Opportunity Information: Apply for 2016 NIST NSTIC 01
Apply for 2016 NIST NSTIC 01
- The DOC-NIST in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) State Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.619.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 18, 2015 and posted on Dec 18, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 18, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) State Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program (Funding Opportunity No. 2016 NIST NSTIC 01) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (DOC-NIST), under CFDA 11.619. Posted on December 18, 2015 (created the same day) with a closing date of February 18, 2016, the program is aimed at moving digital identity from theory and policy into real operational use by funding pilot projects that demonstrate practical, standards-aligned approaches to trusted online identity for government services.
At its core, the opportunity seeks applicants who can build and test online identity solutions that align with the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG) Identity Ecosystem Framework (IDEF). In practical terms, NIST is looking for pilots that show how people can access one or more state, local, or tribal government services online using a digital identity that is both trustworthy and usable. The emphasis is not just on creating another login system, but on demonstrating an identity approach that can be relied on for real government transactions where security, privacy, and assurance levels matter.
The solicitation lays out several key functional requirements for proposed pilots. First, the solution must enable online access to at least one government service at the state, local, or tribal level, meaning the pilot needs a concrete service delivery use case rather than a purely conceptual identity platform. Second, the solution must provide a federated and verified digital identity. Federation is important because it implies users can authenticate through an identity provider in a way that can be accepted by multiple relying parties, instead of creating separate credentials for every agency. Along with federation, the identity must support multi-factor authentication and include an identity proofing process that is effective and appropriate for the risk of the service being accessed. In other words, the program expects applicants to match the strength of identity verification and authentication to the sensitivity of the transaction, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
Third, pilots are expected to align with the Identity Ecosystem Framework Requirements, which signals that NIST wants projects that reinforce the broader NSTIC vision of an interoperable, privacy-enhancing identity ecosystem with agreed-upon baseline requirements and good governance practices. Fourth, the proposed solution must support interoperability with other identity federations already used across public and private sectors. This interoperability requirement is a major theme: NIST is trying to avoid isolated, state-by-state identity silos by encouraging designs that can connect to wider ecosystems and be extended beyond a single deployment.
Beyond the technical and operational deliverables, NIST explicitly encourages pilots that contribute to the continued development and adoption of the Identity Ecosystem Framework and that engage with open, collaborative venues such as the OpenID Foundation iGov Working Group and other public forums. This indicates the program values pilots that do more than serve a single jurisdiction; it favors projects that produce reusable lessons, implementation patterns, and community input that can inform standards and best practices across the country.
Some administrative details are provided in the source data, though not all fields are filled in. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means NIST expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance compared with a standard grant, often through collaboration, milestones, or technical engagement. The eligible applicant category is listed as “Others” with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement, and award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the excerpted data. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a federal push to help governments test interoperable, federated, standards-aligned digital identity approaches that combine strong authentication, appropriate identity proofing, and ecosystem-wide interoperability, while feeding real-world findings back into the national identity framework efforts.
FAQs: NSTIC State Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program (Funding Opportunity No. 2016 NIST NSTIC 01)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) State Pilots Cooperative Agreement Program, offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (DOC-NIST). It is a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 11.619.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to move digital identity work from theory and policy into real operational use. It funds pilot projects that demonstrate practical, standards-aligned approaches to trusted online identity for government services.
When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?
The opportunity was posted (and created) on December 18, 2015, and it has a closing date of February 18, 2016.
What kind of projects is NIST looking to fund?
NIST is looking for pilot projects that build and test online identity solutions aligned with the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG) Identity Ecosystem Framework (IDEF). The pilots should show how people can access one or more state, local, or tribal government services online using a digital identity that is trustworthy and usable.
Does the pilot need to support a real government service, or can it be purely conceptual?
It needs a concrete service delivery use case. The solicitation requires that the solution enable online access to at least one government service at the state, local, or tribal level, rather than being a purely conceptual identity platform.
What is meant by a "federated and verified digital identity" in this program?
The pilot must provide a digital identity that is both federated and verified. Federation implies that users can authenticate through an identity provider in a way that can be accepted by multiple relying parties, instead of having to create separate credentials for each agency. Verified means the identity includes an identity proofing process appropriate to the risk of the service being accessed.
Is multi-factor authentication required?
Yes. The solicitation indicates the identity solution must support multi-factor authentication.
What are the expectations around identity proofing?
The program expects an identity proofing process that is effective and appropriate for the risk of the service being accessed. In practical terms, applicants should match the strength of identity verification and authentication to the sensitivity of the transaction, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
What frameworks or standards must the pilot align with?
Pilots are expected to align with the Identity Ecosystem Framework Requirements (from the IDESG Identity Ecosystem Framework, IDEF). This reflects the NSTIC vision of interoperable, privacy-enhancing identity systems with baseline requirements and governance practices.
What does the opportunity say about interoperability?
Interoperability is a major theme. The proposed solution must support interoperability with other identity federations used across the public and private sectors. The intent is to avoid isolated identity silos and encourage designs that can connect to broader ecosystems and extend beyond a single deployment.
Is the goal to create a new login system for a single agency?
No. The emphasis is not on creating another standalone login system. The program is looking for pilots that demonstrate an identity approach that can be relied on for real government transactions where security, privacy, and assurance levels matter, and that supports federation and interoperability.
Which levels of government are relevant for the service use case?
The pilot must enable online access to at least one government service at the state, local, or tribal level.
Does NIST encourage participation in any specific community or public forums?
Yes. NIST explicitly encourages pilots that contribute to the continued development and adoption of the Identity Ecosystem Framework and that engage with open, collaborative venues such as the OpenID Foundation iGov Working Group and other public forums.
What type of funding instrument is being used and why does that matter?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. In general, cooperative agreements typically involve substantial involvement by the federal agency during the period of performance compared with a standard grant, often through collaboration, milestones, or technical engagement.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," and the excerpt notes that additional eligibility details are referenced elsewhere in the full announcement.
Are the award ceiling and expected number of awards provided?
Not in the provided information. The excerpted data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
How does this opportunity relate to the broader NSTIC vision?
It supports the NSTIC vision by funding real-world pilots that demonstrate interoperable, standards-aligned trusted digital identity approaches, including strong authentication, appropriate identity proofing, and ecosystem-wide interoperability, while also feeding practical findings back into national framework and standards efforts.
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