Attachment 3 - Questions and Answers for RFQ 89603022Q0015.pdf

Questions and Answers for RFQ 89603022Q0015 – Standard and Poor’s Ratings Direct Software Subscription

Q1: What specific types of scores and ratings is the FERC looking for in their subscription (or currently getting/using)?

A1: Credit ratings, business risk profile, financial risk profiles, company specific reports relating to business risk and financial risk, and Strongest to Weakest reports that rank utilities based on overall risk.

Q2: Do they need the ability to provide:

A2:

Risk assessments?

• Viability scores? No

• Failure scores? No

• Delinquency scores? No

• Fraud risk scores? No

• Rating scores? Yes, all ratings that relate to business risk and financial risk

• Small Business Risk insight? Yes, but only for companies the FERC regulates

• Supplier Stability indicators? No

• Supplier Evaluation Risk? No

• Corporate Linkages with Portfolio Risk? Only corporate structure/family tree and associated risk linkages between a subsidiary and parent

Entity alerts? Yes, if it relates to any credit rating or business/financial risk changes

Global coverage? Only FERC regulated entities Supplier risk automation? No Make credit decisions? No Automate credit decisioning? No Maximum credit recommendations? No Overall business/supplier risk? Yes, anything relating to business risk and in particular business risk profiles/ratings that can be compared with those for peer utility companies.

Restricted Party Screening? No

Q3: Is the FERC looking for any additional data?

A3: Types of Company information?

Global Ultimate Beneficial Ownership? No In-depth Company profiles? Yes, all company specific reports that relate to business risk, financial risk and overall investor risk with objective risk measures provided.

Company Hierarchy data? Yes, corporate structure/family tree

Public Records/filings? We have access to FERC filings data and SEC data

Q4: Can you clarify what additional research is needed along with the scores and ratings?

A4: Any reports indicating company risk relative to utility peer companies that can be used in a comparative risk analysis.

Q5: Is the FERC looking for attached services or company/supplier research?

A5: No

Q6: How many users will be using/need access through the subscription?

A6: Six

Q7: How many companies is the FERC planning to need reports on?

A7: All companies regulated by FERC that may be subject to rate proceedings, along with all publicly traded electric utilities, natural gas pipelines and oil pipelines

Q8: Will you need to be able to search via UEI?

A8: No, normally we assess a subject company’s risk relative to a peer group of utilities using data considered by investors. The most useful information are objective risk factors that can be compared among companies, but lacking that, we use company specific reports relating to business risk and financial risk.