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

Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), under the United States Department of Commerce, is seeking applications for activities to establish community-based partnerships to develop cybersecurity career pathways that address local workforce needs. The NIST National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) aims to coordinate a national cybersecurity awareness and education program, promoting and coordinating a robust community working together to advance an integrated ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.

Grant Details
The program requires applicants to establish a multistakeholder education and workforce partnership that includes at least one institution of higher education or nonprofit training organization, and one local employer or owner or operator of critical infrastructure. The project must align with the Department of Commerce Strategic Plan, meet Effective Workforce Investment Criteria, advance Good Jobs Principles, prioritize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, and demonstrate alignment with the NICE Strategic Plan. The project must also demonstrate how it will use the NICE Framework and identify the workforce needs of the local economy. Additionally, it should collaborate with academic institutions in cybersecurity programs and define metrics to measure success.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility is open to non-Federal entities including accredited institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States; state, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments; foreign public entities; and foreign organizations. Federal entities are not eligible for funding but may participate as unfunded collaborators. Applicants must demonstrate commitment from specific types of organizations to be part of the proposed multistakeholder workforce partnership.

Period of Performance
The project performance period is up to 2 years with an earliest start date for awards expected to be December 2023.

Grant Value
In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), NIST anticipates funding up to 18 awards for up to $200,000 per award.