Tab 1 ProCON Global Draft SOW.pdf

SBU - DELIBERATIVE PROCESS

DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)

FOR

PROMOTING CONNECTIVITY THROUGH GLOBAL COMMERCIAL FIBER-OPTIC UNDERSEA CABLES AND

ASSOCIATED ECOSYSTEMS (ProCON Global)

Applicant/Recipient

Name

Name of Organization - TBD

Federal Assistance

Listing Number 19.665

Period of Performance 24 months

Project Location Global

Estimated Budget

(For internal purposes only - remove this line prior to posting)

$10 million

Background

Recognizing the growing role of technology as a cross-cutting national security issue, the State Department created the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) in April 2022 to lead and coordinate U.S. diplomacy on cyber and digital policy. The bureau addresses the national security challenges and economic opportunities presented by cyberspace and digital technologies and promotes standards and norms that are fair, transparent, and support the rights-respecting use of technology. Through robust engagement in multilateral organizations, bilateral diplomacy with partners around the world, and encouragement of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, CDP empowers U.S. leadership in cyber, digital, and technology diplomacy.

CDP deploys foreign assistance to strengthen international cooperation, create new partnerships, promote economic growth and development, and assist in the defense of our foreign partners to uphold an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.

Calibrated cyber and digital policies help form the backbone of our deeply interconnected world, are vital to U.S. national and economic security, and are required to fully harness the transformative power of technology. As citizens around the world eagerly seek increased internet connectivity to access the tremendous opportunities afforded by digital transformation, the United States is working to ensure this connectivity is secure, meaningful, governed fairly, and serves the interests of its users. Foreign assistance programs aim to advance an affirmative vision of technology as a tool that supports collective security, prosperity, and democratic values.

More information on CDP is available at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/deputy-secretary-of-state/bureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy/.

The Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) is an interagency initiative with global reach led by CDP and the U.S. Department of State. DCCP provides foreign assistance to partner nations to promote investments in secure, trustworthy, diverse, and resilient information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure; support the adoption of inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance; grow global markets for trusted ICT goods and services; and enhance cybersecurity. CDP foreign assistance programming follows these core tenets of DCCP. More information on DCCP is available at https://www.state.gov/digital-connectivity-and-cybersecurity-partnership/.

International fiber optic cable systems are critical communications infrastructure. Undersea cables carry over 99 percent of all traffic crossing the oceans and underpin trillions of dollars in economic transactions daily, supporting high-paying jobs, increasing innovation and productivity, and spurring growth in the United States and beyond. Recent trends of increased demand on dataflow are likely to continue as U.S. companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft expand their network infrastructure and digital services through the construction and operation of new undersea cable systems, cable landing stations, and the connected software. The risks of untrusted or unreliable data infrastructure affects these well-known and well-resourced companies in the same way they impact on commercial, governmental, and private data in that it is often sensitive, highly valuable, and a known target for exploitation. To counter these threats, the United States recognizes the importance of selecting trusted vendors to supply critical communications infrastructure, and highlights the proven products, technologies, capabilities, and system security offered by trusted vendors.

Strategic Program Goals and Objectives

This project directly supports the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) objective outlined in 2.3 to “Support U.S. technological leadership, strengthen competitiveness, and enhance and protect the U.S. innovation base while leveraging technology to improve lives around the world”. The project supports the wider objective articulated in Goal 2 of the JSP, by creating new economic opportunities, sustainable economic growth, and resilience to systemic shocks.

The project also supports CDP’s strategic goals and objectives as outlined below:

Bureau Goal 1: Advance cyber and digital policies that align with U.S. national interests and foreign policy objectives.

• Objective 1.1: Deepen relationships with existing U.S. allies and partners, forge new partnerships, and engage with a range of countries to advance a common vision for the Internet and digital technologies.

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• Objective 1.2: Leverage key multilateral fora to build relationships, advance U.S. policy priorities, and guard against positions that are counter to U.S. approaches to the Internet and digital technologies.

• Objective 1.3: Identify, enhance, cultivate, and develop strategic engagements across the private sector and multistakeholder communities.

• Objective 1.4: Increase secure and open digital connectivity and access to the Internet.

• Objective 1.5: Implement public messaging and public diplomacy programs to expand key audiences’ understanding and support of U.S. cyber and digital policies.

The project will be managed through CDP’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership

(DCCP) and supports DCCP’s core pillars.

DCCP Pillars:

Pillar 1: Build Connections by promoting investments in secure, diverse, and resilient ICT infrastructure.

Pillar 2: Advance an Open, Interoperable, Reliable, and Secure Internet by promoting inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance and pro-competition, pro-innovation digital economy policies and regulations.

Pillar 3: Grow Global Markets for U.S. ICT goods and services, especially high-quality, interoperable, secure ICT equipment, software, and services.

Pillar 4: Enhance Cybersecurity by increasing adoption and implementation of cybersecurity best practices.

Strategic Alignment

CDP, through the ProCon Global project, seeks to advance the objectives of Section 102(c) of the CHIPS and Science Act under the Secure and Trusted ICT line of effort, and leverage the CHIPS for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI) to deploy secure ICT ecosystems. This programming also aligns with the Administration’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) and complements regional initiatives through consultative processes across relevant interagency and State bureaus.

Program Description

The overall goal of ProCON Global is to promote open, interoperable, reliable, and secure commercial undersea cable systems around the world. The project will provide technical assistance to key decision-makers, including policymakers, regulators, and technology companies in emerging economies, to promote evaluation processes and investment in secure and trusted vendors when establishing undersea cable network supply chains. Technology companies include telecommunications operators/carriers, major technology and security firms, innovators, and content and cloud providers.

The ProCON Global project will provide targeted regional and national-level technical advisory support to raise awareness of the security risks and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors to build and maintain undersea cables globally. The project will also address the importance of redundancy and resiliency of undersea cables landing infrastructure. ProCON

Global will highlight the market ramifications of choosing untrusted vendors, including the significant commercial limitations purchasers will face in monetizing system capacity, when doing business with vendors headquartered in countries with weak rule of law. ProCON Global will identify procurement equipment and service opportunities associated with undersea cable deployment, operation, and maintenance. ProCON Global will provide partner government officials, industry actors, and other stakeholders with advisory support to develop undersea cables strategies, consider undersea cables as critical infrastructure, and develop policies and laws on undersea cables. ProCON Global will also provide technical assistance to improve the business and regulatory environments for undersea cables across their lifecycle.

This technical assistance will promote the use of trusted vendors for installation and maintenance of undersea cable systems, intergovernmental and commercial alliances, and diplomacy for the promotion of undersea cable routes and access that reduces overall risk. ProCON Global seeks to ensure the continued expansion of world-wide connectivity and broadband through the development of new undersea cables and ensuring that operations, repair, and maintenance of existing cables are conducted by trusted vendors. The ProCON

Global implementer will conduct an overview of current, planned, and anticipated global undersea cables to inform the Department's ongoing policies, engagements, and strategic programming direction for foreign assistance. ProCON Global will also provide current and projected country-based analysis on all aspects of undersea cables, including the use (and/or anticipated) trusted or untrusted vendors for operations and maintenance activities. This analysis will inform foreign beneficiaries and key stakeholders of connectivity opportunities and potential partnerships to maximize access to secure and trusted ICT ecosystems. Additionally, these activities should equip policymakers, regulators, and private sector stakeholders to make informed policy decisions against the security risks, vulnerabilities, quality, and reliability issues associated with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable systems.

In support of expanding secure and trusted undersea connectivity efforts, this project will include a workstream dedicated to a ProCON Global capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenditure (OpEx) incubator to support existing private sector infrastructure efforts to expand undersea connectivity and associated ecosystems.

Project Goals, Objectives, Expected Outcomes, Activities, Indicators, and Sustainability

ProCON Global will promote the use of trusted vendors for installation and maintenance or repair of undersea cable systems, the use of undersea cable routes that reduce overall risk and expand connectivity and broadband Internet by promoting the development of new, trusted undersea cable systems.

ProCON Global will engage with key decision-makers including policymakers, regulators, and technology companies (to include telecommunications operators/carriers, major technology firms, and content and cloud providers), to implement processes that evaluate and select trusted vendors when establishing their undersea cable network supply chain.

Objectives

Objective 1: Increase understanding of policymakers, regulators, public and private sector stakeholders on the security risks, vulnerabilities, and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable and associated ecosystems.

Objective 2: Improve regulatory, investment and commercial environments that promote the procurement, repair, and maintenance of secure and trusted undersea cable systems.

Objective 3: Increase the use of trusted vendors for installation, repair, and maintenance of undersea cable systems and promote the use of undersea cable routes that reduce overall risk.

Objective 4: Increase trusted global undersea cable routes to ensure diversity, redundancy, and resiliency.

Expected Outcomes

ProCON Global is a direct response to telecommunications infrastructure and down-stream service needs that would enable:

• A positive and affirmative view of an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.

• An increase in secure, trusted, reliable, connectivity in underserved communities.

• An increase in understanding of policymakers, regulators, and private sector stakeholders on the security risks, vulnerabilities and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable systems and the ability to take action to address those risks.

• Data flowing freely and securely throughout the global network of undersea cables and their connected installations and software.

• Increased global data pathways: diversity, redundancy, and resiliency.

• Governments to designate undersea cables as critical infrastructure.

• Governments to agree to land trusted undersea cables and commit to using trusted undersea cables.

• Implementation of new or improved strategies and screening procedures when selecting vendors for commercial fiber-optic undersea cable systems.

• Regulations introduced to exclude untrusted suppliers and facilitate Cabotage.

Activities

To achieve the expected project outcomes, the project must include, but not limited to, the following:

1. National and Regional Capacity Building Workshops

• Improve the understanding of and ability to take action by policymakers and private sector stakeholders on undersea cable security and the importance of trusted suppliers along the entire ICT infrastructure security continuum, which includes undersea cables, submarine landing terminal equipment (SLTE), data centers, terrestrial telecom equipment, and their connected software.

o Key audiences including regulators, policy makers, and commercial market actors including mobile network operators (MNOs).

o Capacity building events and/or trainings should be incremented with increases in the level of complexity or in unusual circumstances, developed for a specified need identified by State. (i.e. mean-time-to-repair, cabotage, alternative/contingency cable routing, and workforce development.)

• Expand and deepen knowledge base through follow-on events or bespoke trainings after the initial workshops with key country officials to meet the needs of specific audiences.

• Increase advisory support to include the development of undersea cables strategies.

• Improve the business environment for undersea cables, including by addressing technical, legal, and regulatory obstacles that undersea cable firms face (e.g. cable licenses/permits and repairs).

• Development of an alumni network based on the participants who participate in the workshops.

• Implementer will work with CDP to identify and finalize workshop locations and priority participants. At a minimum, CDP expects:

o Trainings may be in person or virtual, but at least 2 in-person multilateral workshops and 4 virtual bilateral workshops annually.

o Coordination of approach schedule in priority regions to be covered including, but not limed to: Africa, Indo-Pacific (East Asia, South Asia, Pacific, and Southeast Asia) Western Hemisphere (Caribbean, Central America, South

America) and Middle East, with a minimum number of 10 persons trained per workshop.

• The implementer will recommend to CDP the countries of highest need based on industry trends and needs analysis. Additional workshops countries/participants will be identified by CDP based on need and opportunity.

• Amplify the importance of secure and trusted undersea cable connectivity and associated ecosystems.

2. National and Regional Technical Assistance

• The implementer will be prepared to provide technical assistance to identified partners at the direction of CDP.

• Support on vendor selections and procurement processes, screening procedures, financing and design criteria. (i.e. wet segment, fronthaul, backhaul, cable landing stations, or data centers).

• Threat briefings and technical assistance on the security and protection of undersea cables.

• Support on market dynamics, maintenance and operations, legal issues, innovations, and new technologies related to commercial undersea cable systems.

• Routine analysis on connectivity vulnerabilities and opportunities related to foreign assistance eligible countries. This analysis could include, but not limited to:

o Undersea connectivity policy developments (multilateral and bilateral) o Attacks on undersea cable infrastructure (physical or digital) o Cabotage o Licensing and permitting issues o Highlighting new or anticipated cable opportunities (not only in existing high priority countries) o Reports on specific countries (desk studies) o Vulnerability assessments in:

▪ Existing and proposed cable networks

▪ Operations and Management (O&M)

3. Establish Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operating Expenditure (OpEx) incubators to enable the expansion and security of undersea connectivity and associated ecosystems to emerging economies.

• Provide sub-grants and/or sub-contracts as required to enable the expansion and security of undersea cables and associated ecosystems to underserved communities and emerging economies. This includes but is not limited to the acquisition and installation of physical infrastructure of Branching Units, Spurs, Cable Landing Stations and required terrestrial infrastructure.

• Provide sub grants and/or subcontracts to provide O&M support as required.

• Identify and leverage on-going public and private sector efforts to increase undersea connectivity.

• Identify new and emerging technologies such as Smart cables, also known as intelligent or active cables, that include embedded electronics or additional features beyond what traditional cables offer.

The ProCON Global project will engage policymakers, regulators, and telecommunications companies in select regions and countries. While ProCON Global is global in nature, CDP will work with the implementer to finalize the list of targeted countries.

The project will incorporate U.S. Government experts, including but not limited to the

Department of State, the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of

Homeland Security, Development Finance Corporation, and Export-Import Bank as well as private sector, academia, civil society, and likeminded partners. The project will, on occasion, additionally incorporate government experts and industry from likeminded countries.

Performance Indicators

The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should also allow for gender disaggregation. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.

All applicable indicators should be included in the ProCON Global proposal, routine, periodic reporting of all indicators will be required. The implementer will be responsible for quarterly progress reporting on each performance indicator included in the award agreement as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets.

In addition to project-specific indicators to monitor key milestones and progress to keep the project on track, implementers will report against relevant indicators within the performance management plan CDP established under the auspices of the Digital Connectivity and

Cybersecurity Program (DCCP). DCCP indicators for this project will include, but not limited to:

Indicator 1: DCCP 1.1 Number of people receiving technical assistance on secure, reliable, and trustworthy equipment and services related to undersea cables.

• a. Number of government officials

• b. Number of private sector stakeholders

• c. Number of males

• d. Number of females

• f. Country of origin of individuals

Selection of participation will be aligned with U.S. government diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility principles.

Indicator 2: DCCP 1.6 Number of people trained in telecom/ICT, digital, or cyber issues with USG support.

Indicator 3: DCCP 1.7 Number of people trained on telecom/ICT or digital issues who demonstrate improved knowledge or skill.

Upon final award, CDP and the selected partner will meet to discuss a final set of DCCP standard indicators as well as project-specific indicators.