DoD Information Assurance and Scholarship Program (IASP)

Department of Defense
Information Assurance Scholarship Program
Sponsored by the
DoD Chief Information Officer

SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS
From
Universities Designated by the
National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
as
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education
and
National Centers of Academic Excellence – Research,
(herein after referred to as CAEs)
and
Universities Designated by the
National Security Agency
as
National Centers of Academic Excellence – Cyber Operations

Issued by the National Security Agency on behalf of the Department of Defense

Proposal Submission: February 28, 2013
(Proposals must be postmarked on/before February 28, 2013)

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CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.

IV.
V.
VI.

VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.

INTRODUCTION
TERMINOLOGY
a. Information Assurance
b. Student Career Experience Program
OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM SCOPE
a. Academic Year 2013-2014
b. iCollege/NDU Partnership
c. Capacity Building
d. Proposal Formats
e. Scholarship and Student Application Due Dates
f.
The DoD Role
g. Future Opportunities
STUDENT OBLIGATIONS
CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT COMPETITION
CAE ROLE IN RECRUITING AND ASSESSING SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES
a. Announcing and Promoting the Program
b. Managing the Application Review and Candidate Assessment Process
c. Submitting Student Scholarship Applications and CAE Review and Endorsement
TECHNICAL PROPOSALS
COST PROPOSALS
GRANT PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS
AWARDS
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
LATE SUBMISSIONS
CONTACT INFORMATION

ANNEX I: Partnership with the Information Resources Management College (iCollege) of the
National Defense University (NDU)
ANNEX II: Institutional Capacity Building
ATTACHMENT A:
ATTACHMENT B:
ATTACHMENT C:
ATTACHMENT D:
ATTACHMENT E:
ATTACHMENT F:
ATTACHMENT G:

Proposal Preparation Instructions and Certifications
Certifications
Scholarship and Vacancy Announcement
Student Application
Cost Worksheets & Student Endorsement/Ranking Form (Excel Spreadsheet)
The DoD IASP Grant Report Template
General Provisions for the Grant

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
INFORMATION ASSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SOLICITATION
I. INTRODUCTION
The Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) was
established, in accordance with provisions of Chapter 112, “Information Security Scholarship
Program,” of title 10, United States Code, added by Public Law 106-398, The National Defense
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2001. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of
qualified students entering the fields of information assurance, information technology, and
cybersecurity (IA/IT/cybersecurity) to meet the DoD’s increasing dependence on information
technology for war fighting and the security of its information infrastructure.

Regionally and nationally accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, designated by the
National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as National
Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education or National Centers of
Academic Excellence – Research and designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) as National
Centers of Academic Excellence – Cyber Operations (hereinafter referred to as CAEs) are invited to
submit proposals for developing and managing a full-time, institution-based, grant-funded
scholarship program in the disciplines underpinning IA/IT/cybersecurity for Academic Year 20132014. CAEs may propose collaboration with other accredited institutions, and are encouraged to
include accredited post-secondary minority institutions. CAEs may also propose to undertake a
special partnering agreement with the Information Resources Management College (iCollege) of the
National Defense University (NDU). [Special note: Proposal requirements for addressing the
iCollege/NDU partnership options are described in ANNEX I and should be responded to in a
separate ANNEX I submission.]

Consistent with 10 U.S.C. 2200b, CAE proposals to this solicitation may also request modest
collateral support for purposes of institutional capacity building to include faculty development,
laboratory improvements, curriculum development, and/or faculty/student research in information
security related to providing a strong foundation for an Information Assurance Scholarship
Program. [Special note: Requirements for proposing modest capacity building support are detailed
in ANNEX II, and should also be responded to in a separate ANNEX II submission.]
To continue the development of a strong foundation for the scholarship program during the
Academic Year 2013-2014, competition will be limited to full-time students entering their third or
fourth years of undergraduate education; students in their first or second year of a master’s degree
program; students pursuing doctoral degrees; and students enrolled in graduate certificate
programs.

II. TERMINOLOGY
A. Information Assurance: For purposes of this program, the term Information Assurance
encompasses the scientific, technical, and management disciplines required to ensure computer and
network security including the following functions:
•
System/network administration and operations
•
Systems security engineering
•
Information assurance systems and product acquisition
•
Cryptography

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•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Threat and vulnerability assessment, to include risk management
Web security
Operations of computer emergency response teams
Information assurance training, education and management
Computer forensics
Defensive information operations
Critical information infrastructure assurance

Relevant academic disciplines, with concentrations in information assurance, would include, but are
not limited to:
i.
ii.

iii.

iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
i.
xii.
xiii.
xiv.
xv.
xvi.
xvii.
xviii.
xix.
xx.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Biometrics
Business:
1. Management
2. Administration
3. Process Analysis
Computer:
1. Crime Investigations
2. Engineering
3. Forensics
4. Information Science
5. Information Systems
6. Programming
7. Science
8. Systems Analysis
Critical Information Infrastructure Assurance
Cyber:
1. Operations
2. Security
3. Policy
Cryptography
Database Administration
Data Management
Digital and Multimedia Forensics
Electrical Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Information Assurance:
1. Systems and Product Acquisition
2. Training, Education and Management
Information Security (Assurance)
Information Systems
Information Technology:
1. Acquisition
2. Program/Project Management
Mathematics
Network Administration and Operations
Network Management
Operation of Computer Emergency Response Teams
Software Engineering
Systems Security Engineering
Threat and Vulnerability Assessment, to include Risk Management
Web Security
And other similar disciplines as approved by the DoD Chief Information Office (DoD CIO).

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B. The opportunities exist for part-time Government (DoD) employment while receiving
scholarship (see Student Application), through the Agency intern and hiring options, to include the
authority to employ individuals completing Department of Defense Scholarship or Fellowship
programs, and/or the related “r” waiver authority.
III. OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM SCOPE
The key elements of the DoD IASP, and the CAE’s role in the process, are addressed in the
subsections that follow. University grantees will be required, as a condition of grant award, to
establish and manage the program, including disbursement of scholarship funds to students. Grant
awards are made to the universities, not directly to the students.

A. Academic Year 2013-2014 The DoD estimates awarding scholarships (via grant awards)
for a period of one year (beginning with the fall semester) to designated CAEs, operating
independently or in collaboration with other accredited institutions, including accredited postsecondary minority institutions. The purpose is to lay a sound foundation for the development of a
robust information assurance program for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the
CAE or its collaborating institutions’ degree and graduate certificate information assurance
programs. To this end, institutions receiving grants will be required to conduct a self-evaluation to
identify improvements in program design and management for implementation in future years. In
addition to proposing establishment of an IA scholarship program within the university, CAEs may
also propose developing a partnership with the iCollege and/or request funds for capacity building
activities. Grant awards are contingent upon availability of funds.

B. iCollege/NDU Partnership: CAEs wishing to partner with the iCollege/NDU will be
required to accept the DoD civilian employees and military officers into their graduate degree
programs, who have successfully completed the iCollege graduate level CIO Certificate Program with
an information assurance concentration. Requirements for addressing the iCollege/NDU
Partnership option are described in ANNEX I, and are to be responded to in separate ANNEX I
Technical and Cost Proposal submissions. Administrative costs allowed for the program should
include a visit to the iCollege, for one overnight if necessary (if you are not in the local area).
Additionally, if you do not currently have iCollege partnerships students, please provide prices for a per
student option, with a breakout of in-state/out-of-state (as applicable), MS and PhD (if both), and
indicate the maximum number of partnership students you can accept during each year. Those with
current partnership students must also address the necessary continuation costs for them. The
requirements for the student application nomination and review process described below and in
the accompanying Student Application materials for this program do not apply to current
DoD/Federal civilian employees or military personnel whose applications for this program will
be handled directly by the Department of Defense as described in ANNEX I.

C. Capacity Building: This particular area is subject to the availability of funds. In
developing a strong educational base for the scholarship program, CAE proposals may also address
plans for building the institution’s capacity for research and education in information assurance and
technology as described in ANNEX II. Funding may be requested to address needs in: 1) IA faculty
development, 2) laboratory development/improvements, 3), IA curriculum development
and/or, 4) faculty and student research in IA/IT/cybersecurity to support the development and
sustainment of critical IA/IT/cybersecurity competencies required in support of national
interests and the transformation of the DoD to a network centric force.

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Details for all activities will be described in ANNEX II. CAE requests for capacity building support
should be submitted in separate ANNEX II Technical and Cost Proposal Submissions. Costs for
administering scholarships should clearly be part of the scholarship proposal. Items related to
laboratory enhancements, and research, to include faculty travel to conferences, should clearly be
part of the ANNEX II proposal.

D. Proposal Formats: At a minimum, the proposal must respond to either the
establishment/continuation of an Information Assurance Scholarship Program (Basic /
recruitment) or the establishment/continuation of an Information Assurance Scholarship Program
(ANNEX I / retention) submission proposing a partnership with iCollege. One or both scholarship
options must be submitted as part of the proposal in order to be eligible for any ANNEX II capacity
building opportunities.

E. The DoD IASP Application Due Dates: CAEs electing to submit a proposal to establish a
scholarship program must ensure that they establish a due date for student scholarship applications
that will allow them sufficient time to evaluate the student applicants and prepare their
recommendations of student candidates for postmarking on/before Thursday, February 28, 2013,
These dates are critical in order to ensure grant awards as close to August 1, 2013 as possible. See
Section XII, “Deadline for Submission”, for dates and Attachment A “Proposal Preparation
Instructions and Certifications” for details on submission requirements.
F. The DoD Role: While CAEs are required to provide the DoD an assessment of each
applicant, the actual selection of student scholars will be made by DoD evaluators. Students selected
as Information Assurance scholars will receive the full cost of tuition, books (from the
recommended list, not all books on the “optional reading lists”), required fees, and a stipend to
cover room and board. The stipend levels 1 are $17,000 for undergraduate students and $22,000 for
graduate (Master’s/PhD) students. Awards will be made via a grant to the CAE. Selecting agencies
will also provide sponsors who will maintain contact with the student during the scholarship
period, and who will facilitate the student’s entry into internships, if applicable, and eventually DoD
employment. The DoD IASP Program Office will contact CAEs submitting successful proposals to
develop agreements governing the character, scheduling, and periodic assessment of student
internships.

G. Future Opportunities for Returning Students: Contingent on adequate funding
appropriations, it is anticipated that current CAE grantees and successful scholarship recipients will
receive follow-on support to complete their degree program. Returning students will be required to
re-apply each year by submitting the entire student application, one copy of their official transcript
(web printed transcripts are not accepted), reflecting maintenance of the required grade point
average and an endorsement/recommendation letter from the Principal Investigator.
IV. STUDENT OBLIGATIONS
Students selected to participate in the DoD IASP will be required to sign a written agreement
obligating them to work for the DoD, as a civilian employee for one calendar year for each year of
1

If a student is applying for only one half of a school year (or graduates 1 semester early), that student shall only receive half
the stipend amount. The stipend is based upon an annual full-time attendance at the CAE. Students planning to graduate in
December 2013, must be clearly identified (for placement purposes).

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scholarship assistance. However, should a student apply for only one semester of scholarship, the
student must still agree to work for the DoD for one year. This agreement is provided to the selecting
agency for their records to ensure compliance with the service commitment. Students will also be
required to serve in internship positions, if timing permits, with the DoD organizations during the
time they are receiving scholarship support until they complete the course of study provided for by
the scholarship. These internships will be arranged by the DoD to occur during the summer or
other breaks between school terms, as appropriate to the individual’s circumstances and the
institution’s calendar. The internship does not count toward satisfying the period of obligated
service incurred by accepting the Information Assurance scholarship. Students will be required to
formally accept or decline the scholarship within 15 days of notification. Non-acceptance by this
date will mean the scholarship will be offered to the next available student.

Students will be required to complete a security investigation questionnaire to initiate the
process for a background investigation in preparation for their internships, if applicable, and
as a condition of future employment with the DoD. Drug tests or other suitability processing
will occur as appropriate. Students will also be required to sign an agreement stating that
they will accept assignments requiring travel or change of duty stations as interns or
employees. Individuals who voluntarily terminate employment during intern appointments
or before the end of the period of obligated service required by the terms of Chapter 112,
title 10, United States Code, will be required to refund the United States, in whole or in part,
the cost of the educational assistance provided to them. Web pages have been provided in
the Application Background and Application Package for review about security clearances to
assist both the P.I.s and the students in understanding these requirements before they apply.
An opportunity also exists for scholarship payback through military service 2. Individuals
choosing to enlist or accept a commission to serve on active duty in one of the Military Services shall
incur a service obligation of a minimum of 4 years on active duty in that Service upon graduation.
The Military Services may establish a service obligation longer than 4 years, depending on the
occupational specialty and type of enlistment or commissioning program selected.
Undergraduate scholarship recipients will be required to maintain a 3.2 out of 4.0 grade
point average or the equivalent; graduate students will be required to maintain an overall 3.5 out of
a 4.0 grade point average, or equivalent. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will
constitute grounds for termination of financial assistance and termination of internship and/or
employment appointment. Additionally, students who fail to complete the degree program
satisfactorily or to fulfill the service commitment upon graduation shall be required to reimburse
the United States, in whole or in part, the cost of the financial (scholarship) assistance provided to
them. CAEs will be responsible for monitoring student progress and will notify the DoD IASP
Program Manager should any student scholar fail to attain minimum academic standards required
for continuing scholarship support.
Except for small achievement awards, not to exceed $5,000 in any academic year, a student
may not accept simultaneous remuneration from another scholarship or fellowship.
Graduate programs may include a reasonable amount of teaching or similar activities that
are, in the CAE’s opinion, contributory to the student’s academic progress; however, the
development of students, not service to the CAE, will govern the assignment of these activities.
2

Includes full-time active duty Guard and Reserves

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V. CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT COMPETITION
In order to be competitive in this grant solicitation, CAEs must be willing to advertise and
manage a competition for scholarship applicants; conduct an evaluation of applicants’ qualifications
and abilities; and submit all the applications received to the DoD, along with the CAE’s assessment
and recommendation of each proposed scholar’s capabilities and potential. CAEs are reminded to
establish a date for student application submissions that will allow sufficient time for this process.
The specific requirements for advertising the scholarship among the candidate student populations,
collecting and assessing student applications, and reporting on the process are addressed below in
paragraph VII below. Proposal evaluation criteria will review how well CAEs conduct the
recruitment and assessment process.

VI. CAE ROLE IN RECRUITING AND ASSESSING SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES
If a CAE decides to participate in this portion of the grant competition, the following
requirements apply:

A. Announcing and Promoting the Program: The CAE wishing to submit a proposal will be
expected to take the following actions, at a minimum, to promote student interest in the DoD IA
scholarship opportunity:
1. Determine and communicate to the relevant student populations any CAE unique
conditions, instructions, and/or materials (including due dates) that are associated with
the acceptance of applications for the DoD IASP opportunity.

2. Publish and ensure that all appropriate DoD IASP application materials are made
available to all relevant student populations. This includes providing equal access to hard
copy and soft copy application documents/materials, any CAE and the DoD unique
instructions, notices of deadlines; and any additional required information about the DoD
IASP.

B. Managing the Application Review and Candidate Assessment Process: CAEs electing to
propose establishment of a scholarship program are required to verify each applicant’s eligibility for
scholarship and academic sufficiency, to evaluate each eligible candidate’s knowledge and ability in
certain competency areas important to successful information assurance work, and to provide a
relative endorsement level for each eligible candidate. CAEs may determine the procedures to be
followed in conducting the evaluation, including records verification, individual interviews, faculty
review panels, as long as all applicants are afforded full and equal opportunity for consideration in
appropriate review phases.
1. Eligibility for Scholarship and DoD Appointment. CAEs shall verify documentation of the
eligibility of each applicant for scholarship and appointment and shall exclude from
further evaluation any applicant unable to meet the minimum administrative
requirements which are noted in Attachment C, DoD Information Assurance Scholarship
Application Background and Requirements.
2. CAE Endorsement. Please use Attachment E, Cost and Student Endorsement and
Ranking Form, for the following: CAEs shall provide an endorsement of each applicant
meeting administrative and academic sufficiency requirements that is based on the

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overall evaluation of all applicant materials, including the competency evaluations
described above. CAEs shall indicate only one of the following three levels of
endorsement for each applicant:
a. Not Recommended
b. Recommended
c. Highly Recommended
C. Submitting Student Scholarship Applications and CAE Review and Endorsement: CAEs
that propose to support the scholarship program are required to receive and retain all applications
submitted in response to the announcement and to evaluate the applicants as described in detail
above. See instructions on requirements and submissions in the Attachment A, Proposal
Preparation Instructions.
VII. TECHNICAL PROPOSALS
See instructions on requirements and submissions in Attachment A, Proposal Preparation
Instructions.
VIII. COST PROPOSALS
The cost proposal information can be found in Attachment A, Proposal Preparation
Instructions.

IX. GRANT PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS
Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of Department of Defense specialists in Information
Assurance drawn from the Military Departments, the Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer, the
National Security Agency, and other DoD Components. Proposals will be evaluated against the
following criteria:
A. The merits of the institution’s proposed approach to designing and developing a robust
Information Assurance Scholarship Program and the likelihood of its producing the highest quality
Information Assurance scholars for the DoD employment.

B. The quality of the institution’s process for promoting and advertising the IASP opportunity
and evaluating students for scholarship and the DoD appointment, and the effectiveness of this
process in producing well-qualified candidates for the DoD selection.

C. The proposed program’s congruence with statutory intent, the requirements of the DoD,
and its relevance and potential contribution to the DoD mission needs.
D. The qualifications of key faculty, staff and advisors and their proposed role in the
scholarship program.

E. The adequacy of the institution’s existing resources to accomplish the program objectives.
F. The realism and reasonableness of the cost proposal.

X. AWARDS
Scholarship notifications for students will be announced to the CAEs in the May 2013 time
frame. The grants for Scholarships (Basic) and ANNEX I and ANNEX II will be awarded in the

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July/August 2013 timeframe. Awards will be made for one year only. The DoD may award a lower
level of funding than that proposed.

The DoD recognizes the considerable CAE investment required to conduct the student
recruitment and assessment process, and to develop and submit a competitive proposal in this
competition. Depending on the availability of funds, the DoD may elect to award capacity grants to
CAEs that have submitted outstanding proposals, and have managed the recruitment and
assessment process in an exceptional manner, but whose student candidates the DoD may not select
in the competition for scholarship and the DoD appointments. Because expectations are that the
program will grow in future years, these program awards should enable CAEs to complete planning
for implementing a comprehensive scholarship program and be prepared to manage succeeding
rounds of student recruitment.
Similarly, DoD may also elect to make awards in support of the iCollege/NDU partnership
described in ANNEX I, even if none of the CAE student candidates are selected for participation in
the scholarship program. However, as in the case of the capacity grants described above, the
institution’s technical proposal must demonstrate exceptional merit and potential for full
implementation in succeeding phases of student recruitment and selection.

XI. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
See the proposal preparation instructions for details on the submission of proposals.
Institutionally approved, signed, completed proposals which include all items listed above and all
student applications must be postmarked on/before Thursday February 28, 2013.
XII. LATE SUBMISSIONS
The CAE is responsible for submitting the proposal and student materials to the DoD IASP
Program Office at the National Security Agency by the date and time specified.

Proposals or student materials that are postmarked after the deadline of 28 February 2013,
are “late” and will not be considered for an award or scholarship.
XIV. INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS
Proposals or student materials submitted in the wrong format, using wrong forms, or
missing items will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered for an award of scholarship
program selection.
XV. CONTACT INFORMATION
The central IASP Points of Contact for information regarding this solicitation are:
DoD IASP
National Security Agency
Attn: I084, NIETP, Suite 6744
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6744
e-mail: askisap@nsa.gov
410-854-6206

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