NSF 26-508: TechAccess: AI-Ready America
Active funding opportunity
This document is the current version.
Important information for proposers and award recipients
All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements. All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions. NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects.
Program Solicitation
Document Information
- Posted: March 25, 2026 To save a PDF, select Print to PDF in your browser's print options. View the program page
Program Solicitation NSF 26-508
| U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Innovation and Technology Ecosystems Directorate for STEM Education Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering |
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| National Institute of Food and Agriculture | ||
| Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration |
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| U.S. Small Business Administration |
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required): June 16, 2026
State/Territory Coordination Hubs: June 16, 2026 (round 1); December 15, 2026 (round 2); June 1, 2027 (round 3)
Full Proposal Deadline(s): July 16, 2026
State/Territory Coordination Hubs: July 16, 2026 (round 1); January 15, 2027 (round 2); July 1, 2027 (round 3)
Important Information and Revision Notes
- Limits proposals for State/Territory Coordination Hubs to one per institution.
- Adds merit review criteria tailored to TechAccess objectives.
- Includes special award conditions requiring coordination with the National Lead.
- Program comprises three components: Hubs, National Lead, Catalyst Awards.
Proposals must follow the current PAPPG.
Summary of Program Requirements
Program Title: TechAccess: AI-Ready America – A national program to coordinate readiness and accelerate deployment.
Synopsis: TechAccess: AI-Ready America accelerates AI readiness nationwide by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships, filling gaps, and scaling successful approaches, benefiting all Americans through workforce, education, industry, and agriculture engagement.
Supports: State/Territory Coordination Hubs (one per state/DC/territory), National Coordination Lead, AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions.
Expanding Participation in STEM, NSF Priorities, and Gold Standard Science
NSF prioritizes cutting-edge discovery, technology innovation, and opportunity for all Americans. Proposers should align with NSF priorities and adhere to Gold Standard Science standards.
Cognizant Program Officer: AI-Ready America Program Directors, email: ai-ready@nsf.gov
CFDA Numbers: 17.280, 47.070, 47.076, 47.084, 59.037.
Award Information
Anticipated Award Type: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant Estimated Awards: 56 (Hubs up to 56) Anticipated Funding: $168,000,000–$224,000,000 Each Hub Award: $1M/year for 3 years, possible extra year.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
Letters of Intent (required): Due June 16, 2026; must include title starting with "[State] Coordination Hub", PI info, participating organizations, one‑page synopsis. No supplementary documents. Submission via Research.gov (PAPPG) or Grants.gov (NSF Grants.gov Guide).
Budgetary Information: No voluntary cost sharing; indirect costs not applicable.
Due Dates: Letter of Intent June 16, 2026; Full Proposal July 16, 2026 (with round‑specific dates as above).
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: NSF Board approved plus additional criteria per solicitation.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: additional conditions apply per solicitation. Reporting Requirements: standard NSF reporting.
I. Introduction
AI is transforming the U.S. economy; many states lack infrastructure for AI adoption. AI-Ready America builds a coordinated national framework linking national resources with state leadership and local implementation, advancing AI literacy, workforce development, and industry partnerships, and supporting America’s AI leadership goals.
II. Program Description
Vision: every American thrives in an AI‑driven economy via access to AI knowledge, tools, training, and capacity building. Three priorities: strengthen coordination, leverage networks/resources, fill gaps. Defines AI‑Ready as literacy → proficiency → fluency; AI‑literacy starts with “Why AI?” and “When AI?”. Goals: (1) make all Americans AI‑literate and AI‑ready; (2) empower businesses, especially small, to adopt AI for competitiveness; (3) support local governments to improve services with AI; (4) strengthen workforce capacity to apply and innovate with AI.
Program Area 1 – State/Territory Coordination Hubs: Neutral conveners connecting local partners across education, workforce, industry, government; leverage state assets; facilitate knowledge exchange; scale successful AI adoption. Responsibilities: AI Learning & Resource Navigator; State/Territory AI Readiness Strategic Plan; AI Deployment Support (hands‑on assistance, training, technical setup); AI Readiness Training & Capacity Building (coordinate existing programs, align with WIOA/Perkins V, use micro‑credentials, expand experiential learning); Coordination Within Priority Sectors (energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education).
Program Area 2 – National Coordination Lead: Partners with NSF and program allies to provide national strategy, support Hubs, share knowledge nationally, manage AI Deployment Network, engage industry/philanthropy, guide national coordination in priority sectors (healthcare, finance, manufacturing, agriculture). Details to come via OTASO.
Program Area 3 – AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions: Rapid pilot/competitions funding innovative approaches to address national AI readiness needs; details to be released later.
III. Award Information
Up to 56 Hub awards (10 round 1, 20 round 2, rest round 3); each $1M/year for 3 years (+ possible extra year); Standard or Continuing Grant. Plus National Lead via OTASO and Catalyst Awards.
IV. Eligibility Information
Eligible per NSF PAPPG Chapter I.E.; unaffiliated individuals ineligible. PI unrestricted. Limit: one proposal per institution for Hubs; no limit per PI/co‑PI.