WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the Cyber Prize Competition, offering a $350,000 award to an organization that will lead the development and deployment of a national Cyber Certification Program for SBA resource partners.
The initiative aims to establish a cyber counseling certification program. This program will equip employees of SBA resource partners with the skills to provide cyber planning assistance to small businesses. The resource partners include Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), SCORE, Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), and other entities that offer direct support to startups and existing small businesses.
The winning organization will be responsible for developing the cyber curriculum, delivering courses, assessing and certifying participants, and managing the overall Cyber Certification Program. Applications for the competition are open until August 15, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.
Eligibility and Rules
The competition is open to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, and entities with current cooperative agreements or grants with the SBA, such as SBDCs, WBCs, SCORE, VBOCs, and Cyber Pilot Program Grantees.
Individual applicants and for-profit entities are not eligible. Additionally, SBA employees, contractors, Federal entities, and Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are excluded. Organizations currently suspended or debarred by the federal government are also ineligible.
The SBA reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the competition at its discretion.
Impact on Small Businesses
This competition underscores the SBA’s commitment to enhancing the cybersecurity capabilities of small businesses. By developing a robust cyber counseling certification program, SBA resource partners will be better prepared to assist small businesses in navigating cybersecurity challenges, ultimately strengthening their resilience against cyber threats.
The SBA’s initiative is a proactive step toward safeguarding the nation’s small businesses, which are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks. The Cyber Certification Program is expected to play a crucial role in providing vital cybersecurity support to small business owners, helping them protect their assets and maintain operational integrity.
Next Steps
Organizations interested in participating in the competition can find more information and submit their applications on Challenge.gov. The SBA looks forward to partnering with an organization that shares its vision of bolstering cybersecurity support for small businesses across the nation.
The SBA will continue to provide updates as the competition progresses and remains dedicated to fostering a secure and supportive environment for small business growth and development.
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