Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project
🏛 Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to strengthen global AI supply chain security and infrastructure. Applicants must have expertise in supply chain systems, logistics technology, cryptographic verification, or AI-risk assessment capabilities. The focus is international, supporting partner countries and economies through a "Silicon Highway" digital-physical corridor. Organizations must be able to establish credentialing platforms and compliance operations across multiple jurisdictions.
The Department of State (Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs) administers this as a foreign assistance initiative. Awards range from $1,000,000 to $50,000,000. No cost-sharing is required. This is a cooperative agreement structure, indicating significant federal involvement in project oversight and management.
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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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A (Budget Information)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Work
- Technical Specifications and Implementation Plan
- International Partnership Agreements
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Budget Narrative and Justification
- Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
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 is eligible to apply for this grant?
The NOFO does not specify explicit eligibility restrictions. Organizations with supply chain, logistics, AI, or cryptography expertise should review the full announcement for detailed requirements.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $1,000,000 to $50,000,000 depending on project scope and demonstrated capacity.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is August 20, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What activities does the grant support?
The grant funds establishment of a "Silicon Highway" platform for AI supply chain credentialing, cryptographic cargo verification, AI-expedited risk assessment, and expedited processing in partner countries.
Will the government own the intellectual property created?
Yes. The Department retains rights of use to intangible property created under the project per 2 CFR 200.315.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start early. Projects of this scale require substantial planning, international partnership agreements, and technical infrastructure design.
- Emphasize global supply chain expertise. Demonstrate deep knowledge of AI logistics, cryptography, and cross-border compliance operations.
- Show government readiness. As a cooperative agreement, expect close federal collaboration and oversight. Demonstrate your organization's capacity to work with U.S. government partners.
- Build international partnerships. Success depends on relationships with partner countries and economies. Identify specific countries early.
- Address risk mitigation. Supply chain security requires detailed cybersecurity and operational risk management plans.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating international coordination complexity. Cross-border logistics platforms require extensive partner engagement and regulatory navigation that many applicants underestimate.
Weak technical specifications. Proposals must detail cryptographic standards, AI risk models, and compliance protocols specifically, not just generally describe "secure supply chains."
Insufficient government partnership experience. Cooperative agreements demand close federal oversight. Organizations without prior federal project management experience often struggle with compliance and reporting demands.
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