DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA)

The Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Service Academy (CSA) Scholarship Program is administered by the DoD, specifically authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2200 and subsequent amendments via the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. This program is part of the Department’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its cyber workforce and contribute to the national pipeline of cybersecurity professionals. The DoD CSA provides institutional grants to regionally and nationally accredited U.S. higher education institutions, specifically those recognized as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), including centers of Cyber Defense, Cyber Research, and Cyber Operations. The program is designed to support both the recruitment of new cyber talent and the retention of current skilled professionals in critical cyber roles. Through this grant opportunity, eligible NCAE-C institutions are invited to submit proposals to establish and manage full-time, institution-based, grant-funded scholarship programs for the academic year 2025–2026. These programs are intended to support students pursuing cyber-related degrees at various levels, from associate to doctoral studies. NCAE-Cs may propose collaborations with other accredited institutions, including minority-serving institutions, but must be in good standing with the NCAE-C Program Office. In addition to direct scholarships, proposals may also request modest capacity-building support for faculty development, laboratory improvements, and curriculum development, provided these efforts strengthen the foundation for the DoD Cyber Service Academy. Eligible student applicants include rising second-year NCAE-C community college students transitioning to bachelor’s programs, those with non-cyber bachelor’s or graduate degrees seeking cyber training at the associate level, juniors and seniors in bachelor’s degree programs, first- or second-year master’s students, and doctoral candidates. ROTC participants are eligible if they do not have an existing ROTC service obligation. Traditional National Guardsmen and reservists can apply to the recruitment program, while DoD civilian and active-duty military members are eligible for a retention program through a separate process. Employees of non-DoD federal agencies are not eligible. Institutions applying for this funding must submit a range of mandatory forms, including the SF424, assurances for non-construction programs, budget forms, project narrative, and a specific Excel budget format. Proposals and all student application materials must be submitted via Grants.gov by March 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Required documentation must be submitted in PDF format unless otherwise specified, and all applicants must be registered with SAM and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Funds awarded may be used for scholarships and certain institutional expenses related to program capacity, but may not be used for fee or profit, nor for specified telecommunications or video surveillance equipment from prohibited vendors. Only salary, fringe benefits, and indirect costs are allowable. All proposals will be reviewed individually based on technical and budget criteria, compliance with federal regulations, and the integrity and performance history of the applicant institution. The DoD reserves the right to request further clarifications during the review process, and awards will be made via a signed Notice of Award from a DoD grants officer. The anticipated period of performance is 15 months, starting with the Fall 2025 semester. Key contacts for this opportunity include the Grants Officer (jonathan.e.bertsch.civ@mail.mil), the Grants Specialist (fedline.crowell.civ@mail.mil), and the Program Office contact (osd.mc-alex.dod-cio.mbx.dod-csa@mail.mil). Applications must comply with federal requirements on nondiscrimination, environmental standards, research involving human or animal subjects, and various national policy requirements. For more detailed application instructions and evaluation factors, applicants are referred to supplemental documents listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.