Deadline: 19-Apr-23

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects to strengthen the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms online through an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure global Internet, with a focus on technology development.

In support of this goal, DRL is requesting program proposals to produce, support, innovate, implement, or advance the standardization of open-source internet technologies that provide software infrastructure and protocol functions for the sustainable protection and operation of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet in ways that actively counter the progression of growing Internet restrictions by combatting repressive surveillance, censorship, and internet splintering. Objectives may include, but are not limited to:

• Developing, improving, or implementing internet communication protocols, software suites, or core Internet services, such as browsers or secure and resilient traffic routing and encryption, in ways that are necessary to and supportive of an open internet, with a focus on non-user-facing technologies. Improve upon or further develop, strengthen, or audit the censorship resistance and/or security properties of existing open-source internet communication technologies.
• Implement or advance technical standards or policies that govern internet communication technologies, which enable and/or protect censorship resistance and/or security properties of open-source Internet technology, including in contexts such as international standard-setting bodies, to better serve the needs of at-risk and marginalized communities.
• Provide or implement a sustainability plan, addressing issues such as ongoing maintenance of existing rights-enabling open-source technologies or protocols.

Key Program Considerations

• This list of considerations is provided as a guide to help applicants develop responsive, robust program strategies. Competitive programs must:
  • Be based on open-source software.
  • Have direct applicability to communication on the existing global internet.
  • Include sustainability plans that account for ongoing and long-term maintenance of open-source software.
  • Maintain high standards of security and reliability.
  • Prioritize approaches that emphasize decentralized ownership, community stewardship, and co-design processes, consistent with open-source technology culture.

Funding Information

• Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
• Award Floor: $500,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
• Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Ineligible

• Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
  • The provision of humanitarian assistance;
  • English language instruction;
  • Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
  • Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
  • External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
  • Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
  • Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacitybuilding for local civil society;
  • Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
  • Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.