Opportunity Information: Apply for 2026 NIST RAMPS 01
The Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development opportunity is a NIST NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) funding program designed to build community-based partnerships that create or strengthen cybersecurity career pathways aligned to real, local workforce demand. The core idea is to bring multiple stakeholders to the same table so training and education efforts are driven by clearly identified skill shortages in specific cybersecurity occupations, rather than by one-off programs that are disconnected from hiring needs. RAMPS is focused on practical regional or local impact: partnerships are expected to coordinate employers, educators, and workforce organizations to develop a pipeline of talent that fits the labor market of a particular community or region.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning NIST expects to be substantially involved during the period of performance compared to a typical grant. The funding activity falls under science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA number listed is 11.048. The opportunity number is 2026 NIST RAMPS 01, it was created on 2026-04-13, and the application deadline is 2026-05-28. NIST anticipates making about 16 awards. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided notice excerpt, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget limits, cost share requirements (if any), and allowed cost details.
Eligibility is broad but clearly bounded to non-Federal U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, economic development organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, secondary school districts, training providers, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States, as well as State, local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal governments. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are explicitly not eligible because they are not considered non-Federal entities under this notice. Foreign public entities and foreign organizations are also not eligible. Federal entities cannot receive funds under this NOFO, but they may participate as unfunded collaborators, which can still be valuable for convening, technical expertise, data, and coordination.
A defining requirement of RAMPS is that the application must be built around a true multistakeholder workforce partnership and must document that partnership through commitment letters. At a minimum, the proposed partnership must include (1) at least one local employer or an owner/operator of critical infrastructure that is not the applicant, and (2) at least one additional qualifying partner organization that is also not the applicant, drawn from a K-12 school, a local State agency, a local educational agency, an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or a training organization. This structure is meant to ensure that employer demand is central and that there is at least one capable education/training or public-sector partner positioned to help translate that demand into programs, pathways, and supportive services.
While prior RAMPS awardees are allowed to apply again, the NOFO draws a firm line between proposing a new effort versus simply continuing or sustaining an existing RAMPS-funded project. Sustainment alone does not meet the goals and objectives of this competition, which signals that NIST is looking for new partnerships, new regions served, new occupational focus areas, new pathway designs, or otherwise meaningful expansion and innovation rather than maintenance funding.
The notice also emphasizes the value of aligning with established national cybersecurity education and talent initiatives. Participation is encouraged from institutions involved in the Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, and Advanced Technological Education programs, along with K-12 schools, training and certification providers, State and local governments, economic development organizations, and other community organizations. In addition to being encouraged, there is an explicit priority preference for alliances that include one or more institutions of higher education in the region that are designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity or that have received CyberCorps Scholarship for Service awards. In practice, that means proposals that meaningfully integrate these institutions into the partnership and pathway plan may be more competitive under the selection factors referenced in the NOFO.
Overall, RAMPS is a workforce-development-focused cybersecurity opportunity aimed at building durable regional alliances that connect employers with educators and training organizations to create career pathways that directly respond to local hiring needs. Competitive applications will typically show clear evidence of employer-led demand, a concrete plan for developing or scaling pathways into in-demand roles, strong partner commitments, and a regional strategy that makes it easier for learners to move from awareness to training to employment in cybersecurity within the local economy.Apply for 2026 NIST RAMPS 01
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.048.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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RAMPS Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (NIST NICE) FAQs
What is the RAMPS program?
RAMPS stands for Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development. It is a NIST NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) funding program intended to build or strengthen community-based partnerships that create cybersecurity career pathways aligned to real, local workforce demand.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to make sure cybersecurity education and training efforts are driven by clearly identified skill shortages in specific cybersecurity occupations within a community or region. RAMPS is designed to avoid one-off programs that are disconnected from hiring needs by bringing multiple stakeholders to the same table and coordinating them around employer-led demand.
What kind of impact is RAMPS intended to have?
RAMPS is focused on practical regional or local impact. Funded partnerships are expected to coordinate employers, educators, and workforce organizations to develop a pipeline of talent that fits the labor market of a particular community or region.
What type of award is RAMPS?
RAMPS is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This means NIST expects to be substantially involved during the period of performance compared to a typical grant.
What is the opportunity number and key dates?
The opportunity number is 2026 NIST RAMPS 01. It was created on 2026-04-13, and the application deadline is 2026-05-28.
How many awards does NIST expect to make?
NIST anticipates making about 16 awards.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this funding activity is 11.048.
What is the program category or focus area?
The funding activity falls under science and technology and other research and development, with an emphasis on cybersecurity education and workforce development aligned to local hiring needs.
Is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount) specified?
The award ceiling is not specified in the provided notice excerpt. Applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget limits, any cost share requirements (if any), and allowed cost details.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad but limited to non-Federal U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, economic development organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, secondary school districts, training providers, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States, and State, local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal governments.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are explicitly not eligible because they are not considered non-Federal entities under this notice.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign public entities and foreign organizations are not eligible under this notice.
Can Federal entities apply or receive funding?
No. Federal entities cannot receive funds under this NOFO. However, they may participate as unfunded collaborators, which can still be helpful for convening, technical expertise, data, and coordination.
What is a defining requirement for a RAMPS application?
A defining requirement is that the application must be built around a true multistakeholder workforce partnership and must document that partnership through commitment letters.
What are the minimum required partners in the RAMPS partnership?
At a minimum, the proposed partnership must include:
- At least one local employer or an owner/operator of critical infrastructure that is not the applicant; and
- At least one additional qualifying partner organization that is also not the applicant, drawn from a K-12 school, a local State agency, a local educational agency, an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or a training organization.
Why does RAMPS require an employer partner?
The structure is intended to ensure that employer demand is central to the proposed work, so pathways are developed in direct response to real hiring needs rather than being designed in isolation.
Why does RAMPS require an additional education/training or public-sector partner?
The requirement helps ensure there is at least one capable education/training or public-sector partner positioned to translate employer demand into programs, pathways, and supportive services.
Do required partners have to be different from the applicant organization?
Yes. The required employer (or critical infrastructure owner/operator) cannot be the applicant, and the additional qualifying partner organization also cannot be the applicant.
How should partnerships be documented in the application?
The partnership must be documented through commitment letters. These letters are used to demonstrate that partners are truly engaged and aligned with the proposed pathway and workforce strategy.
Can prior RAMPS awardees apply again?
Yes. Prior RAMPS awardees are allowed to apply again.
Can an application focus on sustaining an existing RAMPS-funded project?
No. The NOFO makes clear that sustainment alone does not meet the goals and objectives of this competition. NIST is looking for new efforts or meaningful expansion and innovation rather than maintenance funding.
What kinds of changes would make a proposal more than sustainment?
The notice signals interest in new partnerships, new regions served, new occupational focus areas, new pathway designs, or other meaningful expansion and innovation beyond continuing an existing RAMPS-funded project.
Does RAMPS encourage alignment with national cybersecurity education and talent initiatives?
Yes. The notice emphasizes the value of aligning with established national initiatives and encourages participation from institutions involved with CyberCorps Scholarship for Service, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), and Advanced Technological Education programs, as well as K-12 schools, training and certification providers, State and local governments, economic development organizations, and other community organizations.
Is there any stated priority preference in the NOFO?
Yes. There is an explicit priority preference for alliances that include one or more institutions of higher education in the region that are designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity or that have received CyberCorps Scholarship for Service awards.
Does the priority preference mean these institutions must be included?
The notice describes a priority preference, not a universal eligibility requirement. However, proposals that meaningfully integrate these institutions into the partnership and pathway plan may be more competitive under the selection factors referenced in the NOFO.
What does a competitive RAMPS application generally demonstrate?
Competitive applications typically show clear evidence of employer-led demand, a concrete plan for developing or scaling pathways into in-demand roles, strong partner commitments, and a regional strategy that makes it easier for learners to move from awareness to training to employment in cybersecurity within the local economy.
What is the core idea behind RAMPS partnerships?
The core idea is to bring multiple stakeholders together so cybersecurity training and education are coordinated and driven by local workforce demand, creating durable pathways rather than isolated programs.
Where can applicants find details like budget limits, cost share, and allowable costs?
Since those details are not included in the provided excerpt, applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget limits, any cost share requirements (if any), and allowed cost details.
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