Justification for Cyber NOFO Posting Period.pdf

This document is a justification letter from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Small Business Development Centers (OSBDC) explaining the rationale for posting a cybersecurity-focused Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with an expedited timeline of less than 30 days. Dated August 10, 2026, the letter is signed by Bruce Purdy, Associate Administrator of the OSBDC.

The SBDC Program has a statutory requirement to ensure that a percentage of SBDC counselors are trained and certified in cybersecurity to enable more small businesses to receive training in cyber principles. The current certification process funding expires on September 30, 2026. The expedited NOFO is designed to award a single grant for a 2-year period to maintain continuity of the certification process beyond the September 30 expiration date. The award will utilize a portion of cyber pilot funding that also expires at the end of September, allowing the SBA to meet its statutory obligations without interruption. The accelerated posting timeline is necessary to implement the award before the current funding cycle concludes.