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Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program (NSF) - FAQs

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 nation's cybersecurity workforce. It expands the pipeline of trained professionals in information assurance and computer security and helps universities improve their long-term ability to educate students in these areas.

What problem is SFS designed to address?

SFS is aimed at meeting growing federal and national needs to protect government information systems and critical digital infrastructure as society becomes more dependent on technology. The program is structured to prepare students to step directly into public service cyber roles and to improve institutional capacity to deliver cybersecurity education.

What are the two main tracks in this opportunity?

The opportunity is organized into two tracks: (1) the Scholarship Track and (2) the Capacity Building Track.

What does the Scholarship Track fund?

The Scholarship Track funds accredited U.S. colleges and universities so they can award scholarships to students studying information assurance and computer security. The scholarships are tied to a structured professional preparation model, including cohort-based progression and a required summer internship within the federal government.

How long is the Scholarship Track academic support period?

The scholarships are structured around a two-year commitment of academic support. This typically covers the final two years of undergraduate study, two years of master's study, or the final two years of PhD study.

Do Scholarship Track students move through the program together?

Yes. Students supported under the Scholarship Track are expected to move through the program as a cohort and participate in organized activities connected to professional preparation.

Is a federal internship required for Scholarship Track students?

Yes. The program includes a required summer internship within the federal government as part of the Scholarship Track professional preparation activities.

What service obligation do Scholarship Track recipients have after graduation?

After graduation, scholarship recipients must work for two years in the federal government following their two years of scholarship support. This service obligation is part of the program's workforce pipeline design.

Can service placements occur outside traditional federal agencies?

In limited cases, placements may occur at National Laboratories or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The number of those placements is determined each year by the program office.

What does the Capacity Building Track support?

The Capacity Building Track supports institutional improvements that increase both the quality and the output of information assurance and cybersecurity education. Rather than directly funding student scholarships, it focuses on strengthening the educational ecosystem.

What types of activities are supported under the Capacity Building Track?

Examples of supported activities include professional development for faculty, creation or enhancement of academic programs and curricula, and efforts to broaden awareness and interest in information assurance and cybersecurity.

Does the Capacity Building Track encourage integrating cybersecurity beyond specialized courses?

Yes. The Capacity Building Track emphasizes integrating cybersecurity concepts across STEM disciplines and encourages institutions to embed security thinking broadly rather than isolating it in a narrow set of specialized courses.

What is the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding level is 12,500,000.

How many awards are expected?

The announcement indicates an expectation of 17 awards.

What is the award size range?

Individual awards range from a minimum (floor) of 50,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of 2,700,000.

What is the funding instrument and funding category?

The funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is required.

Who is eligible to apply under the Scholarship Track?

Scholarship Track proposals can be submitted by accredited U.S. colleges or universities that are either officially designated by NSA and DHS as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE or CAE-R), or that can demonstrate they operate an information assurance program meeting criteria similar to those required for CAE/IAE designation.

Who is eligible to apply under the Capacity Building Track?

For the Capacity Building Track, the proposing organization may be an accredited U.S. college or university, or a consortium. The applicant must demonstrate expertise in information assurance or cybersecurity curriculum development and/or research.

Is CAE/IAE designation required for Capacity Building Track applicants?

The information provided indicates that CAE/IAE designation (or an equivalent program meeting similar criteria) is preferred for Capacity Building applicants, but it is not framed as strictly mandatory in the same way it is for the Scholarship Track.

What is the NSF publication and funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The opportunity is identified as NSF Publication 11-506 under Funding Opportunity Number 11-506.

When was the opportunity posted and what was the full proposal deadline?

It was posted on November 15, 2010, and the full proposal deadline was February 11, 2011.

What is the overall purpose of SFS across both tracks?

Overall, SFS functions as a workforce development and public service pipeline program. It supports student education tied to hands-on federal experience and a required post-graduation service commitment, while also investing in universities so they can scale and improve cybersecurity education over the long term.

Is the program explicitly oriented toward federal cybersecurity workforce needs?

Yes. The program is explicitly oriented toward producing professionals who can help secure U.S. government information infrastructure, pairing educational support with a clear pathway into federal employment.