Deadline: 25-Aug-21
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is pleased to announce the Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities to provide the shared situational awareness to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions across the Federal Government and non-Federal entities to address cybersecurity risks and incidents.
The activities contemplated in the agreement directly support the Department of Homeland Security mission areas to safeguard and secure cyberspace. This cooperative agreement seeks to fund applicants to develop a scalable and replicable proof of concept that can respond to cyber eco-system challenges.
Objectives
All applicants should clearly state how the following objectives would be addressed in the proposed pilot:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive cybersecurity pathways retention strategy to address apprenticeship-to-placement engagement.
- Deliver entry-level cybersecurity training covering both national and regional cybersecurity challenges to underserved communities through the development of an engaging training hub (virtual or a hybrid combination of virtual and in-person) connecting participants and employers, in one or more CISA regions.
- Develop and implement an apprenticeship program for entry-level cybersecurity professionals, in one or more CISA regions.
- Decrease the cybersecurity workforce shortage by placing apprenticeship graduates into entry-level cybersecurity jobs, in one or more CISA regions.
Priorities
- Participants are selected from underserved communities
- Participants complete a NICE Framework-mapped cybersecurity training curriculum
- Participants are competitive and selected for apprenticeships
- Participants are competitive and selected for entry-level cybersecurity jobs
- Applicant reaches participants and employers in one or more CISA regions
- Applicant provides a sharable NICE Framework-mapped training curriculum
- Applicant submits proof of concept with recommendations to replicate on larger scale
Funding Information
- Available Funding for the NOFO: Up to $2,000,000.00 total
- Projected number of Awards (Optional): Up to 2 (approx. $1,000,000 per award)
- Period of Performance: 36 months
- Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2021
- Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2024
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-traditional technical training providers (NTTPs) are entities that actively provide cybersecurity training, internships, apprenticeships, and/or other hands-on exposure to meets the dynamic needs the cybersecurity workplace. Eligible non-traditional technical training providers applying for this cooperative agreement must be nonprofit organizations.
- Nonprofit organizations, other than institutions of higher education, described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such code.
- Nonprofit organizations, other than institutions of higher education, that are not described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such code.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334707