National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program was a competitive funding opportunity run by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to accelerate practical, real-world pilots of online identity solutions. The program was built around the NSTIC vision: people and organizations should be able to use identity credentials online that are secure, efficient, easy to use, and interoperable across services, while also supporting confidence, privacy, user choice, and continued innovation. In plain terms, NIST was looking for projects that move beyond theory and help prove out better ways to handle digital identity in everyday online transactions, including scenarios relevant to individuals, businesses, and government at all levels.

The central focus of the opportunity was to fund pilot projects that align with the NSTIC Guiding Principles. Applicants were expected to show how their proposed identity approach would be privacy-enhancing and voluntary, meaning users are not forced into a single identity system and privacy protections are designed in from the start. Projects also needed to be secure and resilient, so the solutions could resist common cyber threats, recover from failures, and maintain trust over time. Interoperability was another core requirement, emphasizing identity credentials and systems that can work across different platforms, sectors, and service providers rather than being locked into proprietary silos. Finally, NIST emphasized that strong identity solutions should also be cost-effective and easy to use, reflecting the reality that adoption depends heavily on usability and practical cost, not just technical sophistication.

NIST specifically intended to support pilots that test or demonstrate new solutions, models, or frameworks that either did not exist yet or were not widely adopted in the market at the time. This framing encouraged applicants to propose work that could break new ground in digital identity ecosystems, such as fresh technical architectures, governance and trust frameworks, privacy-preserving credential designs, or operational models that make identity proofing and authentication more scalable and user-friendly. Because it was a pilot-oriented program, the expectation was that awardees would build, integrate, and validate solutions in real settings with real users or participating organizations, rather than limiting the work to research papers or small lab demonstrations.

From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary, science and technology or research and development funding opportunity, with awards made through a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally means NIST anticipated being more involved than in a standard grant, with substantial agency participation in coordinating, guiding, or collaborating as the project progresses, while still leaving the recipient responsible for execution. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowered a common barrier to entry for universities, nonprofits, and smaller organizations that might not have large pools of discretionary money.

The application process used a two-stage structure with firm electronic submission deadlines through Grants.gov. Applicants first submitted an abbreviated application by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 6, 2014, and late submissions were not reviewed. NIST planned to review these abbreviated applications and select finalists by Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Finalists were then invited to submit a full application, including a technical proposal, due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, again with late submissions excluded. NIST expected to complete review of full applications, select successful applicants, and finish award processing in August 2014. The posting date and creation date were both January 16, 2014, and the opportunity was later archived on June 14, 2014.

Eligibility was broad but U.S.-focused. Eligible applicants included accredited institutions of higher education, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, commercial (for-profit) organizations, and state, local, and Indian tribal governments located in the United States and its territories. Applicants could apply as a single organization or assemble a team using subawardees, contractors, or other collaborators, effectively forming a consortium. One organization was allowed to submit multiple applications as long as each application addressed a distinct topic. Federal agencies could participate in the projects, but they could not receive NIST funding under this program, which is a common rule meant to ensure the money supports non-federal recipients while still allowing federal partners to contribute expertise or serve as implementation venues.

The official agency administering the opportunity was NIST, and the funding opportunity number was 2014 NIST NSTIC 01. For issues accessing the full announcement, the listed contact was Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant, at 301-975-5718.

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