SFOP0009899 - Q&A - 31 JUL 2023.pdf

SBU - CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY (CDP)

Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace Capacity Building

SFOP0009899

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1-8

27 JUL 2023

CORRECTED ANWER TO QUESTION 4

31 JUL 2023

QUESTION 1: How many states/countries is US State envisioning to engage for this project?

ANSWER 1: Please review Section A.1 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which states in part, “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.”

QUESTION 2: Can retired federal employees from the State Department be included as key personnel?

ANSWER 2: Please review Section D.2.1-11 of the NOFO which sets for the requirements for presenting key personnel.

QUESTION 3: Can State Department confirm Malaysia can be engaged for this project?

ANSWER 3: Please review Section A.1 of the NOFO which states in part that “CDP will coordinate with award recipient to identify specific participating countries.”

QUESTION 4: Will State Department be able to support visa applications for civilian governments officials and other project-engaged staff for non-diplomatic travel to the US for project activities?

ANSWER 4: Please review Section D.2.1-10 which states in part, “The budget submission should be illustrative of the personnel, fringe benefit and administrative costs specifically associated with the project. Travel and related costs should assume the design and delivery of 6 convening events per objective throughout the project period.” CORRECTION: The NOFO should have indicated “convening 8 events per objective throughout the project period” in both Section A

SBU - CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS

Executive Summary and Section D Detailed Budget. CDP will accept applications with either 8 or 6 events per objective due to the NOFO discrepancy.

QUESTION 5: Are the 8 events per objective intended to be strictly separated; or can 1 event be designed in a way it addresses both objectives?

ANSWER 5: Please review Section A.1 which states in part that “capacity building activities are intended to take place globally, convening 8 events per objective throughout the project period.”

QUESTION 6: Can State Department confirm they’re looking at approx. 16 event-type activities for the entire project?

ANSWER 6: Please review Section A.1 which states in part that “capacity building activities are intended to take place globally, convening 8 events per objective throughout the project period.”

QUESTION 7: Can State Department confirm the performance indicators listed under 'performance indicators' are suggestions and that they're not expected to be copied 1-on-1 into the proposal?

ANSWER 7: Please review the ‘Performance Indicators’ heading under Section A.3 which states, “For an indicator to be useful it must be specific and unambiguous, observable, measurable, and linked to an outcome/output achievement. Some indicators will be provided by the USG;

others may be suggested by the award recipient.”

QUESTION 8: Will State Department be able to support access to the UN OEWG meetings for organizations -such as XXXX that have recently been vetoed from participation as member of the multi-stakeholder civil society community?

ANSWER 8: Please review the bulleted list under A.4, including the passage that states that “strong preference will be given to applicants that … demonstrate strong international understanding of cyber-related discussions that have occurred in key multilateral venues including the OEWG and the United Nations First Committee. Applicants must remain up-to date with current themes and discussions surrounding the framework and meaningfully integrate them into design and delivery of capacity building courses, as relevant.”