NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB): Provision of a Doctorate Level Program in Support of Allied Command Transformation, Joint Force Development

Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) intends to issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for provision of a doctorate level program in support of Allied Command Transformation, Joint Force Development. Potential prime contractors must 1) be pre-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 similar tasking to the requirement described in the solicitation. In addition, contractor personnel performing services under the contract must be citizens of a NATO nation, hold a personal security clearance at the level of SECRET, and have appropriate professional training and experience in a related field. The reference for this project is IFIB-ACT-SACT-21-97. The contract award will be determined based on the contractor that offers the Best Value to NATO. Partial Bidding is authorized. REQUIREMENT HQ SACT is seeking the provision of Doctorate (Academic Level 8) Program to support the Cognitive superiority work strand of the Warfare Development Agenda. Following a successful experiment, HQ SACT requires a provider to develop a program that will provide advanced academic research skills to personnel within the Headquarters and allow these personnel to conduct research, underpinned by science, which is to a standard that will withstand peer scrutiny and is potentially publishable. The contractor will be required to provide support to personnel who are located at HQ SACT. The format for this support is not specified and new ways of working are actively encouraged. Personnel will be using NATO IT (Windows based) and some topics may be conducted at the NATO SECRET classification. The intention is to initiate the contract in autumn 2021 with personnel undertaking HQ SACT selection for places to start in Spring 2022. A Level 8 (Doctoral) qualification awarded by a University Senate is the desired outcome for personnel selected for the program. 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: http://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 to the email address provided your application and supporting documentation (as attachments). 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 Firms should request a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit a completed one-time NATO ICB application): 24 August 2021 HQ SACT issues IFIB (planned): or about 30 August 2021 Contractors will be able to view the IFIB on the following website: https: //www.act.nato.int/contracting Bid closing (estimated): 13 October 2021 Contract Award: TBD Travel costs will not be a consideration for contract award. Period of performance: Base Period on or about 1 November 2021 – 31 December 2025 with two 12-month option periods The contract will cover services being accomplished in Norfolk, VA or as approved at contractor facility.