RAMPS NOFO FAQ

Learn more about this funding opportunity here. 

A 2026 RAMPS NOFO Applicant’s Webinar will take place April 21, 2026 from 3-5PM ET. More information can be found here: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2026/03/applicants-webinar-2026-nice-ramps-funding-opportunity 

Additional questions may be directed to the NICE Program Office via email at nice [at] nist.gov (subject: RAMPS%20NOFO) (nice[at]nist[dot]gov).

Applicants should anticipate completing their goals and objectives within a two-year project period.

The funding expands the existing RAMPS program and anticipates awarding up to sixteen (16) new awards of up to $200,000 through cooperative agreements. 

Additional awards may be possible in future fiscal years depending upon Congressional appropriations.

Per legislation in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 116–283, the maximum awarded Federal funds per project is $200k.

Anticipated award date of September 2026. 

For the purpose of this NOFO, a “non-profit organization” means any organization that:  (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; (3) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the organization's operations; and (4) is not an Institution of Higher Education (IHE).  See definition of “non-profit organization” in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

Yes, provided the organization meets the definition of “non-profit organization” in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

Yes, accredited K12 schools and school districts may apply as they are a non-federal entities.

FFRDCs are not eligible to apply. However, operators of FFRDCs (e.g., Battelle, MITRE, etc.) are eligible, as long as the federal agency that funds the FFRDC will allow the FFRDC operator to participate in the RAMPS program.

RAMPS aims to support local economies, which can be local, state, or regional. For example, see 2016 Ramps pilots which included programs in metropolitan areas, state-wide, and multi-state. National initiatives would not meet the expectations for RAMPS.

Geography may be taken into account at time of selection as one of the Selection Factors for this competition is “Regional Diversity”.

No, the minimum two (2) required Letters of Commitment must come from entities that are not the applicant. The goal of RAMPS is to create Multistakeholder Partnerships. At a minimum, three (3) partners should be identified:

1. The applicant,
2. at least one local employer or owner or operator of critical infrastructure (that is not the applicant), and
3. at least one of the following (that is not the applicant):
   1. K12 School,
   2. Local State Agency,
   3. Local Educational Agency,
   4. Institution of Higher Education,
   5. Non-Profit Organization, or
   6. Training Organization.

Non-federal matching funds, including in-kind contributions, in an amount equal to or greater than 50 percent of the Federal funds provided under the award.

Yes. Applicants may propose a budget that describes a cost share that is in excess of 50% of the Federal funds. However, cost share above 50% of the Federal funds will not give the applicant any scoring advantage. Additionally, should an award be issued, all voluntarily contributed cost share will be binding on the recipient and will be subject to oversight and audit in the same general manner as Federal award funds (i.e. monitoring, reporting, etc). See 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F. 

Yes. Applicants may plan for additional stakeholders and additional cost sharing that is not included in the proposal (minimum levels described in the NOFO must still be met). Any additional stakeholder and cost sharing not included in the proposal will not be subject to the terms of the Federal award.

Yes.

If the objective is a goal of the program, then it is an eligible cost.

No. However, as part of our selection factors we will be looking at whether the project duplicates other projects funded by NIST or other Federal agencies.