AI Partnership Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section, is offering the AI Partnership and Exchange for Tech Leaders, or APEX, under opportunity number DOS-SAU-2602-PD and Assistance Listing 19.040. The program is funded with FY26 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds and will be implemented through a cooperative agreement, meaning the Embassy will maintain substantial programmatic involvement throughout implementation. The program is intended to strengthen sustainable professional networks between emerging artificial intelligence leaders in Saudi Arabia and American counterparts in academia, industry, technology, and the venture capital ecosystem. Its broader purpose is to build professional capabilities and institutional relationships that support long-term technology collaboration between the United States and Saudi Arabia while exposing participants to U.S.-developed technology frameworks, standards, ethics, best practices, and commercialization strategies. The recipient must implement three integrated program phases. The preparatory phase, anticipated around April 1, 2027, includes creation of an online application portal, promotional outreach and recruitment, participant evaluation, information sessions, and an online hackathon in which shortlisted candidates develop baseline AI capstone project proposals. Preparatory training must address areas including technology sector leadership, agile project management, pitch presentation skills, and familiarity with the U.S. venture capital and research ecosystem. The second phase is a two-week U.S. exchange anticipated in July 2027 across two or three U.S. cities or states with strong technology sectors. Activities must include visits to research centers, technology companies, startups, accelerators, networking opportunities, workshops addressing AI policy, ethics, and governance, cultural activities, and ideally participation connected to a major AI summit. Each participant must also be paired with an American mentor for three months of bi-weekly virtual career coaching. The third phase is a follow-on summit in Saudi Arabia on or around January 2028, within three to six months after the exchange, where participants will present completed AI capstone projects to the local technology community, potential investors, government leaders, and institutional partners. Approximately $250,000 is available, subject to availability of funds, with one award anticipated and an expected maximum award of approximately $250,000. Applicants must submit three complete budget scenarios covering cohorts of 12, 16, and 20 participants, with 16 participants serving as the primary scenario, while maintaining program quality and demonstrating cost effectiveness at each scale. Cost sharing is not required and is not scored as a primary competitive factor. Voluntary cash or third-party in-kind cost sharing may be proposed, but once approved it becomes a binding requirement. Federal funds cannot support UNRWA, inherently religious activities, venture capital or commercial seed funding, construction or permanent infrastructure, lobbying or political activity, retroactive costs, alcoholic beverages, prohibited unmanned aircraft systems, permanent high-end computing infrastructure, specialized AI processing hardware, or standalone commercial AI software licenses for permanent organizational use. For-profit entities cannot receive subawards or direct financial assistance, although they may participate as vendors through compliant procurement contracts. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, Public International Organizations, and governmental institutions. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration unless an approved exemption applies. The program beneficiaries must be Saudi nationals or residents of more than five years from another Arab country, be undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students or recent graduates between ages 20 and 30, and be studying or working in AI or an AI-adjacent field such as machine learning, data science, robotics, or computer vision. Participants must have sufficient English proficiency for technical and academic participation, demonstrate leadership potential, and show commitment to advancing technology innovation in Saudi Arabia. The cohort must include at least 50 percent female representation and geographic representation across Saudi Arabia's 13 provinces. Applications must include the required SF-424, SF-424A, and, when applicable, SF-424B forms; a summary page; a proposal of no more than 20 pages; a separate budget justification narrative; and required attachments. The proposal must address the proposal summary, applicant background and relevant experience, problem statement, project goals and measurable objectives, activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners and subawardees, monitoring and evaluation, and future funding or sustainability. Attachments include one-page CVs or resumes for key personnel, letters of support from program partners, the latest NICRA when applicable, required official permission letters, and history of similar work if available. Documents must be in English, budgets must use U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and specified document formatting requirements must be followed. Applications may be submitted by email to riyadhgrants@state.gov or electronically through grants.gov. Eligible applications will be reviewed using a 100-point framework. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea is worth 25 points, Saudi Partnership Strategy and Engagement Plan is worth 20 points, Organizational Capacity and Experience is worth 15 points, Program Planning and Innovation is worth 15 points, Budget and Cost Effectiveness is worth 15 points, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Sustainability is worth 10 points. Applicants should demonstrate an integrated approach across the hackathon, exchange, mentoring, and summit; credible engagement with Saudi stakeholders; international exchange management capacity; measurable objectives; innovative bilateral networking methods; detailed and realistic budgets for all three required cohort scenarios; and a comprehensive Performance Monitoring Plan. If applications have equivalent scores, the lower indirect cost rate is used as the first tie breaker, followed by the availability, relevance, and strength of voluntary cost sharing if a tie remains. The Department will also conduct risk review addressing financial stability, management systems, past performance, audits, implementation capacity, data security, compliant technology procurement, and participant safety. Applications are due September 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM Arabia Standard Time. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline is stated. The anticipated project start date is October 1, 2026, and the stated performance period is 12 to 24 months, with proposed projects to be completed by September 1, 2028 or earlier. The preparatory phase is anticipated around April 2027, the U.S. exchange in July 2027, and the Saudi Arabia follow-on summit on or around January 2028. Final selection rests with the Grants Officer and depends on available funding, risk assessments, and alignment with U.S. Mission strategic priorities. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email. Questions about the application process may be directed to riyadhgrants@state.gov. The notice does not establish a recurring application cycle, although continuation funding beyond the initial budget period may be considered noncompetitively subject to funding availability, satisfactory program progress, and a determination that continued funding is in the Department's best interest.

Design a logical and integrated program across the virtual hackathon, U.S. exchange, three-month mentoring phase, and Saudi follow-on summit. Present a credible strategy for engagement with key Saudi stakeholders and clearly define partner roles. Demonstrate proven international exchange experience and strong federal-funds controls. Use measurable objectives and a comprehensive Performance Monitoring Plan with baselines, targets, outputs, and outcomes. Provide detailed and realistic budgets for all three required cohort sizes and demonstrate value for money. Address data security, compliant technology procurement, participant safety, emergency communications, and health insurance. Ensure proposed activities comply with funding restrictions and standing Executive Orders.