Artificial Intelligence Enabled Molecular Models and Mitigating Proliferation Risks Service

The Department of State is seeking services to address the dual-use risks associated with artificial intelligence in chemistry and biology. While AI models can identify new therapeutic drugs, these same systems can also design potentially weaponizable chemicals and biomolecules, such as organophosphate nerve agents, lethal synthetic opioids, and biotoxins. The agency requires assistance to identify key foreign stakeholders involved in AI-enabled molecular design and production. The selected contractor must develop and conduct technical evaluations and risk assessments of training data sets, model architectures, computing systems, and related infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities and dual-use capabilities. The scope of work also includes developing tools, methodologies, and resources that leverage the beneficial applications of AI to detect and counter illicit chemical and biological material acquisition, development, diversion, proliferation, weaponization, and use activities. Finally, the project requires publishing forward-looking international guidelines, codes of ethics, software tools or platforms, and proposals for institutional mechanisms to promote the responsible development and use of these molecular design technologies. Eligible bidders must be onshore organizations based in the United States. The agency specifies that performance of the work will take place offsite. The agency is currently looking for proposals to determine the budget, and the source document does not disclose specific evaluation criteria or key dates.