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

ID: 2026-NIST-RAMPS-01 • Type: Posted
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Description

The NIST NICE program is seeking applications from eligible applicants for activities to establish community-based partnerships to develop cybersecurity career pathways that address local workforce needs. Effective multistakeholder workforce partnerships will organize multiple employers with skill shortages in specific occupations to focus on developing the skilled workforce to meet industry needs within the local or regional economy.

Background
The NIST NICE program, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is focused on enhancing cybersecurity education and workforce development.

The RAMPS Program aims to establish community-based partnerships that create career pathways in cybersecurity, addressing local workforce needs and organizing employers facing skill shortages in specific occupations. This initiative aligns with national strategies to build a skilled cybersecurity workforce essential for national and economic security.

Grant Details
The RAMPS Program seeks to build multistakeholder workforce partnerships involving employers, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and community organizations. Key tasks include:

1) Establishing a partnership that is employer-led, community-focused, learner-centered, standards-based, and outcomes-driven;
2) Describing initiatives aligned with the NICE Strategic Plan;
3) Advancing the use of the NICE Framework;
4) Identifying local workforce needs using tools like CyberSeek;
5) Recruiting employers for work-based learning opportunities;
6) Coordinating with existing federally funded programs; and
7) Defining success metrics for project evaluation.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include non-Federal U.S. entities such as community-based organizations, economic development organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, secondary school districts, training providers, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations incorporated in the U.S., and State/local/Territorial/Indian Tribal governments.

Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate commitment from at least one local employer or critical infrastructure operator and one educational or training organization.

Period of Performance
The project performance period is up to two (2) years.

Grant Value
NIST anticipates funding up to sixteen (16) awards of up to $200,000 each in Fiscal Year 2026.

Place of Performance
The grant activities will be performed within specific geographic locations determined by the partnerships formed.
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Overview

Agency
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]
Category of Funding
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Funding Instruments
Cooperative Agreement
Grant Program (CFDA)
11.048
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
True
Source
Grants.gov
On 4/13/26 the National Institute of Standards and Technology posted grant opportunity 2026-NIST-RAMPS-01 for Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development. It is expected that 16 total grants will be made.

Timing

Posted Date
April 13, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
May 28, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT Due in 38 Days
Last Updated
April 13, 2026, 3:41 p.m. EDT
Version
1
Archive Date
June 27, 2026

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
Eligibility for the RAMPS Program listed in this NOFO is open to all non-Federal U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations; economic development organizations; accredited institutions of higher education; secondary school districts; training providers; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States; State, local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal governments. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “non-Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Additionally, foreign public entities and foreign organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators. Current or previous awardees under the RAMPS Program are eligible to apply, but sustainment of an existing or previous RAMPS Program project will not meet the goals and objectives of this NOFO. Applicants must demonstrate, through commitment letters from project partners, that at least one of each of the following types of organizations will participate in the proposed multistakeholder workforce partnership: • at least one local employer or owner or operator of critical infrastructure (that is not the applicant), and • at least one of the following (that is not the applicant): • K12 School, • Local State Agency, • Local Educational Agency, • Institution of Higher Education, • Non-Profit Organization, or • Training Organization. Participation from academic institutions in the Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program, or Advanced Technological Education programs, as well as elementary and secondary schools, training and certification providers, State and local governments, economic development organizations, or other community organizations, is encouraged. Priority consideration shall be given to a regional alliance or partnership that includes one or more institution of higher education that is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, or which received an award under the Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program located in the State or region of the regional alliance or partnership (see Section V.2. of this NOFO for the Selection Factors for this competition).

Award Sizing

Ceiling
Not Listed
Floor
Not Listed
Estimated Program Funding
Not Provided
Estimated Number of Grants
16

Contacts

Contact
Karla Villalobos Grantor
Contact Email
grants@nist.gov
Contact Phone
(301) 975-8817

Documents

Posted documents for 2026-NIST-RAMPS-01

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