The award was one of several DHS S&T awards to support the development of security solutions that involve blockchain technology. DHS S&T also announced competitive research awards for small businesses through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program

DHS S&T awarded $199,000 to Factom Inc. for its project titled, "Blockchain Software to Prove Integrity of Captured Data From Border Devices" through its Securing the Internet of Things (IoT), Solicitation Number: HSHQDC-16-R-00035. Factom proposed the project in response to the first call for proposals under the Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) Other Transaction Solicitation (OTS).

The SVIP OTS program began in December 2015 to encourage non-traditional performers to develop solutions to some of the toughest threats facing DHS and its homeland security mission.