NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB): Technical Refresh of Balkans IT Infrastructure

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) intends to issue an Invitation For Bids (IFB) to perform the technical refresh of the Balkans IT Infrastructure, replacing obsolete hardware and unsupported software supporting Communications and Information Systems (CIS). The CIS supports the NATO and EUFOR missions in the BALKANS Joint Operations Area (JOA) and at the supporting headquarters at SHAPE (EUSG) and NAPLES (EUCE).Potential U.S. prime contractors must 1) maintain a professionally active facility (office, factory, laboratory, etc.) within the United States, 2) hold an active Facility Security Clearance at the level of SECRET or higher 3) be pre-approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), and 3) be nominated to the bidders list by the U.S. Government.   In addition, execution of the proposed contract may require personnel of the successful bidder to hold individual security clearances at the level of SECRET or higher.The reference

for the IFB is IFB-CO-15049-BITI, and all correspondence concerning the IFB should reference this number.The successful bid will be that bid that is the lowest price and technically compliant.  It is planned to place a single contract for the entire scope of work.SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTSPlease see attached.BECOMING ELIGIBLE TO BIDNATO ICB requires that the U.S. Government nominate U.S. prime contractors to the bidders list. Before the U.S. Government can nominate a U.S. prime contractor to the bidders list, however, the U.S. firm must be approved for participation in NATO ICB. Firms are approved for U.S. NATO ICB on a facility-by-facility basis.The U.S. NATO ICB application is a one-time application. The application requires supporting documentation in the form of 1) a company resume indicating contracts completed as a prime contractor and 2) an annual report or set of financial documents indicating compilation, review, or audit by an independent CPA.U.S. firms can download a copy of the U.S. NATO ICB application from the following website:http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities The application and supporting documentation may be submitted as e-mail attachments. If, when submitting the application, your firm is interested in a specific NATO ICB project, please include the following in the text of your email:- the title and/or solicitation number of the project- the name/phone/email of the company employee who should receive the bid documentsAfter approval of your one-time NATO ICB application, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will then know to follow up by issuing a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) for that project. NATO member governments use a DOE to nominate an approved firm to the bidders list for a particular NATO ICB project.IMPORTANT DATES:- Request from DOC that a DOE be issued (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit the completed one-time NATO ICB application): 11 March 2020- NCI Agency issues IFB (target): Q2 2020- Contract Award (target): Q3 2020