USAID/Ukraine Broad Agency Announcement for Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine | BAA UKR CYBERSECURITY 2019

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a USAID/Ukraine funding opportunity issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to support collaborative research and development (R and D) efforts that improve cybersecurity for critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

2) What is the opportunity number and when was it issued?

The opportunity number is BAA-UKR-CYBERSECURITY-2019, and it was issued on February 15, 2019.

3) What is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in this context?

In this context, the BAA is structured less like a traditional grant competition with a fixed, pre-designed project plan and more like an open call for partners. USAID is seeking participants to help shape the work through co-creation and co-design rather than submitting a single, pre-packaged project concept.

4) What is the main purpose of the BAA?

The core purpose is to generate innovative, practical R and D interventions that address cybersecurity risks affecting critical infrastructure in Ukraine, with solutions that can be tested, adapted, and potentially scaled.

5) What types of systems are considered "critical infrastructure" under this opportunity?

The excerpt emphasizes critical infrastructure as systems whose disruption would have major public impact. Examples implied include energy, telecommunications, water, transportation, and other essential services.

6) What technical topics or problem areas will USAID support?

The work will be organized around specific "Problem and Challenge Statements" contained in the full BAA document. The excerpt does not list the full technical scope, but it indicates that these statements define the specific focus areas for R and D interventions.

7) Does USAID expect applicants to co-design solutions with the agency?

Yes. USAID explicitly seeks participants willing to co-create and co-design solutions with the agency, which is a central feature of the BAA approach described.

8) What does "co-investment" mean for this opportunity?

Co-investment means applicants may bring their own resources to strengthen proposed approaches. These resources may include funding, expertise, technologies, or other contributions that support development, piloting, or deployment of solutions alongside USAID.

9) Who can participate?

Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted," indicating a wide range of applicants may participate, including public and private entities, and both non-profit and for-profit organizations.

10) What categories of participants does USAID invite?

USAID invites three categories of participants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI):

• Implementing Partners: for-profit or non-profit organizations that would help carry out activities.
• Co-Investors: entities willing to contribute funding or other resources alongside USAID.
• Experts: individuals or organizations with specialized knowledge who can contribute technical input, research capacity, or advisory support.

11) What is the first step to apply?

The process begins with submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), not a full proposal. The announcement references a staged process and points to Section III, Stage 1 of the full BAA document for more detail.

12) Is this a single-stage or multi-stage process?

It is described as a staged process that begins with an EOI (Stage 1). The excerpt indicates further details are in the full BAA document.

13) When were questions due?

Questions were due by March 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Kyiv time.

14) When were Expressions of Interest (EOIs) due?

EOIs were due by April 8, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Kyiv time.

15) Why does the listing show a closing date different from the EOI deadline?

The listing shows an original closing date of April 15, 2019, while the EOI deadline is April 8, 2019. Based on the excerpt, the later date likely reflects an administrative closing date for the opportunity posting even though EOIs were due earlier.

16) Which agency and office issued the opportunity?

The opportunity is posted by USAID in Kyiv (Ukraine USAID-Kiev) and relates to USAID/Ukraine.

17) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 98.001.

18) What is the award instrument type?

The opportunity category and instrument type are both labeled "Other," consistent with a BAA format and flexible partnership arrangements rather than a single standard grant model.

19) How much funding is available per award?

The posting lists an award ceiling of 0 and does not provide predetermined funding amounts in the synopsis. This suggests funding levels were not set in advance and may depend on what emerges through co-creation, the quality of EOIs, and subsequent design discussions.

20) How many awards will be made?

The synopsis does not specify an expected number of awards, indicating the number of resulting partnerships was not predetermined.

21) What kind of activities is USAID looking to support?

USAID is looking for innovative and practical R and D interventions that address cybersecurity risks for critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on solutions that can be tested, adapted, and potentially scaled.

22) Are for-profit organizations allowed to participate?

Yes. The excerpt states implementing partners can include for-profit or non-profit organizations, and eligibility is "Unrestricted."

23) Can individuals participate as experts?

Yes. The excerpt describes "Experts" as individuals or organizations with specialized knowledge who can contribute technical input, research capacity, or advisory support.

24) Where can applicants find the detailed scope and participation requirements?

The excerpt indicates the detailed technical scope is provided through "Problem and Challenge Statements" in the full BAA document, and additional detail on participant categories is provided in Section III, Stage 1 of the BAA.