NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force E-3A Component (NAEW&CF E-3A Component) intends to issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for the provision of a unified storage system. This project includes the technical design and implementation of a unified storage system to service the major NATO SECRET systems on the E-3A Component. It includes delivery of associated hardware and software as well as installation and commissioning of the equipment.

The bidders will be asked to return the bid in one closed envelope that will be provided by NAEW&CF E-3A Component. Partial bidding is not allowed.

The reference for the Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) is IFIB-ACO-E3A-12-16 and all correspondence in relation to this procurement shall refer to this reference.

The classification of the IFIB will be NATO SECRET. The Department of Commerce will nominate to the bidders list only those U.S. firms that 1) have been approved for participation in NATO ICB and 2) hold a current facility security clearance at the level of SECRET or higher.

The contractor is reponsible for ensuring that the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) forwards to NAEW&CF E-3A Component the required security certifications.

BIDDING PROCEDURE

Before a firm can be nominated to the bidders list for this ICB procurement, it must be approved for participation in NATO ICB. Firms are approved for NATO ICB on a facility-by-facility basis. Only facilities located in NATO member nations may participate in NATO ICB. The U.S. Department of Commerce approves facilities that are located within the United States.
U.S. firms will find a copy of the U.S. NATO ICB application at the following website:

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

Upon approval of your one-time NATO ICB application, the U.S. 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.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Firms should request that the Department of Commerce issue a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit to the Department of Commerce a completed one-time NATO ICB application) by: 20 August 2012

Please note that under the stipulations of Bi-SC procurement Directive 60-70, the contracting entity will continue to accept nominations to the bidders list until the bid closing date.

Estimated IFIB issue date: 23 August 2012

Estimated bid closing date: 31 October 2012

Bid Protests Not Available