Florida Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program

The Florida Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program is a state-funded cybersecurity assistance opportunity administered through the Florida Digital Service. For State Fiscal Year 2026-27, the program is supported by a $15 million appropriation through the General Appropriations Act. The program is intended to help eligible Florida local governments mitigate and defend against cybersecurity threats, including ransomware incidents, while developing and enhancing cybersecurity risk management programs consistent with section 282.3185, Florida Statutes. The Florida Digital Service places a priority focus on fiscally constrained counties as described in section 218.67(1), Florida Statutes. The program does not provide cash grants or direct payments to successful applicants. Instead, the Florida Digital Service contracts for information technology commodities and services and procures cybersecurity solutions directly on behalf of awarded local governments. The program is intended to deliver new or expanded cybersecurity capabilities. It will not subsidize payments for cybersecurity tools, services, or contracts that a local government already has in place. All grantees are also required to share data with the Cybersecurity Operations Center, or CSOC. Eligible applicants are Florida local governments. Fiscally constrained counties receive priority consideration under the program, but the supplied program information does not limit eligibility solely to those counties. Local governments that received awards through prior rounds remain eligible and are strongly encouraged to submit applications for the current round. No local matching contribution is required, which means participating governments are not required to contribute a stated share of the cost of the cybersecurity commodities or services procured through the program. Applications for the current round opened July 10, 2026, and must be submitted by August 31, 2026. The program page provides an Apply Now function for submitting an application and identifies the Year 4 Local Grant Application Aide 2026-2027 as a supporting resource for applicants. It also provides information about available cybersecurity capabilities and program FAQs. The supplied information does not identify a required letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement. An August 19 webinar is advertised, but it is not described as a required step for application submission. The stated program priorities should guide applicants in determining whether the opportunity is appropriate for their cybersecurity needs. Proposed participation should support new or expanded cybersecurity capabilities rather than replacement of payments for existing tools, services, or contracts. Applicants should also be prepared to comply with the requirement to share data with the Cybersecurity Operations Center. Fiscally constrained counties have an expressly stated priority focus. The supplied source does not provide a detailed scoring rubric, numerical evaluation criteria, individual award minimum or maximum, estimated number of awards, or a named individual grant contact. Award notifications are scheduled to occur on or before December 1, 2026. Software access is expected in June 2027. Questions about the program may be directed to cybersecuritygrants@digital.fl.gov. The opportunity is identified as Year 4 of the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program, demonstrating that prior program rounds have occurred; however, the supplied material does not expressly state that future rounds will occur annually or on another fixed recurring schedule. The website update history also includes older timeline information from January 5, 2026, but the current FY 2026-27 program timeline provides the applicable dates for this round.

Focus the request on new or expanded cybersecurity capabilities rather than tools, services, or contracts already in place; be prepared to share data with the Cybersecurity Operations Center; fiscally constrained counties receive priority focus.