Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 580
The CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program designed to grow the governments cybersecurity workforce by funding colleges and universities to run (or expand) scholarship programs in cybersecurity. The program is rooted in the idea that modern life depends heavily on cyberspace, and that this dependence has created widespread exposure to attacks affecting businesses, public agencies, critical infrastructure, and individual citizens. NSF emphasizes that real cybersecurity is not only a technical problem; it also involves human behavior, decision-making, and how complex systems are designed, built, and operated. In that sense, the program encourages treating security and privacy as a multidisciplinary field that can drive new approaches to protecting systems and motivating more people to enter cybersecurity.
This opportunity is authorized under the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, with updates through the National Defense Authorization Acts for 2018 and 2021. NSF administers the program in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The central purpose is workforce-focused: to recruit and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals specifically to meet federal, state, local, and tribal government needs. The program ties scholarship support directly to public service, creating a pipeline from higher education into government cybersecurity roles.
The SFS program lays out four major goals. First, it aims to increase the number of new entrants into the government cyber workforce, addressing persistent shortages in public-sector cyber talent. Second, it seeks to increase national capacity for educating cybersecurity professionals, meaning it wants more institutions to be able to produce high-quality graduates in this area. Third, it supports increasing the nations research and development capabilities related to protecting critical information infrastructure, recognizing that workforce and innovation go hand in hand. Fourth, it is intended to strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and relevant employment sectors, particularly government organizations that hire cybersecurity professionals, so that training aligns with real operational needs.
In practical terms, NSF invites proposals from institutions to establish new SFS scholarship programs or continue existing ones. The key requirement for students supported under these scholarships is a service obligation: every scholarship recipient must work after graduation in a cybersecurity-related position for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization. The length of required employment must match the length of time the student received the scholarship (for example, a two-year scholarship generally implies two years of government service). This service component is a defining feature of SFS because it ensures the investment translates into staffing for public-sector cybersecurity missions.
Eligibility is centered on institutions with demonstrated strength in cybersecurity education. A proposing institution must provide clear, documented evidence that it already has a strong academic cybersecurity program. NSF notes several examples of acceptable evidence, including ABET accreditation in cybersecurity and designation by the National Security Agency (NSA) and DHS as a Center of Academic Excellence, whether in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), or Research (CAE-R). NSF also allows for equivalent evidence, as long as it convincingly documents program strength. This requirement signals that NSF expects applicants to have the curriculum, faculty, and institutional capability to deliver rigorous cybersecurity education and successfully place graduates into government service roles.
Beyond direct scholarship programs, the solicitation also points to broader NSF efforts to expand national capacity in cybersecurity education. It references the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace - Education Designation (SaTC-EDU) and related programs as additional avenues that support the overarching goal of increasing the ability of US higher education to produce cybersecurity professionals. In other words, while SFS is the scholarship-to-government-service pipeline, it sits within a larger ecosystem of NSF funding intended to strengthen cybersecurity education and workforce development nationwide.
From the source details provided, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (CFDA 47.076) under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. The funding opportunity number is 21-580. The solicitation listed an award ceiling of $5,000,000, with an expectation of about 16 awards. The opportunity was created on April 24, 2021, with an original closing date of July 28, 2021.Apply for 21 580
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) - NSF Grant (FAQ)
What is the CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant opportunity?
The CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program that funds colleges and universities to run (or expand) scholarship programs in cybersecurity. The program is designed to grow the governments cybersecurity workforce by supporting students who will move from higher education into public-sector cybersecurity roles.
Who is the grant designed to benefit?
The grant supports institutions of higher education so they can provide cybersecurity scholarships to students. The intended workforce outcome is to recruit and train cybersecurity professionals specifically to meet federal, state, local, and tribal government needs.
What is the main purpose of the SFS program?
The central purpose is workforce-focused: scholarships are tied directly to a required period of public service in a government cybersecurity-related position after graduation. This creates a pipeline that connects education and training to real staffing needs in government.
Why does NSF emphasize cybersecurity as more than just a technical issue?
NSF highlights that cybersecurity is not only a technical problem. It also involves human behavior, decision-making, and how complex systems are designed, built, and operated. The program encourages treating security and privacy as a multidisciplinary field.
What authorizes the SFS program?
This opportunity is authorized under the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, with updates through the National Defense Authorization Acts for 2018 and 2021.
Which agencies administer or coordinate the SFS program?
NSF administers the program in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
What are the four major goals of the SFS program?
- Increase the number of new entrants into the government cyber workforce.
- Increase national capacity for educating cybersecurity professionals.
- Support increasing the nations research and development capabilities related to protecting critical information infrastructure.
- Strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and relevant employment sectors, particularly government organizations that hire cybersecurity professionals.
What types of proposals does NSF invite under this opportunity?
NSF invites proposals from institutions to establish new SFS scholarship programs or continue existing ones.
What is the defining requirement for students who receive SFS scholarships?
Every scholarship recipient must work after graduation in a cybersecurity-related position for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization.
How long is the required government service for scholarship recipients?
The length of required employment must match the length of time the student received the scholarship. For example, a two-year scholarship generally implies two years of government service.
What kinds of employers count for the service obligation?
The service obligation must be fulfilled in a cybersecurity-related position with a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization.
Who is eligible to apply for the grant?
Eligibility is centered on institutions with demonstrated strength in cybersecurity education. A proposing institution must provide clear, documented evidence that it already has a strong academic cybersecurity program.
What evidence can an institution use to show it has a strong cybersecurity program?
NSF lists examples of acceptable evidence such as ABET accreditation in cybersecurity and designation by the NSA and DHS as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE), including CAE in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), or Research (CAE-R). NSF also allows equivalent evidence if it convincingly documents program strength.
Does an institution need ABET accreditation or CAE designation to apply?
The solicitation provides ABET accreditation and NSA/DHS CAE designations as examples of acceptable evidence. It also notes that equivalent evidence may be used, as long as it convincingly documents program strength.
What does NSF expect from applicant institutions besides scholarship funding?
Based on the emphasis on documented program strength, NSF expects applicants to have the curriculum, faculty, and institutional capability to deliver rigorous cybersecurity education and to successfully place graduates into government service roles.
How does SFS connect to broader NSF cybersecurity education efforts?
The solicitation references the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace - Education Designation (SaTC-EDU) and related programs as part of a broader NSF ecosystem aimed at expanding national capacity in cybersecurity education and workforce development.
What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is 21-580.
What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity with CFDA 47.076 under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this opportunity?
The solicitation listed an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
How many awards did NSF expect to make?
The solicitation indicated an expectation of about 16 awards.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on April 24, 2021, with an original closing date of July 28, 2021.
What makes SFS different from a typical scholarship program?
SFS ties scholarship support directly to a required period of government service in a cybersecurity-related role after graduation. This service obligation is a defining feature because it ensures the investment translates into staffing for public-sector cybersecurity missions.
What kind of workforce need is the program trying to address?
The program is intended to address persistent shortages in public-sector cyber talent by increasing the number of new entrants into government cybersecurity roles.
Why does the program emphasize partnerships between universities and employers?
One of the programs stated goals is to strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and relevant employment sectors, particularly government organizations that hire cybersecurity professionals, so that training aligns with real operational needs.
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