Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project

The Department of State Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is soliciting cooperative agreement applications to establish a trusted supply chain credentialing and provenance platform securing AI supply chains in partner countries, with an application deadline of August 20, 2026. Eligible applicants are U.S. for-profit organizations, U.S.-based nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and U.S.-based higher education institutions. Award amounts range from $1 million to $50 million, with approximately $50 million in total available funding and 1–3 anticipated awards. The Department will retain rights of use to all intangible property created under this project per 2 CFR 200.315.

The 24-month performance period, extendable to 36 months with strong justification, encompasses two phases: Phase 1 piloted in Panama and Phase 2 expanding to other Pax Silica signatories and Department-targeted partner economies. Both phases must be presented and budgeted as a single project submission. Applicants need not identify all sub-awardees at application; additional partners may be named post-award subject to Department approval. The project will create a "Silicon Highway"—a digital-physical corridor with cryptographic cargo verification, AI-expedited risk assessment, and expedited customs processing for vetted shipments. Specific aims include strengthening AI supply chain security through origin and custody verification, enabling supply chain tracking through a unified digital trust layer integrated with existing customs platforms, and accelerating logistics operations through AI-enabled preclearance services and "Fast Lane" processing.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be evaluated on a 100-point scale: project quality and feasibility (25 points), organizational capacity and previous awards record (15 points), project planning and ability to achieve objectives (15 points), financial capacity and cost-effectiveness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points), with an additional 5 points available for cost sharing of at least $25 thousand. Indirect costs are calculated using either an organization's NICRA or up to 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs. The Assistance Listing number is 19.322 (Economic Statecraft).