U.S-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (ReCAP)

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia Public Diplomacy Section, is offering the U.S.-Saudi AI Commercialization Accelerator Program, ReCAP, under funding opportunity DOS-SAU-2605-PD and Assistance Listing 19.040 Public Diplomacy Programs. ReCAP is a 12-month initiative intended to connect Saudi Arabia's expanding artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem with U.S. technology, investment, research, and commercialization networks. The program is designed to strengthen U.S. economic and technological leadership in Saudi Arabia, increase Saudi innovators' familiarity with American commercialization approaches, and create durable professional relationships between Saudi innovators and U.S. researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, commercialization professionals, and AI practitioners. The Department anticipates one cooperative agreement of $900,000, with total available funding of $900,000 pending availability of funds. The anticipated project start date is October 1, 2026, and projects should be completed within 12 months or less. The recipient will source and assess approximately 20-30 Saudi-developed AI technologies or AI-related intellectual property assets and use a transparent, market-oriented evaluation process to select approximately 10 technologies with the strongest commercialization potential. Required activities include technology sourcing and commercial viability assessment during months 1-2, an applied commercialization workshop series during months 3-4, structured Innovation Labs during months 5-8, an intensive U.S. AI Commercialization Study Tour for approximately 10 competitively selected participants around month 9, commercialization finalization during months 10-11, and a high-level U.S.-Saudi AI Commercialization Summit in Saudi Arabia during month 12. At least five technologies should complete credible Commercialization Action Plans or equivalent frameworks. The program must incorporate substantial American expertise, methodologies, institutions, innovation models, and professional networks throughout implementation rather than limiting American participation to individual guest speakers. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, including civil society and non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, Public International Organizations, and governmental institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible. Although organizations may subcontract with other entities, the notice states that only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient, and responsibilities among participating entities must be clearly defined in the proposal. Applicants may submit only one proposal per organization. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and an active SAM.gov registration, subject to the stated exemption process. Cost sharing is not required, although applicants are encouraged to leverage complementary U.S. government programs, private-sector engagement, institutional cost sharing, or other resources when doing so enhances program impact. The opportunity will not support partisan political activity, charitable or development activities and direct social services, construction, specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, scientific research or surveys, prohibited commercial projects, organizational growth as a primary purpose, duplication of existing projects, or illegal activities. Award funds also cannot be used for alcoholic beverages or entertainment-related expenses, and pre-award costs are generally unallowable unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal. Applications must include the required federal assistance forms and a narrative proposal of no more than 30 pages. Required forms are SF-424 for organizations or SF-424-I for individuals as applicable, SF-424A, and SF-424B where applicable under the notice. The narrative proposal must address the proposal summary, applicant organization, problem statement, program methods, design, activities and deliverables, proposed project schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners, future funding or sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation. The Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan must include an M&E narrative, a Theory of Change diagram or If-Then Statement, and an M&E datasheet. Applicants must also provide a detailed line-item budget and budget justification narrative. Required attachments include one-page resumes or qualifying position descriptions for key personnel, applicable partner letters of support, the latest NICRA when NICRA charges are included, proof of non-profit status, and proof of registration. All documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, and required authorized signatures must be provided. Applications will be evaluated for Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea at 30 points, Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants at 25 points, Project Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives at 20 points, Budget at 10 points, Monitoring and Evaluation at 10 points, and Sustainability at 5 points. Applications are first screened for technical eligibility, and submissions missing required forms or documents identified in the application contents and format section will be considered ineligible and will not proceed to the grants review committee. Eligible applications are reviewed by a technical review panel. The Department will also conduct a risk review considering financial stability, management systems and standards, performance history, audit reports and findings, and ability to implement project requirements. If two or more applications receive equivalent evaluation scores, preference will be given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate as the stated tie-breaking mechanism. Applications must be received no later than September 14, 2026, at 23:59 EDT. The deadline is firm and is not rolling. Applicants must submit all application materials directly by email to Riyadhgrants@state.gov and include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the email subject line. Questions concerning the grant application process may also be sent to riyadhgrants@state.gov. Applicants will receive acknowledgement of receipt and generally will be notified of review results within 120 days after the NOFO deadline. The anticipated project start date is October 1, 2026. The award will be a cooperative agreement involving substantial U.S. Embassy participation, including approval of key milestones and implementation plans, coordination with Saudi partners, consultation on participant and technology selection, identification or approval of U.S. experts and institutions, consultation on the study tour, participation in selected activities, Summit coordination, review of public communications and branding, and continuing consultation regarding alignment with U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives. The notice does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular cycle.

Prioritize the highest-weighted Quality and Feasibility criterion by presenting an innovative, detailed, achievable program that directly advances the NOFO objectives and U.S. foreign policy priorities. Demonstrate substantial access to and integration of American AI and commercialization expertise throughout technology evaluation, workshops, Innovation Labs, mentoring, the U.S. study tour, and Summit. Show strong organizational and fiscal capacity, clearly define partner roles, provide a realistic implementation timeline, and make the budget detailed, reasonable, allowable, and directly relatable to activities and results. Include measurable output and outcome indicators and milestones in the M&E plan. Address sustainability and concrete post-award engagement pathways. Ensure every required form and document is included because technically incomplete submissions are ineligible and will not be reviewed.