Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE)
At a glance
Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) is an open federal grant opportunity from U.S. National Science Foundation. Applications are due March 2, 2027. Total estimated funding is $40M across about 60 awards. Applicant types listed as eligible include others (see notice). Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 47.041 (Engineering) and 6 other listings.
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Posted
- Feb 19, 2026
- Close date
- Mar 2, 2027
- Archive date
- Oct 7, 2027
- Award floor
- Not specified
- Award ceiling
- Not specified
- Est. total funding
- $40,000,000
- Expected awards
- 60
- Cost sharing
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Opportunity category
- Discretionary
Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -For-profit organizations: U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation. -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): Prospective proposers from other Federal Agencies and FFRDCs, including NSF sponsored FFRDCs, must follow the guidance in PAPPG Chapter I.E.2 regarding limitations on eligibility. -State and Local Governments -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. -Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131. *Who May Serve as PI: For Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): By the submission deadline, any PI, co-PI, or other Senior/Key Personnel must hold either: a tenured or tenure-track position, or a primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position, or a staff leadership role in an Open-Source Program Office or equivalent position at a U.S.-based campus of an Institution of Higher Education (see above), with exceptions granted for family or medical leave, as determined by the submitting institution. Individuals with primary appointments at overseas branch campuses of U.S. institutions of higher education are not eligible. Researchers from foreign academic institutions who contribute essential expertise to the project may participate as Senior/Key Personnel or collaborators but may not receive NSF support. For all other eligible proposing organizations: The PI must be an employee of the proposing organization who is normally resident in the U.S. and must be acting as an employee of the proposing organization while performing PI responsibilities. The PI may perform the PI responsibilities while temporarily out of the U.S. Individuals with primary appointments at non-U.S. based non-profit or non-U.S. based for-profit organizations are not eligible.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.
The Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) program supports the translation of open-source science and engineering-focused research products into safe and sustainable ecosystems that address national and societal challenges. Open-source tools such as software, hardware, machine learning models, languages, and data platforms are designed to be shared as they are publicly-accessible and modifiable. These tools spark innovation in critical fields as varied as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, banking, healthcare, research, education, next-gen manufacturing, mobility, and National security (including cybersecurity).
PESOSE supports the creation of managing organizations for these ecosystems, ensuring strong governance, distributed development, and broad user communities across academia, industry, and government. PESOSE also supports enhancements to the safety, security, and privacy of Open-Source Ecosystems (OSE) by addressing significant vulnerabilities, both technical and socio-technical, to improve the resistance of the ecosystem against threats.
This solicitation seeks three types of proposals, allowing teams to propose specific activities to: 1) scope and plan the establishment of an OSE, 2) establish and expand a sustainable OSE based on a robust, promising open-source product that meets an emergent societal or national need, and 3) improve the safety, security, and privacy of an existing OSE and its products.
Assistance Listings
What is an ALN?- 47.041EngineeringProgram →
- 47.049Mathematical and Physical SciencesProgram →
- 47.050GeosciencesProgram →
- 47.074Biological SciencesProgram →
- 47.075Social, Behavioral, and Economic SciencesProgram →
- 47.076STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)Program →
- 47.084Technology, Innovation, and PartnershipsProgram →
Reported obligations under ALN 47.041
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
U.S. National Science Foundation
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
703-292-4203
Quick answers
When is the deadline for “Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE)”?
According to the official notice, applications are due March 2, 2027. Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.
Who is eligible to apply for “Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE)”?
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: Others (see notice). Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.
How much funding is available through “Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE)”?
Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $40,000,000 and the agency expects to make about 60 awards.
How do I apply for “Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE)”?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity 26-506), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.
Related open opportunities
Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU - EiR)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Oct 20, 2026
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $600K – $2M
- Closes
- Nov 17, 2026
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (FEC)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $1M – $1.5M
- Closes
- Jan 26, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $4M – $20M
- Closes
- Feb 8, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Apr 13, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science (FAIROS)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Apr 14, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)