QuestionsAnswers_for_Solicitation_SBAHQ18Q012.pdf

Questions/Answers for Solicitation SBAHQ-18-Q-0012

Research on Economic Impact of Cyberattacks on Small Businesses

1. Can the writing samples provided be from proposed candidates?

• The writing samples can be any research study, literature review, or journal article on the topic or related to the topic authored by key personnel of the proposed research team.

2. Can an offeror use a proposed candidate's experience and references to satisfy the past performance requirements?

• The proposals will be evaluated according to the factors in the solicitation notification instructions to offerors. The Government will evaluate the offeror on past performance.

The qualifications of the offeror’s researcher(s) will be evaluated in the technical approach factor.

3. What policy decisions is the research intended to inform, influence?

• Research findings are intended to inform existing and new federal policies aimed at preparing and protecting small businesses from cyberattacks, and inform policymakers on the scope and urgency of the issue.

4. Is the SBA more concerned with research to support aggregate economic impact or impact by sector and size?

• The Office of Advocacy is interested in the economic impact on small businesses within the context of important sectoral and economy-wide impacts.

5. Is the research intended to support policy and strategies to mitigate the effect of cyberattacks?

• Research findings are intended to inform existing and new federal policies aimed at preparing and protecting small businesses from cyberattacks, and inform policymakers on the scope and urgency of the issue.

6. Is it preferred that the “insight for policymakers’ be aimed at those developing standards (such as NIST) or at regulatory or legislative bodies?

• Research findings may have implications for standard-setting, regulations, and/or legislation. No additional preference is given to research focused on particular policies.

7. Is there a desire to compare impacts across the different sized terms (i.e. Small, Medium, Large), or across

• The Office of Advocacy is interested in the economic impact on small businesses, and the relative impacts between businesses of different sizes.

8. What is the budget for this project?

• Budgetary information in regards to this requirement cannot be disclosed.

9. Would SBA be interested in/allow for optional analyses for Task B?

• The Office of Advocacy is interested in proposals that meet the research requirements in the Statement of Work within the anticipated period of performance according to the deliverables schedule.

10. How many firms have indicated they will submit a proposal? Is there a minimum number of bids required to award the project?

• The number of firms expected to submit a proposal cannot be disclosed. There is no minimum number of offerors required.

11. Will SBA provide any special access to data to the winning bidder?

• The offeror must provide, acquire, and be able to access any data proposed for use in the proposal to perform the research requirements. Offerors must document the proposed process for acquiring access to any data proposed for use. Data used must be appropriate for performing the research requirements of the Statement of Work within the anticipated period of performance according to the deliverables schedule, and meet data quality and transparency requirements of the Statement of Work. All costs associated with the contractor’s acquisition of this data shall be inclusive of the offered fixed price for the service.