Artificial Intelligence for American Competitiveness and Economic Security (AI-ACES) in South Asia
Closed Posted
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- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018586
- Agency
-
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $2,000,000 to $5,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- For Profit Organizations
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs is soliciting applications for a single cooperative agreement valued between $2 million and $5 million to deploy secure American AI technology across strategic economic sectors and critical infrastructure in South Asian partner countries, with an application deadline of August 2, 2026.
Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign nonprofits, educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and foreign government entities. No cost share is required. The award will support a maximum 36-month performance period with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2026.
The program targets three or more countries from the following list: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Strategic sectors and implementing organizations—including government agencies, utilities, and private companies—will be determined in consultation with the State Department and host country governments based on geopolitical and economic factors.
Applicants must submit a 15-page proposal narrative addressing organizational capacity, problem statement, program design, goals, objectives, activities, outcomes, risk analysis, and sustainability. Required supporting documents include SF-424 forms, a one-page executive summary, detailed program schedule and timeline, key personnel information, partner list, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan, itemized budget in Excel format with narrative justification, and letters of support from partners. All applicants must maintain active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier and comply with post-award financial and narrative reporting, audit requirements under 2 CFR 200, and federal branding guidelines.
Evaluation uses a 100-point scale: quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity and grant performance history (20 points), ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget justification (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Funding is drawn from FY24/25 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act and is issued under Assistance Listing Number 19.108.
Synopsis
The program within SCA will aim to deploy American AI technology securely in U.S. partners' strategic economic sectors and infrastructure. The specific strategic economic sector(s) and organizations (including government, public institutions like utilities, and private companies) targeted in each country for support would be developed in consultation with State Department and host country governments and based on the geopolitical and economic factors of each country.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Timeline.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Budget Template FY26 with MTDC Calculation_Final.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| AI_ Notice of Funding Opportunity DFOP0018586.docx | DOCX document |
Posting history
| Listing | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity | ||
| Opportunity |
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