Protected: Request for Proposals (RFP)

The due date for Connecticut Higher Education Tech Talent Accelerator 3.0 Pilot Grant applications is September 19, 2025.

*For further information and to access the full RFP, click here: RFP

*To download the TTA 3.0 Budget Template, click here: Budget Template

Apply now

Objectives  

TTA seeks to increase the supply of individuals with AI skills and credentials by accelerating the efforts of Connecticut’s public and independent higher education institutions that: 

• Assist Connecticut workers to quickly acquire in-demand AI skills leading to jobs that provide family-sustaining
• Meet the growing demand for AI industry-recognized credentials (IRCs).
• Align postsecondary credential and degree programs to the AI-based knowledge, skill, and ability (KSA) requirements of Connecticut employers and technology-driven
• Leverage transfer and articulation with Connecticut community colleges.
• Increase the representation of diverse populations in high-demand, technology-related roles in Connecticut businesses.
• Integrate work-integrated learning (i.e., internships, job shadowing, etc.) into postsecondary credential and degree programs. 

Priority Areas  

Applicants may submit a grant proposal that focuses on one or both of the following priority areas.  

• Priority Area 1 focuses on the development and/or implementation of short-term (6-12 week) postsecondary credential and certificate programs providing in-demand AI skills that are aligned with entry-level, technology-enabled jobs.
• Priority Area 2 focuses on strategies to embed high-demand IRCs developed by global technology leaders (e.g., Google, IBM and Amazon) and industry-validated AI KSAs into existing postsecondary credential or degree programs to support graduates’ work readiness.

Technical Assistance 

As part of TTA, higher education institutions have access to the combined expertise of the New England Board of Higher Education and Business-Higher Education Forum to develop competitive, industry-aligned proposals. During the proposal development process, applicants may contact NEBHE-BHEF for assistance that includes: 

• Access to regionally tailored labor market data including metrics on job openings in tech fields, top employers of tech talent, and required credentials in digital skills job postings. 
• Identification of prospective business partners and industry subject matter expert (SMEs) for technical assistance in developing proposals.
• Access to experts from Google, Amazon Web Services, IBM, and from Connecticut companies to better understand the knowledge and skill requirements, industry recognized credentials, badge or credential design or training for faculty or students.
• Provision of curriculum mapping tools, models, and case studies.
• Feedback on proposal concepts.

For applicants selected to join the TTA grantee cohort, this technical assistance will continue to be available throughout program implementation.

Available Funds  

• Up to 12 institutions will be awarded $10,000 to $20,000 each. 
• A supplemental pool of funds ($83,325 in total) is available for funded projects that propose work-integrated learning (WIL) components (see Appendix B for a description of qualified WIL activities). 

Note: applicants seeking supplemental WIL funding must respond to additional questions outlined in the RFP. Only proposals that present strong, well-designed WIL models will be awarded additional funds.

Fund Use 

Awarded grant funds can be used for:   

• Faculty and/or staff stipends to update and/or develop curricula and instructional materials related to programs, courses, curricula, support resources, credentials, and certificates. 
• Course, credential or certificate start-up and implementation costs, including funds to offset fees for students related to IRC assessments. 
• Internal and external convenings with employers or other partners to support program planning and implementation. 
• Support for faculty or staff to attend professional development related to the proposed project. 
• Qualified consultants. 
• Project staff travel. 
• Other costs related to grant planning, credential development and implementation.

For proposals for the supplemental WIL fund, awarded grant funds can be used for:  

• Faculty and/or staff stipends to update and/or develop curricula and instructional materials related to developing or implementing work-integrated learning models in partnership with the employer partner.
• Student compensation for their participation in paid internship and micro-internship experiences. To ensure employer commitment, the amount of stipend given to a student for wage must be at least equally matched by the employer (50%/50%) or fully covered by the employer. In both cases, the financial contributions by the employers will be reimbursed using these funds.
• Costs associated with travel, meals, and registration fees to facilitate student participation in workforce convenings, summits, networking events, and other meetings.
• Faculty and staff time dedicated to the development and deployment of materials for marketing the opportunity to learners.  
• Qualified consultants or costs associated with utilizing experiential learning platforms (g. Riipen, Parker Dewey).
• Applicants are permitted to request funds for program activities not explicitly stated in the current document. Applicants must have a clear purpose and strong justification for their alternative activity or activities. 

Note: Indirect costs are not allowed. New grantees may not commence grant activities until the receipt of a grant award letter and the completion of a grant agreement. 

Award Criteria  

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Successful grant proposals will include adequate consideration of the following: 

• Clear statement of proposed measures of outcomes and impact.
• Current labor market data demonstrating demand for, and future relevance of, the proposed certificate, credential, course, or programmatic
• A strong commitment from at least one local business partner, such as provision of subject-matter expertise to inform curriculum development, hiring commitments, internship alignment, or other partnership activities represented through a letter of support.
• The integration of an IRC into a credit-bearing degree or credential program.
• Potential scalability of proposed activities.
• Evidence of how the proposed course, credential, certificate, or program activity connects to further programs or credentials, supports stackability, transfer of credits, and clearly aligned degree pathways.
• Ability to leverage other federal, state, institutional or other support.

For proposals for the supplemental WIL fund, successful proposals will adequate consideration of the following: 

• Clearly demonstrates the value-add of the experience (see Appendix B for a description of qualified WIL activities) for learners and showcases what skills, competencies, and experiences the learners will gain that they would not receive solely through classroom learning. 
• Secures a strong commitment from at least one local business partner to support and integrate the WIL experience, demonstrated through a letter of support. Details of WIL commitment from employer can be embedded in letter of support required for TTA 3.0 application.
• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for both the employer and the higher education institution. 
• Commitment to at least 50%/50% compensation match for internship and micro-internship models, if applicable. 
• Ensures a high-quality experience for learners (see Appendix A for definition of quality in WIL). 
• Potential sustainability and scalability of proposed activities.
• Estimates how many learners will be served and the duration of the experience for the participant. 

Grant Timeline 

• August 15^th, 2025 – Connecticut Higher Education Tech Talent Accelerator Informational Webinar Register here: [ZOOM LINK]
• September 19th, 2025 – Proposals due 
• June 30^th, 2026 – Grant end date