Open 26-508 CFDA 17.280;47.070;47.076;47.084 Discretionary

TechAccess: AI-Ready America

Posted by U.S. National Science Foundation

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — TechAccess: AI-Ready America — is cataloged under number 26-508 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 17.280;47.070;47.076;47.084, posted by U.S. National Science Foundation. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on March 25, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is $3,000,000 -- $4,000,000. The agency has projected $224.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on July 16, 2026 — roughly 40 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.

Award Range

$3,000,000 -- $4,000,000

Close Date

July 16, 2026

Posted

March 25, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$224,000,000

Instrument

Grant

Description

TechAccess: AI‑Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships and resources, filling gaps, and scaling what works—so local and state priorities can lead in shaping an AI-driven economy that benefits all Americans. Unlike initiatives centered around K–16 education, AI‑Ready America additionally reaches businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals, among others, expanding access to AI knowledge, tools, and resources. The program also emphasizes practical implementation through hands‑on assistance and workforce upskilling, including experiential learning such as internships, project‑based work, and apprenticeships, to ensure stakeholders can effectively apply and innovate with AI. The program supports: (1) State/Territory Coordination Hubs (Coordination Hubs) – one inevery state, the District of Columbia (DC), or territory inthe United States – connecting partners, strengthening planning and deployment, and rapidly scaling approaches; (2) A National Coordination Lead (National Lead) – facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among Coordination Hubs, coordinating priority economic sectors, and informing national AI strategies; and (3) AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions – a series of topic-driven competitions issued over the course of the program to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical national AI readiness needs. This funding opportunity focuses on Coordination Hubs. The National Lead will be funded as an Other Transaction (OT) offered through an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering.AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions will be announced through an NSF-approved mechanism, with proposals submitted according to the instructions provided at the time of announcement.

Eligibility

99

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

NSF grants.gov support<br/>grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Key Dates

Posted March 25, 2026
Close Date July 16, 2026
Archive Date August 15, 2026
Last Updated March 25, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "TechAccess: AI-Ready America", offered by U.S. National Science Foundation. It is associated with CFDA program 17.280;47.070;47.076;47.084. TechAccess: AI‑Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnershi...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is July 16, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $3,000,000 -- $4,000,000. Total estimated funding: $224,000,000.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

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Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants Editorial