QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (1-2) - 17 JUL 2023.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY (CDP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): SFOP0009899 Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace Capacity Building

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1-2

17 JUL 2023

QUESTION 1/ANSWER 1: On behalf of the XXX, I am submitting the following four questions for clarification regarding the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace Capacity Building (SFOP0009899):

1. Q: As some of the information required for inclusion within the Proposal Narrative is the same as that required in some of the forms provided for completion (e.g., Scope of Work form), can you please clarify if you expect the same information to be included word-for-word across these documents? Or can the information in the forms complement the Proposal Narrative by providing additional detail, for example?

A: See Section D2.1 Application Requirements and referenced attachments for further guidance specific to each document’s requirement.

2. Q: Are formal agreements with/invitations letters from host countries required at the proposal stage or would a preliminary expression of interest be sufficient?

A: As indicated in Section A.1 Executive Summary, “CDP will coordinate with award recipient to identify specific participating countries. The capacity building may take place in the United States and/or in other countries.”

3. Q: The NOFO notes that completion of the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form is to be done only if applicable; however, on the submission platform, the form is marked as “requested”, which leads us to believe that we might face issues submitting our proposal if we don’t not complete it. Can you please clarify whether we are therefore obliged to fill in the form, even if we do not engage in lobbying, in order for us to eventually submit the proposal?

A: Per Section D2.1 Application Requirements 2) “Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form (only if applicable).”

4. Q: Can collaborations with implementing partners be established after the contract award?

A: As indicated in Section B Federal Award Information, “The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater federal government participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, CDP will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement could include but are not limited to:

• Active participation and collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award.

• Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.

• Collaboration on selection and/or review and approval of sub-award partnerships or sub-contracts beyond existing federal policy.

• Review and final approval of course curricula and associated documents.

• Review participant training acceptance and rejection letters.”

QUESTION 2: Our proposed project in response to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace Capacity Building (SFOP0009899) can be executed across a wide range of countries/regions. Is there a region/country that is of particular interest for this agreement? If not, would it be advisable for us to choose a region to focus on, or to propose a broader program that is applicable across multiple regions?

ANSWER 2: See Section A.1 Executive Summary, which states: “Participants and audiences will be key stakeholders in cybersecurity and digital policy in their respective countries, regional or multilateral institutions. Capacity building activities are intended to take place globally, convening 8 events per objective throughout the project period. Activities should offer a mix of in-person and virtual attendance. CDP will coordinate with award recipient to identify specific participating countries. The capacity building may take place in the United States and/or in other countries.”