Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006453
Apply for SFOP0006453
- The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Internet Freedom: Advancing and Promoting Peer-to-Peer Communications Technologies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Internet Freedom: Advancing and Promoting Peer-to-Peer Communications Technologies" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006453) is a U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). It is a discretionary grant competition (CFDA 19.345) aimed at supporting the long-term development and real-world deployment of censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer (P2P) communications tools. The central focus is on technologies that help people communicate when governments or other actors restrict access to the internet, block platforms, or impose partial or full network shutdowns, as well as during severe connectivity disruptions.
DRL frames the opportunity around broader U.S. policy goals described in the 2018 U.S. National Cyber Strategy: promoting an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that supports innovation and economic growth while also respecting privacy and protecting users from disruption, fraud, and theft. Within that policy context, this funding is intended to strengthen practical anti-censorship capabilities, especially communications approaches that do not depend on centralized infrastructure that can be easily blocked. The emphasis on peer-to-peer systems reflects an interest in architectures that can remain functional even when traditional networks are degraded, heavily filtered, or intentionally turned off, such as through local device-to-device networking, resilient routing, or other decentralized connectivity models.
The solicitation invites proposals that combine several types of support: core support to sustain and mature existing P2P censorship-circumvention projects; longer-term research and development to improve performance, usability, and security; outreach to grow adoption and build user communities; and implementation activities that move tools from prototype to reliable use in real-world conditions. In other words, DRL is not only looking for new ideas, but also for organizations that can maintain and scale technology over time, demonstrate impact, and help ensure that targeted users can actually access and safely use the tools.
Financially, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $2,000,000 with an expectation of making one award. The posting was created on February 13, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 10, 2020. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, indicating that a range of organizations may apply depending on the specific criteria and restrictions spelled out in the complete funding notice. Overall, the grant is designed for applicants capable of delivering durable, censorship-defeating peer-to-peer communications technologies that prioritize resilience, security, and privacy, particularly in environments where connectivity is under threat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Internet Freedom: Advancing and Promoting Peer-to-Peer Communications Technologies."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0006453.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this grant?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant program administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).
Is this a discretionary grant or a formula program?
It is a discretionary grant competition.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.345.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support the long-term development and real-world deployment of censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer (P2P) communications tools, especially for situations where access to the internet is restricted, platforms are blocked, or networks are partially or fully shut down.
What kinds of environments or scenarios is this funding designed to address?
The funding targets environments where connectivity is under threat, including cases where governments or other actors restrict internet access, block platforms, impose partial or full shutdowns, or where there are severe connectivity disruptions.
Why does the opportunity emphasize peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies?
DRL emphasizes P2P approaches because they can reduce reliance on centralized infrastructure that can be more easily blocked, filtered, or disabled. The focus is on architectures that can remain functional even when traditional networks are degraded, heavily filtered, or intentionally turned off.
What types of technical approaches are mentioned as examples of P2P resilience?
The description references approaches such as local device-to-device networking, resilient routing, and other decentralized connectivity models that may continue to function under degraded or disrupted network conditions.
How does this opportunity connect to broader U.S. policy goals?
DRL frames the opportunity in the context of broader goals described in the 2018 U.S. National Cyber Strategy, including promoting an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that supports innovation and economic growth while also respecting privacy and protecting users from disruption, fraud, and theft.
What kinds of activities or project components does DRL want to support?
The solicitation invites proposals that combine multiple types of support, including core support to sustain and mature existing P2P censorship-circumvention projects; longer-term research and development to improve performance, usability, and security; outreach to grow adoption and build user communities; and implementation work to move tools from prototype to reliable, real-world use.
Does the grant support existing projects, new ideas, or both?
Based on the description, DRL is interested in more than just new ideas. It also seeks support for organizations that can sustain, maintain, and scale technology over time, mature existing projects, and demonstrate real-world impact.
What does "real-world deployment" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, it refers to moving tools beyond prototype stages so they can be accessed and used reliably in actual conditions where censorship or disruptions occur, with attention to practical adoption and safe usability for targeted users.
What are the stated priorities for the supported tools?
The opportunity highlights resilience, security, and privacy as priorities, particularly for users operating in environments where connectivity and access are under threat.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $2,000,000.
How many awards does DRL expect to make under this announcement?
The announcement indicates an expectation of making one award.
When was this grant posting created?
The posting was created on February 13, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was April 10, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," and the announcement notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full funding notice. That suggests a range of organizations may be eligible, depending on the specific criteria and restrictions in the complete announcement.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility criteria and restrictions?
The description indicates that additional eligibility details are included in the full announcement for Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006453.
What kind of applicant profile does this opportunity seem designed for?
It is designed for applicants capable of delivering durable, censorship-defeating peer-to-peer communications technologies and supporting them over time, including improvement work (performance, usability, security), adoption/outreach, and implementation efforts aimed at reliable real-world use.
Is the focus limited to preventing censorship, or does it also address connectivity disruptions?
It addresses both. The focus includes censorship and blocking, but it also explicitly includes severe connectivity disruptions and network degradation or shutdown scenarios.
What is meant by "anti-censorship capabilities" in this program context?
As described, it refers to practical capabilities that help people communicate when access is restricted, platforms are blocked, or networks are shut down, with an emphasis on approaches that are harder to block because they rely less on centralized infrastructure.
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