RFP-21-UA-2023 – Delivery of presentations at two-day Ukraine Research Security Workshop in Krakow, Poland, on Due Diligence and Safe Collaborations

In support of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, CRDF Global and Formation Consultancy Ltd. will develop and deliver a two-day national-level workshop on knowledge security, research integrity and prevention of illicit transfer/diversion of WMD-sensitive or dual-use technology. The event will seek to engage representatives of Ukrainian research institutions, universities, and relevant government agencies. It will take place in Krakow, Poland on November 14-15, 2023.

The workshop will engage 25 administrators, department heads, compliance officers, information security specialists, government officials and university leadership from Ukrainian state research entities and authorities dealing with sensitive data in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning, biotechnology, quantum computing, aerospace/aviation, traditional military areas, and/or CBRN fields. The objective is to facilitate productive dialogue among participants on implementation of non-proliferation controls at research institutions to help identify and mitigate risks from actors of proliferation concern such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The Contractor will develop and deliver several presentations and interactive sessions at a two-day, in-person workshop in Krakow, Poland in November 2023. The Contractor will deliver four presentations suited to their expertise with the topics including:

–     what Due Diligence is and why it matters;

–     operationalizing Due Diligence screening mechanisms;

–     what Dual Use is, realizing the potential of non-security related technologies.

These sessions should incorporate interactive as well as presentational formats. The sessions will incorporate prompting questions to stimulate participants and encourage them to actively engage in discussions based on their own experiences in the subject matter. The Contractor will assist in moderating the discussion. The Contractor will provide draft materials to CRDF Global and will then resend the materials following CRDF Global’s communication of possible edits and changes as needed. The Contractor will hold up to 6 (six) online interim sessions with CRDF Global with the purpose of additional coordination. Following the conference, the Contractor will provide CRDF Global with a final written report.

CRDF Global will provide necessary arrangements and on-site support for the in-person workshop and associated activities.

Due to the strict time limits of the project implementation the selected bidder should be able to provide workshop materials for CRDF Global review by October 24, 2023 (see RFP for details).

Details of proposal requirements are given in the Request for Proposals (RFP).

Proposals should be prepared using the standard templates attached hereto.