Opportunity Information: Apply for 15 584
Apply for 15 584
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076 Education and Human Resources.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 27, 2015 and posted on Jun 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 25, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $27,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Who May Submit Proposals Proposals may only be submitted by the following For the Scholarship Track Universities and four year colleges accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Community colleges are eligible only assub awardees of the partnering4 year SFSinstitutions Scholarship Trackaward as described in the Program Description section. For theCapacity Track The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I, Section E.
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Opportunity Summary:
The CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant opportunity (NSF Publication / Funding Opportunity Number 15-584) is a National Science Foundation program focused on strengthening cybersecurity education and directly building the public-sector cybersecurity workforce. It is grounded in the federal push to improve national cybersecurity research, education, and workforce readiness, reflecting priorities laid out in a coordinated federal strategy for cybersecurity research and education and reinforced by the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-274). The core idea is that widespread dependence on cyberspace has increased exposure to cyber attacks across government, industry, critical infrastructure, and individual users, so the United States needs a larger, better-prepared pipeline of cybersecurity professionals who can protect systems and modernize defenses.
The opportunity supports two main types of projects, called tracks. The Scholarship Track funds institutions so they can provide scholarships to students studying cybersecurity, with a clear service obligation built in. Students who receive these scholarships must work after graduation in a cybersecurity-related role for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government organization for a period equal to the length of time they received scholarship support. In practical terms, this track is designed to remove financial barriers for students while ensuring that government employers gain trained cybersecurity talent, creating a direct education-to-public-service pathway.
To apply under the Scholarship Track, an institution must show strong, established capacity in cybersecurity education. The solicitation emphasizes documented proof of program strength, which can include being designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence (for example, CAE in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, in Cyber Operations, or in Research). It can also include specialized recognition by a nationally recognized organization (such as in digital forensics) or other equivalent evidence demonstrating that the institution already has a robust cybersecurity program capable of educating scholarship recipients to a high standard.
The Capacity Track is aimed at scaling and improving the nation’s overall ability to educate cybersecurity professionals, not just at funding individual student scholarships. It seeks innovative approaches that expand educational opportunities and resources in cybersecurity across U.S. higher education. Projects responsive to this track can include research on how cybersecurity is best taught and learned (such as studies of instructional methods, learning materials, and educational interventions), development of curriculum recommendations and new courses or degree pathways intended for broad national adoption, evaluation of the effectiveness of cybersecurity curricula, and efforts to integrate cybersecurity content into existing degree programs like computer science, data science, information technology, engineering, and related fields. The track also encourages partnerships among higher education, government, and employment sectors to create stronger models for applied learning and for embedding real-world research or hands-on experiences into cybersecurity programs.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program under the National Science Foundation within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 47.076, Education and Human Resources). At the time of posting, the program anticipated about 30 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $27,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $200,000 up to a ceiling of $5,000,000, and the program did not require cost sharing or matching. The opportunity was posted June 27, 2015, with an original and final closing date of September 25, 2015, and it was later archived on January 14, 2017.
Eligibility depends on the track. For the Scholarship Track, proposals could be submitted by accredited U.S. universities and four-year colleges with a campus located in the United States, submitting on behalf of their faculty. Community colleges were not eligible to apply as lead institutions for this track, but they could participate as subawardees in partnership with an eligible four-year SFS institution as described in the program. For the Capacity Track, eligibility followed NSF’s standard proposer categories described in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide.
Overall, CyberCorps(R) SFS is structured to do two things at once: immediately increase the government cybersecurity workforce through funded scholarships tied to public service commitments, and strengthen the broader national ecosystem for cybersecurity education by supporting scalable curricula, teaching innovations, cross-disciplinary integration, and partnerships that make cybersecurity training more effective and more widely available.
CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) (NSF 15-584) - FAQs
What is the CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) program?
CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program designed to strengthen cybersecurity education and directly build the public-sector cybersecurity workforce. It supports projects that help educate cybersecurity professionals and connect them into government service roles after graduation.
What is the official funding opportunity number for this grant?
The NSF Publication / Funding Opportunity Number is 15-584.
What problem is this program trying to address?
The program is grounded in the idea that increased dependence on cyberspace has also increased exposure to cyber attacks across government, industry, critical infrastructure, and individual users. The United States needs a larger, better-prepared pipeline of cybersecurity professionals who can protect systems and modernize defenses, especially within the public sector.
What federal policy or law reinforces this program?
The opportunity reflects priorities in coordinated federal strategy for cybersecurity research and education and is reinforced by the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-274).
What agency runs this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) within the Education and Human Resources area (Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category).
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 47.076.
What are the two main project types (tracks) supported by this opportunity?
The opportunity supports two tracks: (1) the Scholarship Track and (2) the Capacity Track.
What is the Scholarship Track?
The Scholarship Track funds institutions so they can provide scholarships to students studying cybersecurity, with a required service obligation after graduation. The goal is to reduce financial barriers for students while creating a direct pipeline of trained cybersecurity talent into government roles.
What service obligation is required for Scholarship Track students?
Students who receive SFS scholarships must work after graduation in a cybersecurity-related role for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government organization for a period equal to the length of time they received scholarship support.
Which employers qualify for the Scholarship Track service requirement?
The service obligation must be fulfilled in a cybersecurity-related role with a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government organization.
What does "equal to the length of time they received scholarship support" mean?
Based on the opportunity description, the required government service period matches the duration of scholarship support (for example, scholarship support for a given time period implies a service commitment for the same length of time).
Who can apply under the Scholarship Track?
Scholarship Track proposals could be submitted by accredited U.S. universities and four-year colleges with a campus located in the United States, submitted on behalf of their faculty.
Can community colleges apply as the lead institution for the Scholarship Track?
No. Community colleges were not eligible to apply as lead institutions for the Scholarship Track.
Can community colleges participate in Scholarship Track projects in any way?
Yes. Community colleges could participate as subawardees in partnership with an eligible four-year SFS institution, as described in the program.
What must an institution demonstrate to apply for the Scholarship Track?
An institution must show strong, established capacity in cybersecurity education. The solicitation emphasizes documented proof of program strength and evidence that the institution has a robust program capable of educating scholarship recipients to a high standard.
What are examples of acceptable proof of cybersecurity program strength for Scholarship Track applicants?
Examples include being designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Center of Academic Excellence (such as CAE in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, in Cyber Operations, or in Research). It can also include specialized recognition by a nationally recognized organization (for example, in digital forensics) or other equivalent evidence demonstrating robust cybersecurity program strength.
What is the Capacity Track?
The Capacity Track is aimed at scaling and improving the nation’s overall ability to educate cybersecurity professionals. It focuses on innovative approaches that expand cybersecurity education opportunities and resources across U.S. higher education, rather than primarily funding individual student scholarships.
What kinds of activities are supported under the Capacity Track?
Responsive projects may include research on how cybersecurity is best taught and learned (including studies of instructional methods, learning materials, and educational interventions), development of curriculum recommendations and new courses or degree pathways intended for broad national adoption, evaluation of cybersecurity curricula effectiveness, and efforts to integrate cybersecurity content into existing degree programs.
Which degree programs does the Capacity Track encourage integrating cybersecurity into?
The opportunity highlights integration into programs such as computer science, data science, information technology, engineering, and related fields.
Does the Capacity Track encourage partnerships?
Yes. The Capacity Track encourages partnerships among higher education, government, and employment sectors to strengthen applied learning models and to embed real-world research or hands-on experiences into cybersecurity programs.
Who is eligible to apply under the Capacity Track?
For the Capacity Track, eligibility follows NSF’s standard proposer categories described in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide.
How much funding was anticipated for this opportunity overall?
At the time of posting, the program anticipated an estimated total funding amount of $27,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
At the time of posting, the program anticipated about 30 awards.
What was the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards ranged from a floor of $200,000 up to a ceiling of $5,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 27, 2015.
What were the application deadlines?
The original and final closing date listed was September 25, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was later archived on January 14, 2017.
What is the overall goal of CyberCorps(R) SFS across both tracks?
Across both tracks, CyberCorps(R) SFS is structured to (1) increase the government cybersecurity workforce through scholarships tied to public service commitments, and (2) strengthen the broader national ecosystem for cybersecurity education through scalable curricula, teaching innovations, cross-disciplinary integration, and partnerships that improve and expand cybersecurity training.
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