Opportunity Information: Apply for IS CWT 21 001
The Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities (Funding Opportunity Number IS CWT 21 001) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning DHS expects to have an active partnership role with awardees during the project period rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The goal is to grow the entry-level cybersecurity talent pipeline by tapping into capable but under-recruited people in underserved communities, and to do so through training models that are often outside traditional college or university pathways.
At the center of the opportunity is the idea of leveraging "unrealized cybersecurity talent" by working with established or emerging non-traditional technical training providers. These providers are expected to either create new entry-level training and apprenticeship programs or improve and scale existing ones. The emphasis is on practical, job-aligned preparation that can move participants from learning into real-world, entry-level cybersecurity roles. DHS is specifically looking for efforts that do more than teach technical content; the programs should connect training to apprenticeships and then to employment outcomes in a structured way.
A major requirement highlighted in the description is the development and implementation of a comprehensive cybersecurity pathways retention strategy. This is aimed at reducing drop-off between stages, especially the transition from apprenticeship to job placement. In practice, this means applicants should be prepared to describe how they will keep participants engaged through the full pathway, address barriers that commonly lead to attrition, and strengthen follow-through so apprenticeships actually convert into placements. The opportunity frames retention and engagement as essential for optimizing and expanding cybersecurity training and apprenticeship efforts, not as optional add-ons.
The broader workforce purpose is to expand apprenticeships to help meet cybersecurity staffing needs across multiple employer types. The program is positioned as beneficial to federal agencies as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, which often struggle to compete for cybersecurity talent. It also aims to support traditional employers with near-term hiring needs and longer-term workforce development, implying an interest in models that can be replicated, scaled, or integrated into existing hiring ecosystems.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. The listing does not include colleges or universities as eligible lead applicants, reinforcing the focus on non-traditional training channels and community-based workforce development approaches. The funding is administered by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division, and the activity category is listed under community development and disaster prevention and relief (CFDA 97.127), reflecting DHS's interest in cyber readiness as part of resilience and public-sector capacity.
In terms of funding details, the award ceiling is $1,000,000, and DHS anticipated making 2 awards under this opportunity. The funding opportunity was created on July 13, 2021, with an original application closing date of August 25, 2021. Overall, the grant is designed to pilot and strengthen training-to-apprenticeship-to-employment pathways in cybersecurity for underserved communities, with a strong focus on retention, transition support, and meeting workforce needs across government and industry.Apply for IS CWT 21 001
- The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development, disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.127.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2021 No Explanation. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities (IS CWT 21 001)
What is the Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities?
It is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number IS CWT 21 001) designed to pilot and strengthen cybersecurity training pathways for people in underserved communities. The program is focused on moving participants through a structured sequence from training to apprenticeship to entry-level employment.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to grow the entry-level cybersecurity talent pipeline by tapping into capable but under-recruited individuals in underserved communities, primarily through training models that are outside traditional college or university pathways.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. That means DHS expects to play an active partnership role with awardees during the project period, rather than only providing funding with minimal involvement.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are colleges or universities eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
No. Institutions of higher education are not listed as eligible lead applicants, which reinforces the program focus on non-traditional training providers and community-based approaches.
What kinds of training providers does DHS want applicants to work with?
DHS is looking for applicants that leverage established or emerging non-traditional technical training providers. The intent is to build or scale training routes that are often outside traditional higher education pathways.
What types of programs are applicants expected to create or improve?
Providers are expected to either create new entry-level training and apprenticeship programs or improve and scale existing programs, with a strong emphasis on practical, job-aligned preparation for entry-level cybersecurity roles.
Is the program only about technical training?
No. DHS is specifically looking for efforts that connect training to apprenticeships and then to employment outcomes in a structured way, rather than programs that only teach technical content without clear transitions to work-based learning and job placement.
What does DHS mean by the training-to-apprenticeship-to-employment pathway?
It refers to an end-to-end model where participants first receive job-aligned cybersecurity training, then move into an apprenticeship component, and then transition into entry-level cybersecurity employment. The opportunity emphasizes building these transitions deliberately and measuring success by movement through the full pathway.
What is the comprehensive cybersecurity pathways retention strategy, and why is it important?
A major requirement is developing and implementing a comprehensive retention strategy to reduce participant drop-off between stages of the pathway, especially at the transition from apprenticeship to job placement. DHS frames retention and engagement as essential for optimizing and expanding training and apprenticeship efforts, not as optional add-ons.
Which transition point is highlighted as especially at risk for drop-off?
The description emphasizes the transition from apprenticeship to job placement as a critical point where participants may drop off, and it expects applicants to address this directly through retention and follow-through strategies.
What outcomes is DHS trying to achieve with this pilot?
The program is designed to improve real-world outcomes: participants progressing through training, entering apprenticeships, and converting those apprenticeships into entry-level cybersecurity job placements.
What workforce needs is this program intended to support?
It is positioned to help meet cybersecurity staffing needs across multiple employer types, including federal agencies, state/local/tribal/territorial (SLTT) governments, and traditional employers with near-term hiring needs and longer-term workforce development goals.
Why are SLTT governments mentioned in the purpose of the grant?
State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments are noted as often struggling to compete for cybersecurity talent. This pilot aims to expand apprenticeships and talent pathways in ways that can increase their access to qualified entry-level candidates.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
How many awards did DHS anticipate making?
DHS anticipated making 2 awards under this opportunity.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 13, 2021.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was August 25, 2021.
What is the CFDA number and activity category listed for this opportunity?
The listing references CFDA 97.127, and the activity category is community development and disaster prevention and relief, reflecting DHS interest in cybersecurity readiness as part of resilience and public-sector capacity.
What is the broader strategy behind focusing on underserved communities?
The opportunity is centered on leveraging "unrealized cybersecurity talent" by reaching capable but under-recruited people in underserved communities and providing structured, job-aligned pathways that lead to apprenticeships and entry-level employment.
Does this opportunity emphasize pilots and scaling?
Yes. It is described as a pilot designed to strengthen pathways, and it encourages approaches that can improve, expand, replicate, or scale training and apprenticeship models within existing hiring ecosystems.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training Pilot for Underserved Communities Apply for DHS 21 CISA 127 CWDT001 Funding Number: DHS 21 CISA 127 CWDT001 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Community Development, Disaster Prevention and Relief Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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