Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Software Solutions for Industry Verticals and Integration Automation | NTIA PWSCIF 24 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for NTIA PWSCIF 24 02

The Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Software Solutions for Industry Verticals and Integration Automation (Funding Opportunity Number: NTIA PWSCIF 24 02) is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). It is the third Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the broader Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, a federal initiative focused on speeding up the development, deployment, and real-world adoption of open and interoperable radio access networks, commonly referred to as Open RAN. The core idea behind Open RAN is to reduce dependence on closed, single-vendor network stacks by enabling networks built from interoperable components that can be mixed and matched across suppliers, which can improve competition, supply chain resilience, and long-term flexibility for network operators.

This specific NOFO is deliberately software-centric. NTIA is using this round to invest in software solutions that make Open RAN easier to adopt at scale, especially by addressing two practical barriers that often slow adoption: (1) proving out compelling business cases and revenue opportunities that Open RAN can enable, particularly in specialized industry settings, and (2) cutting down the cost, time, and operational difficulty of integrating equipment and software from multiple vendors. In other words, the program is looking for software that helps Open RAN move from a promising architecture to something that is simpler to deploy, easier to operate, and more clearly valuable to buyers in real procurement cycles.

A major emphasis is on solutions that support "industry verticals," meaning tailored wireless capabilities for specific sectors and use cases such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, transportation, healthcare, agriculture, and similar environments where private or specialized wireless networks may deliver clear performance or operational benefits. Alongside that, the NOFO targets "integration automation," which generally points to software approaches that streamline multi-vendor Open RAN deployment and lifecycle management. That can include tooling, automation frameworks, repeatable integration processes, validation methods, and software that reduces the friction of interoperability testing, deployment configuration, and ongoing updates across a diverse supplier ecosystem.

NTIA frames this round as an effort to identify and validate new Open RAN-enabled revenue streams while also making multi-vendor Open RAN integration less expensive and less complex. By doing so, the awards are intended to expand market opportunities for both suppliers (who can more readily plug into a broader ecosystem) and operators (who can procure with more confidence and less integration risk). The intended downstream impact is to make Open RAN a more practical choice in upcoming equipment purchasing cycles and beyond, supporting broader adoption across the U.S. wireless landscape.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, uses the grant funding instrument, and is listed under CFDA 11.038. The eligible applicant category is shown as "Others," but eligibility is not one-size-fits-all for this competition because the NOFO is structured around separate SRFAs (sub-program areas or tracks). Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements specified for the particular SRFA they are applying to: SRFA 1 eligibility is defined in Section 2.2 of the NOFO, and SRFA 2 eligibility is defined in Section 3.2. The opportunity was created on 2024-12-17, and the posted original closing date is 2025-03-17. The provided source data does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so those details would need to be confirmed in the full NOFO text or related NTIA postings.

• The National Telecommunications and Information Admini in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Software Solutions for Industry Verticals and Integration Automation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.038.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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