The Standards Coordination Office Curricula Development Cooperative Agreement Program (SCO CD CAP), administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a funding opportunity designed to support the development of undergraduate and graduate-level curricula focused on documentary standards and standardization. The program seeks to foster educational resources that integrate these topics into seminars, courses, and other learning modules. Eligible projects include creating sustainable curriculum models that can be replicated or expanded by other institutions, promoting awareness of standards in areas such as science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), law, business, and public policy. Recipients are expected to collaborate with NIST to implement these curricula and disseminate project findings broadly.

The purpose of the program is to increase understanding and appreciation of standards among students entering the workforce or continuing their academic studies. This initiative aims to produce professionals with strong foundational knowledge of documentary standards and their societal benefits. NIST emphasizes the development of models that other educational institutions can adopt or adapt and encourages interdisciplinary approaches. The program also promotes broad dissemination of project outcomes to ensure widespread impact on the academic and professional communities.

Eligible applicants are accredited institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in the United States or its territories. While the program is open to all IHEs, NIST particularly encourages applications from community colleges and minority-serving institutions. Applicants may work individually or in collaboration with other organizations, such as nonprofits or commercial entities, through sub-awards or contracts. Federal entities are not eligible for funding, but they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

NIST anticipates funding up to eight awards of up to $100,000 each, with project periods lasting up to three years. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 14, 2025. Proposals must include a technical project narrative, a budget justification, letters of commitment, and a dissemination plan. Specific requirements include adherence to guidelines on allowable costs, indirect costs, and cost-sharing (although cost-sharing is optional). Applications will be evaluated on project merit, communication plans, qualifications of personnel, and resource availability. Selected applicants must attend two workshops and submit a final summary paper detailing project outcomes.

Evaluation criteria include the technical merit of the proposed project, the sustainability of the curriculum, the strength of the dissemination plan, and the qualifications of the team. Reviewers will assess how well the proposed curricula align with program objectives and the likelihood of replicating successful outcomes in other institutions. Applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of experts, and final selections will consider additional factors such as project diversity and regional representation.

Successful applicants will be notified by July 2025, and projects may commence as early as August 15, 2025. Awardees must comply with federal administrative requirements and reporting obligations, including semi-annual performance and financial reports, as well as a final project report. NIST may also review and approve publications resulting from the project to ensure alignment with program goals. For more details, applicants should consult the full NOFO document and utilize the public resources available on the program’s website.