Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the Department of Commerce is soliciting applications through the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development program to establish community-based partnerships that develop cybersecurity career pathways addressing local and regional workforce needs. Eligible applicants must demonstrate commitment from at least one local employer or critical infrastructure owner/operator and at least one education, training, or non-profit organization through formal commitment letters. Applications will be evaluated on five criteria: project scope (25 points), rationality of execution (25 points), project impact and dissemination of results (20 points), staff and institution capability (15 points), and budget match to proposed work (15 points). Eligible applicant types include community-based organizations, economic development organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, secondary school districts, training providers, non-profit and for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States, and state, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments. Priority consideration will be given to applications that include institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity or recipients of CyberCorps Scholarship for Service awards. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 28, 2026, with award processing expected to be completed by July 2026.

NIST anticipates funding up to 16 awards of up to $200,000 per award with a required non-federal cost share of not less than 50 percent of federal funds provided. The project performance period is two years, with the earliest start date in September 2026. Successful awardees must submit semi-annual financial and technical progress reports, attend quarterly meetings including three virtual and one in-person annual meeting, and report on efforts at the annual NICE Conference & Expo. Place of performance will be determined by the selected applicants' proposed locations, as the program focuses on developing local and regional partnerships.