The NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) intends to invite bids on the acquisition of CIS support for NATO forces in ISAF. The successful bidders will be expected to provide voice and data exchange capability to deployable units to enhance the existing capabilities through the provision of additional system and service level CIS control and management tools.

ISAF personnel will be regularly deployed on liaison tasks, requiring the capability to have secure voice and data connectivity to static locations. To achieve this, 11 Liaison Office Packs (LNO) packs and a scalable gateway hub for the LNOs to tie into the main ISAF and NATO networks are required Each LNO Pack will support users connecting to static nets over commercial SATCOM links.

LNO Packs shall be self contained, compact portable units that will provide deployable secure communication services to support up to eight users. Each transportable pack shall be self contained in a transit case to include voice and data terminals along with the associated network infrastructure. Each pack shall also include it own power generation

NC3A is serving as the NATO contracting agency for this project, which is being funded within the framework of the Infrastructure Committee. NC3A has been authorized to use the Alliance Operations and Missions (AOM) International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedure.

The estimated value of this project is Euro 1,545,537. The reference for the Invitation for Bid (IFB) is IFB-CO-12735-OPL. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be using the same reference.

NC3A will place a single contract for the entire scope of work. No partial bidding will be allowed.

The bidding documents are expected to be NATO Unclassified.

BIDDING PROCEDURE

The U.S. Department of Commerce does not serve as the contracting agency for NATO ICB projects. Its role is to approve for participation in NATO ICB those facilities that are located within the United States. Only facilities that have first been approved for participation in NATO ICB may be nominated to the bidders list for a NATO ICB project. Please visit the following website for instructions on applying for approval:

http://www.bis.doc.gov/defenseindustrialbaseprograms/OSIES/NATOprograms/index.htm

The NATO ICB application is a one-time application. The application requires supporting documentation in the form of 1) a company resume and 2) an annual report or set of financial documents indicating compilation, review, or audit by an independent CPA. 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/FAX/email of the point of contact for the bid documents

After approval of your one-time NATO ICB application, the Department of Commerce will then know to follow up by issuing a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) for that project. A DOE is used to nominate an approved firm to the bidders list for a particular NATO ICB project.

Using the contact information indicated on the DOE, the NATO contracting agency will contact the firm directly when the IFB has been issued.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

1. Final date to request a Declaration of Eligibility: 15 May 2009

2. Anticipated date that the contracting agency will distribute the IFB: 28 May 2009

3. Anticipated closing date for receipt of bids: 02 July 2009

4. Anticipated contract award date: Third Quarter 2009