Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development | Apply Online

RAMPS Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development Grant (DOC-NIST / NICE) - FAQs

What is the RAMPS grant opportunity?

The Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development opportunity is a federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (DOC-NIST), operating under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). It is designed to strengthen the cybersecurity talent pipeline by supporting coordinated, partnership-driven workforce development efforts at the state or regional level.

What is the main goal of RAMPS?

The core goal is to build or strengthen cybersecurity workforce ecosystems by creating state or regional consortia that align education and training with real local and regional labor market needs. The program emphasizes practical workforce development, including clearer pathways into cybersecurity jobs and sustained employer-aligned coordination across partners.

Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (DOC-NIST), under NICE (the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education).

Is RAMPS focused on academic research or workforce development?

RAMPS is oriented toward practical workforce development rather than purely academic research. The emphasis is on structured pathways into cybersecurity roles, alignment to employer demand, and partnership models that can be sustained over time.

What type of funding instrument is used for RAMPS?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates a more hands-on federal role than a standard grant, with the agency expecting to collaborate with awardees during the period of performance through engagement, technical input, coordination, and shared shaping of activities.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement generally means DOC-NIST/NICE may stay actively involved with awardees during the project, providing coordination and input as activities are carried out, rather than acting only as a pass-through funder.

How is this opportunity categorized (funding type and activity area)?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and is listed under the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category. In context, this reflects NICE and NIST interest in structured, evidence-informed workforce development approaches, including frameworks, standards, and coordination mechanisms that support scalable talent development.

What is the program trying to build at the state or regional level?

RAMPS aims to support the creation of state or regional consortia that coordinate cybersecurity education and workforce development efforts. These consortia are intended to identify gaps between training offerings and employer needs and then create or refine pathways that move people into cybersecurity jobs.

What are "multistakeholder partnerships" in the RAMPS context?

Multistakeholder partnerships refer to coalitions of organizations across the workforce pipeline. Examples named in the opportunity include employers, workforce boards, education and training providers, state or local government entities, economic development organizations, and community groups working together as a coordinated consortium.

Who is RAMPS intended to serve (target populations)?

The pathways supported by RAMPS may include defined on-ramps for multiple populations, including entry-level jobseekers, students, career changers, and underemployed workers.

What kinds of pathways or activities does RAMPS emphasize?

The opportunity emphasizes mapping clear pathways into cybersecurity roles, aligning training with employer demand, and building partnerships that sustain these pathways. Pathways may include articulated sequences of education and training, work-based learning, and clearly defined entry points for different populations.

What kinds of organizations are expected to participate in a RAMPS consortium?

The announcement highlights partners that influence the end-to-end workforce pipeline, including employers, workforce boards, education and training providers, state or local government entities, economic development organizations, and community groups.

Does the opportunity require employer involvement?

Employer alignment is central to the stated purpose. The program is designed to match training and pathways to local and regional labor market needs, and applicants are expected to maintain mechanisms for employer engagement as part of a credible regional initiative.

What does the eligibility category "Others" mean?

The eligibility category is listed as "Others," with a note that additional clarification appears in the announcement's eligibility section. Based on the summary, this typically signals eligibility is not limited only to a narrow group (such as only state governments or only universities) and may allow a wider range of entities that meet the criteria in the full notice.

What capabilities are likely important for an applicant to demonstrate?

Based on the summary, the program appears to prioritize applicants that can credibly convene multiple partners and manage a regional initiative. That includes governance and coordination, data-informed planning, and sustained mechanisms for maintaining employer engagement.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for RAMPS?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 2016 NIST NICE 01.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 11.620.

When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2016, and the application closing date was July 12, 2016.

Does the public summary list the award ceiling or number of awards?

No. The public summary does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Those details may have been included in the complete funding announcement or may not have been fixed at the time of posting.

What is the overall takeaway for what RAMPS is trying to accomplish?

RAMPS can be understood as a NICE-led effort to catalyze durable, regional cybersecurity workforce ecosystems by funding coordinated planning and partnership-driven pathway development that reflects local demand and helps people move into cybersecurity careers in a structured, replicable way.