Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 531
Apply for 12 531
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Federal Cyber Service 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 Jan 19, 2012 and posted on Jan 19, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2012 Full Proposal Deadline(s) April 17, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $45,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,600,000.00 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).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service (SFS) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity designed to strengthen the nations cybersecurity workforce and expand the ability of US higher education to produce graduates trained in information assurance and cybersecurity. The program is aimed at meeting growing public sector needs in a society that relies heavily on technology, networks, and secure digital infrastructure. Rather than funding individual students directly, NSF provides grant funding to eligible colleges and universities, which then run scholarship and capacity-building activities through their institutions.
The opportunity is organized into two main tracks: the Scholarship Track and the Capacity Building Track. The Scholarship Track supports colleges and universities in awarding scholarships to students studying information assurance and cybersecurity. Students supported under this track typically receive funding during the final two years of a bachelors or masters program, the final three years of study for students completing combined bachelors and masters pathways (including five-year combined programs), or the final three years of a research-based doctoral program. A key feature is the practical experience requirement during the scholarship period: students are expected to participate in meaningful summer internships, while doctoral students may be allowed to substitute a research activity in place of the internship depending on program expectations.
In exchange for receiving scholarship support, scholarship recipients commit to a service obligation after graduation. Specifically, they must work in a cybersecurity-related position for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government organization for a length of time equal to the duration of their scholarship support. The program also allows for a limited number of placements in National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), reflecting the governments broader cybersecurity ecosystem and the role of research-focused institutions in national security and critical infrastructure protection.
The Capacity Building Track focuses on strengthening the pipeline and improving educational quality at the institutional level. Under this track, funds can be used to improve and expand the production of highly qualified cybersecurity and information assurance professionals through enhancements within the higher education system and through outreach efforts that spark earlier interest, including activities aimed at K-12 students. Supported activities may include professional development to deepen faculty expertise in information assurance, cybersecurity, or digital forensics; initiatives that increase student interest in cybersecurity; and projects that help integrate cybersecurity content across STEM disciplines so that security knowledge is not limited to computer science programs alone. This track can also support the development, deployment, and evaluation of curriculum guidelines intended for broad national adoption, as well as evaluation of cybersecurity competitions, games, and other outreach or retention strategies. NSF signals openness to innovative and creative approaches as long as they measurably increase the ability of US higher education to educate and graduate cybersecurity professionals.
From the funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. The funding opportunity number is 12-531, and it is associated with CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources). NSF anticipated making about 30 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $45,000,000. Individual awards range from a floor of $50,000 up to a ceiling of $3,600,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement indicated, which generally means institutions are not required to contribute a defined percentage of project costs from non-federal sources as a condition of the award.
Eligibility is limited to US-accredited academic institutions with a campus located in the United States. This includes universities as well as two-year and four-year colleges, including community colleges, applying on behalf of their faculty members. In other words, the direct applicant is the institution, not an individual student, and the institution is responsible for proposing and running the program activities supported by the grant. The original posting date for this opportunity was January 19, 2012, with a full proposal deadline of April 17, 2012, and an archive date of May 17, 2012. For official reference materials, the announcement points to NSF Publication 12-531 and indicates that applicants needing help accessing the announcement electronically should use NSF grants.gov support.
Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program (NSF) - FAQs
1. What is the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service (SFS) program?
The Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service (SFS) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity intended to strengthen the nations cybersecurity workforce and expand the ability of US higher education institutions to produce graduates trained in information assurance and cybersecurity.
2. What problem is this program designed to address?
The program targets growing public sector needs for cybersecurity talent in a society that depends heavily on technology, networks, and secure digital infrastructure.
3. Who does NSF fund under this opportunity?
NSF funds eligible colleges and universities, not individual students directly. Institutions receive grant funding and then operate scholarship and capacity-building activities through their own programs.
4. What are the two main tracks in this opportunity?
This opportunity is organized into two tracks: the Scholarship Track and the Capacity Building Track.
5. What is the purpose of the Scholarship Track?
The Scholarship Track supports colleges and universities in awarding scholarships to students studying information assurance and cybersecurity.
6. What is the purpose of the Capacity Building Track?
The Capacity Building Track focuses on strengthening the pipeline and improving educational quality at the institutional level, including outreach efforts that can spark earlier interest (including activities aimed at K-12 students).
7. Which students can be supported through the Scholarship Track?
Students supported under the Scholarship Track typically receive funding during:
- The final two years of a bachelors or masters program
- The final three years of study for combined bachelors and masters pathways (including five-year combined programs)
- The final three years of a research-based doctoral program
8. Is practical experience required while a student is on scholarship support?
Yes. During the scholarship period, students are expected to participate in meaningful summer internships as part of the practical experience requirement.
9. Can doctoral students substitute research for the internship requirement?
Doctoral students may be allowed to substitute a research activity in place of the internship, depending on program expectations.
10. What service commitment is required from scholarship recipients after graduation?
Scholarship recipients commit to a service obligation after graduation. They must work in a cybersecurity-related position for a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government organization for a length of time equal to the duration of their scholarship support.
11. Are placements allowed outside of Federal, State, Local, or Tribal government?
The program allows for a limited number of placements in National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
12. What kinds of activities can be funded under the Capacity Building Track?
Capacity Building funds can support activities aimed at improving and expanding the production of highly qualified cybersecurity and information assurance professionals. Examples mentioned include:
- Professional development to deepen faculty expertise in information assurance, cybersecurity, or digital forensics
- Initiatives that increase student interest in cybersecurity
- Projects that integrate cybersecurity content across STEM disciplines (not limited to computer science alone)
- Development, deployment, and evaluation of curriculum guidelines intended for broad national adoption
- Evaluation of cybersecurity competitions, games, and other outreach or retention strategies
13. Does NSF encourage specific approaches for Capacity Building projects?
NSF indicates openness to innovative and creative approaches, as long as they measurably increase the ability of US higher education to educate and graduate cybersecurity professionals.
14. What type of grant program is this?
This is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
15. What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is 12-531.
16. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).
17. How many awards did NSF anticipate making, and what was the total estimated funding?
NSF anticipated making about 30 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $45,000,000.
18. What is the typical award size range?
Individual awards range from a floor of $50,000 up to a ceiling of $3,600,000.
19. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated. This generally means institutions are not required to contribute a defined percentage of project costs from non-federal sources as a condition of the award.
20. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to US-accredited academic institutions with a campus located in the United States. This includes universities as well as two-year and four-year colleges, including community colleges, applying on behalf of their faculty members.
21. Can an individual student apply directly to NSF for this scholarship?
No. The direct applicant is the institution, not an individual student. The institution is responsible for proposing and running the program activities supported by the grant.
22. What were the key dates for this specific opportunity posting?
The original posting date was January 19, 2012. The full proposal deadline was April 17, 2012. The archive date was May 17, 2012.
23. Where can applicants find the official announcement and reference materials?
The announcement points to NSF Publication 12-531 for official reference materials.
24. What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the announcement electronically?
Applicants needing help accessing the announcement electronically are directed to use NSF grants.gov support.
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