EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARDS

Below are general evaluation factors to consider across all three solicitation types:

• Eligibility: The applicant/institution meets the eligibility requirements identified in the grant solicitation, and has documented all requirements unique to the offer, such as collaboration with the designated program principal, or being in good standing or compliance with requirements of previous grants.

• Sound Methodology: The institution demonstrates a sound and reasonable method for achieving the stated goals of the solicitation. A timeline of activities is included as appropriate

• Quality & Experience: Proposal must clearly state the qualifications of the offeror and the proposed team members to fulfill the objectives of the solicitation and certifies each participant’s professional commitments to allow time to perform on the grant.

• Deliverability: Proposal clearly specifies plans for required deliverables, and those plans meet the required deliverables of the solicitation. The proposal acknowledges the deliverable will be provided to the Department of War (DoW) Cyber Service Academy (CSA) Program Office and will be made available to the public as appropriate.

• Objective & Clarity: The proposal clearly accounts for all solicitation requirements and detailed descriptions of how the project meets the objectives of the solicitation.

• Identified Partners: Institutions provides contact information for project partners and clearly delineates each partner’s responsibilities.

• Cost: Costs are reasonable in proportion to the scope of the proposal. If several proposals meet requirements and are evaluated to be equal in quality/ability to fulfill objectives, DoW CSA will evaluate the cost of the proposal against the proposed methods, deliverables, associated costs, and return on investment.

• Project Innovation: In cases where the solicitation specifically asks for innovative solutions, the proposal describes how this project demonstrates innovation.

• Past Performance: The institution has a demonstrated history in managing grant funding, including fulfilling reporting and invoicing requirements. If applicable, DoW CSA will consider amount of outstanding grant funding (e.g., failure to invoice), number of grants that have not been invoiced or remain at 50% or less at the mid-point of the period of performance and number of outstanding reports.

RECRUITMENT

SCHOLARSHIPS

Recruitment student proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Merits of the institution’s proposed approach to establishing DoW CSA standards and requirements.

• Institution’s process for promoting and advertising the DoW CSA opportunity.

• Congruence with statutory intent, the requirements of the DoW, and its relevance and potential contribution to the DoW mission needs.

• Institution’s existing resources to accomplish the program objectives.

• The feasibility and reasonableness of the proposed costs.

Proposals must include the following:

• Identified count of student nominations (including student name), scholarship duration (full/half year – Returning recruitment scholars only), degree name and level, degree delivery type, campus location and tuition rates (including in-state/out of state) for each student. This information must be entered Project Budget Sheet.

• Identified institution Programs of Study or Degree for each student.

• Proposed student management plan, including any required meetings and on-campus events.

• Proposed plan with metrics to monitor and evaluate student progress and success

• Proposed plan on how the institution will include the option to obtain commercial certifications identified in DoW 8140.

• A copy of the institution’s student code of conduct.

Proposals missing the Project Budget Sheet with all required information, as listed above, will not be considered. Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of DoW cyber professionals sourced from the Military Departments, the Office of the DoW Chief Information Officer, and other DoW Components.

After institution nominations, student applications will be evaluated by participating DoW Components who plan to hire Scholars upon graduation.

Each DoW Component will select scholars based on their mission and DoW-aligned cyber-skill needs.

RETENTION

SCHOLARSHIP

Retention Scholarships will be evaluated separately from all other proposal sections using the criteria below:

• The merits of the proposed approach, and the ability of the institution to meet the conditions imposed by DoW for a community college, partnership, or graduate certificate program.

• The reasonableness of the proposal cost and timeline to obtain the degree.

Proposals must include the following:

• Identified Programs of study offered and/or degrees.

• Proposed student management plan, including any required meetings and on-campus events.

• Proposed plan with metrics to monitor and evaluate student progress and success.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity Building proposals will be evaluated separately from all other proposal sections using the criteria below:

• Only institutions submitting a scholarship proposal will be eligible for the capacity building portion. Capacity building only proposals will not be accepted.

• The current academic programs and proposed enhancements provide significant benefits to potential DoW CSA Scholars and support DoW mission needs by aligning to DoW strategies and workforce framework.

• The institution should identify key activities (e.g., programs, forums or partnerships with DoW, other government agencies, academia, or private industry) that enhance its cyber academic credentials and contribute to faculty, staff, and student awareness and experiences in current cybersecurity trends.

• Requests for research funding will not be authorized.

• Lab activities and curricula enhancements should provide students with critical cyber skills and knowledge.

The DoW CSA Boot Camp proposals for 2027 will also be reviewed based on published requirements of the event. (See DoW CSA Boot Camp PDF)

The INSuRE Summer Camp proposals for 2027 will also be reviewed based on additional published requirements. (See DoW CSA INSuRE Summer Camp PDF)

The DoW CSA Program Office, in conjunction with technical evaluators/ subject matter experts, will review the reasonableness of the cost proposal.