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RAMPS NOFO FAQ
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)
Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development
NIST is pleased to announce a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) cybersecurity education and workforce development.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 28, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Where can I go to learn more about this funding opportunity?
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).
Funding Opportunity Overview
What is the time frame allowable to use this funding?
Applicants should anticipate completing their goals and objectives within a two-year project period.
How many anticipated awards will be made?
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.
What is the award ceiling?
Per legislation in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 116–283, the maximum awarded Federal funds per project is $200k.
What is the anticipated award start date?
Anticipated award date of September 2026.
Eligible Applicants and Multistakeholder Requirements
As stated in the NOFO, eligible applicants include "non-profit organizations". Are you specifically referring to 501c3 non-profit corporations or just an applicant that is not private or for-profit?
For the purpose of this NOFO, a non-profit organization is an entity that is not a government agency (state, local or tribal territory) or a for-profit organization.
If a legally formed non-profit is waiting for its exempt status can it still apply?
Yes.
Are accredited K12 public education school districts eligible to apply?
Yes, K12 schools and school districts may apply as they are a non-federal entities.
Are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) eligible to apply?
FFRDCs are not eligible to apply. However, operators of FFRDCs (e.g., Battelle, MITRE, etc.) are eligible, as long as the agency that runs the FFRDC will allow the operator to receive funds.
Should the application have a local, state, regional, or national focus?
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.
Will you be awarding based upon geography?
Geography may be taken into account at time of selection since one of the selection factors is “Regional Diversity”.
If the applicant is an institution of higher education, non-profit training organization, employer, or owner or operator of critical infrastructure, does a letter from the applicant meet partial requirements for the Letters of Commitments?
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:
- The applicant,
- 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.
Budget and Cost Considerations
How much is the required cost share?
Matching funds are required for non-Federal contributions, including in-kind contributions, in an amount equal to 50 percent of Federal funds provided under the award.
Can cost share come from the general fund of the applicant?
Yes.
Is hiring people to teach cybersecurity an eligible cost?
If the objective is a goal of the program, then it is an eligible cost.
Miscellaneous
Does applying for or winning another Federal grant opportunity impact the likelihood of being awarded this opportunity?
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.