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 is an entity that is not a government agency (state, local or tribal territory) or a for-profit organization.

Yes.

Yes, 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 agency that runs the FFRDC will allow the operator to receive funds.

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 since one of the selection factors 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.

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.

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.