DFOP0018586: Artificial Intelligence for American Competitiveness and Economic Security (AI-ACES) in South Asia
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs notices from 2026.
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs offered grants of up to $5.0 million (at least $2.0 million) to businesses. It expected to make one award worth $2.0 million in total. Applications closed on August 2, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed July 17, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$5.0 million
- Award floor$2.0 million
- Total funding$2.0 million
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | July 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | August 2, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to businesses.
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
U.S. based non profit or non governmental organizations with or without 501(c) 3 status of the U.S. tax code; foreign based non profit organizations or non-government organizations; For profit organizations; Public and private educational institutions; Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs awards averaged $1.5 million; this notice allows up to $5.0 million per award.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
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.
Who has won Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (19.108) awarded $29.8 million across 20 grant awards, an average of $1.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center for International Private Enterprise, Inc. | District of Columbia | 1 | $7.1 million |
| Ios Partners, Inc. | Florida | 1 | $6.2 million |
| The Asia Foundation | California | 2 | $3.7 million |
| Save the Children Federation, Inc. | Connecticut | 1 | $1.9 million |
| The Colombo Plan for Co-Operative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific | 1 | $1.5 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is DFOP0018586 still open?
No. It closed on August 2, 2026.
Who can apply for Artificial Intelligence for American Competitiveness and Economic Security (AI-ACES) in South Asia?
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs accepted applications from businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Artificial Intelligence for American Competitiveness and Economic Security (AI-ACES) in South Asia?
Closed August 2, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $5.0 million each. About $2.0 million in total for one award.
Who has won Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Center for International Private Enterprise, Inc., Ios Partners, Inc., The Asia Foundation. The program made 20 awards worth $29.8 million in that time.