Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Solutions for AI-Native RAN
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- NTIA-PWSCIF-26-01
- Agency
-
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Department of Commerce
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Shanell Williams shanell.williams@nist.gov (202) 578-4740
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is soliciting applications for grants to develop secure compute environments enabling artificial intelligence capabilities in Radio Access Networks (RAN), with a September 9, 2026 deadline and individual project awards capped at $25 million. This fourth NOFO under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund requires a minimum 50 percent non-federal cost share and restricts eligibility to U.S. entities capable of commercially selling and deploying AI-native RAN solutions, excluding entities from countries of concern, entities on federal exclusion lists, and entities with foreign ownership or control exceeding specified thresholds. NTIA may award up to $53 million in total funding on a rolling basis. Projects must demonstrate a business case for revenue generation, operator cost savings, and innovative third-party services leveraging AI capabilities, and must exit the performance period with a working hardware prototype and beta-level software validated through field testing. The period of performance is up to 18 months. Applicants may submit one application containing one proposed project; entities may participate as subrecipients or contractors in multiple applications. Evaluation criteria emphasize technical feasibility, business case viability, security requirements, and commercial deployment potential for domestic and export markets. The program operates under CFDA 11.038 as part of the broader ten-year Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which funds open and interoperable wireless network technologies to enhance competition and supply chain security in 5G and successor networks. Allowable costs follow 2 CFR 200 standards; applicants without a Federally-approved indirect cost rate may elect a de minimis rate up to 15 percent of modified total direct costs, excluding equipment and certain subawards.
Synopsis
This NOFO is the fourth issued under NTIA's Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF or Innovation Fund). Titled "Solutions for AI-Native RAN," the goal of this NOFO is to support the development of a secure compute environment to enable or leverage native artificial intelligence ("AI") capabilities in the Radio Access Network (RAN) that generate revenue for operators, cost savings, and innovative third-party services, and demonstrate a business case for one or more services that leverage these capabilities, accelerating commercial deployments and the export of open, interoperable, and secure equipment.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| NOFO 4 Solutions for AI-Native RAN.pdf | ||
| SF328-26.pdf | ||
| PWSCIF_Budget Narrative and Justification Form (2).xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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