The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) intends to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the provision of In-Service Support of existing NATO NETSCOUT/GIGAMON hardware and software. This contract will provide for a fixed number of scheduled services, executed at the Peace Time Location of the systems throughout NATO.

Potential U.S. prime contractors must 1) maintain a professionally active facility (office, factory, laboratory, etc.) within the United States, 2) be pre-approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), and 3) be issued a Declaration of Eligibilty (DOE) by the U.S. Government.  

Please note that execution of the proposed contract will require unescorted access and work of contractor personnel at NATO Class II security areas. Personnel of the winning bidder will be required to hold individual security clearances a the level of SECRET.  Only companies maintaining appropriate personnel clearances will be able to perform the resulting contract. The  contract award will not be delayed to allow contractor personnel to obtain missing clearances.

The contractor shall be a NetScout Channel Partner with accreditations/certifications for“Platinum Partner Reseller” and “Partner Enabled Support”. Furthermore, the contractor shall be a Gigamon Channel Partner with accreditation/certification for “Platinum Partner with Pro Support qualification”. In addition, the contractor shall have an HP and VMWare partnership, to provide repair, maintenance and support to all HP install base equipment on which NETSCOUT/GIGAMON software is installed.

The reference for the IFB is IIFB-CO-115445-NETSCOUT-GIGAMON and all correspondence concerning the IFB should reference this number.

For source selection, the NCI Agency is planning to use the Lowest Priced Technically Compliant Bid evaluation methodology. The NCI Agency plans to award a single contract for the entire scope of work. No partial bidding will be allowed. Award of the contract is planned to be made on a Firm Fixed Price Basis.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

Please see attached.

BECOMING ELIGIBLE TO BID

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 or capability statement 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/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:

Request a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit the completed one-time NATO ICB application): 02 June 2021

NCI Agency distributes IFB (planned): end of June 2021                     

Bid Closing Date (anticipated): Q3 2021

Contract Award (anticipated): December 2021