technology firms in target countries before applying. Strong networks accelerate execution.
- Detail how your platform achieves "pre-approved expedited processing" while maintaining security standards. Regulators need confidence in your screening methods.
- Emphasize interoperability and scalability. Reviewers want systems that work across multiple partner countries and supply chain actors.
- Address data sovereignty and privacy concerns early. International logistics involves sensitive information from multiple jurisdictions with varying regulations.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when proposers lack demonstrated experience building cryptographic or AI systems at scale. Vague descriptions of how the supply chain platform will actually operate across borders hurt competitiveness. Inadequate budget justification for the large award range ($1M-$50M) signals weak project planning.
Similar grants
- OPEN Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Solutions for AI-Native RAN — National Telecommunications and Information Admini
- CLOSED CyberNext: Advance Cybersecurity and AI Readiness — U.S. Mission to Albania
- OPEN The 2027 YSEALI Regional Workshop: Securing Supply Chains — U.S. Mission to Indonesia
- OPEN Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN Artificial Intelligence for American Competitiveness and Economic Security (AI-ACES) in South Asia — Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs