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

The Fiscal Year 2025 Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development program is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), specifically through the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). This initiative seeks to strengthen local and regional cybersecurity workforce capabilities by establishing employer-led, multistakeholder partnerships that align training and education efforts with actual local labor market needs. These collaborations should include employers, educational institutions, and community organizations working collectively to close cybersecurity skill gaps. The program supports the development of community-based partnerships that organize multiple employers experiencing workforce shortages in cybersecurity. The partnerships must work with at least one higher education or nonprofit training organization and at least one local employer or infrastructure operator, neither of which can be the applicant. The aim is to create an ecosystem that supports a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals through structured initiatives aligned with NICE’s strategic goals. These include promoting awareness of cybersecurity careers, transforming learning models, and expanding use of the NICE Workforce Framework. Applicants are required to submit a plan that outlines their approach to forming these partnerships, assesses local workforce needs using tools like CyberSeek, and identifies ways to support internships and other practical training opportunities. Inclusion of underrepresented groups, veterans, and coordination with existing federal education initiatives (e.g., CyberCorps, CAE, ATE) is strongly encouraged. Projects must be standards-based, learner-centered, and outcomes-driven. The total funding available for FY25 is sufficient to support up to 16 awards of up to $200,000 each, for project durations of up to two years. A non-federal cost share of at least 50 percent is required. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 1, 2025. NIST anticipates announcing awards in September 2025, with project start dates as early as October 2025. Applications must include several required components including a detailed project narrative (maximum 15 pages), SF-424 forms, budget justification, resumes of key personnel, and commitment letters from partner organizations. Evaluation will be based on project approach, potential impact, institutional capacity, and budget suitability. Additional selection factors include regional diversity, topic variety, and inclusion of designated educational institutions. Questions can be directed to Susana Barraza (Susana.Barraza@nist.gov) for program matters and Nuria Martinez (nofo@nist.gov) for grant regulations. A webinar will also be hosted to provide additional guidance.