NATO Business Opportunities: Internet Connection Services

Headquarters NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force in Geilenkirchen, Germany (HQ NAEW&CF GK) intends to issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for internet connection services. Potential U.S. prime contractors must 1) be approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), 2) be issued a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) by the U.S. Government, and 3) have performed at least two contracts within the last five years substantially similar in scope to the requirement described in the solicitation. The reference for the IFIB is IFIB-ACO-E3A-23-21, and all correspondence in relation to this procurement should include this reference. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. It will be awarded to the firm offering the lowest price technically compliant bid. Partial bidding is not authorized. REQUIREMENT The contractor shall provide the necessary hardware, software and consumables for 24/7 uninterrupted access to the internet, including maintenance and repair services. BIDDING PROCEDURE NATO ICB requires that the U.S. Government issue a DOE for potential U.S. prime contractors interested in this project. Before the U.S. Government can do so, however, the U.S. Government must approve the U.S. firm for participation in NATO ICB. U.S. firms are approved for 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: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities The Department of Commerce (DOC) is the U.S. Government agency that approves NATO ICB applications. Please submit your application and supporting documentation to the email address provided. If your firm is interested in a specific NATO ICB project at this time, please also include the following in the text of your email: - the title and/or solicitation number of the project - the name/phone/FAX/email of the company employee who should receive the bid documents After approval of your one-time NATO ICB application, DOC will then know to follow up by issuing a DOE for the project. DOC will transmit the DOE to the NATO contracting agency. IMPORTANT DATES Potential U.S. prime contractors must request that a DOE be issued (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit a completed one-time NATO ICB application): 26 July 2023 HQ NAEW&CF issues IFIB (target): 20 August 2023 HQ NAEW&CF GK will distribute the IFIB via the ACO eBid portal to all firms that have been issued a DOE. Eligible firms are enoucraged to apply for registration on the ACO eBid portal before the IFIB is due to be issued: https://aco.procureware.com Bid Closing Date (target): 30 September 2023 Period of Performance: 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, with the possibility, subject to funds availability, of up to four (4) one-year extension options