The NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) intends to invite bids for the implementation and support of NATO Enterprise Directory Service (NEDS) Phase 2. The NEDS project is intended to provide services for the filtering and synchronization of information between the various NATO directories, including but not limited to the following:

-The NATO SECRET Core AIS Network Directory

-The NATO SECRET Exchange 5.5 Directory

- The future NATO SECRET NATO Messaging Systems (NMS) Directory

- The future NATO SECRET Alliance Replication Hub (ARH)

- The future NATO SECRET Automated Personnel Management System (APMS) Directory

- The NATO SECRET NATO HQ Directory

An overview of the requirements for this Invitation for Bid (IFB) is summarized in the attachment.

The scope of this project is included under the Capability Package "Provide Bi-SC Static AIS Core Capability". Please note that the IFB, at the time of its issuance, will contain an exclusion provision concerning the Bi-SC AIS Program Management and Integration Capability (PMIC) contract. The language of the exclusion is included in the attachment.

NC3A is serving as the NATO procurement agency for this project, which is being funded within the framework of the Infrastructure Committee. NC3A has been authorized to use the one step/one envelope International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedure. The successful bid pursuant to this IFB will be that bid that is the lowest price, technically compliant bid, in accordance with the evaluation criteria.

The reference for the IFB is IFB-CO-12870-NEDS and all correspondence concerning this IFB should reference this number. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be using the same reference.

The rough estimated cost of the scope of provisioning of the NEDS capability is Euro 3 million, plus Euro 3 million for 3 years of operational support.

It is planned to place one single contract for the entire scope of work. No partial bidding will be allowed.

Bidders will be required to declare a bid validity of 9 months from closing date for receipt of bids, supported by a bid guarantee of Euro 150,000. Should the selection and award procedure exceed the bid closing date by more than 9 months, firms will be requested to extend the validity of their bids and bid guarantee accordingly. Bidders may decline to do so, withdraw their bid, and excuse themselves without penalty.

The successful bidder will be required to handle and store classified information up to the level of NATO SECRET and only companies maintaining the appropriate facility clearance will be eligible to bid on this project. In addition, contractor personnel visiting or working on operational sites will be required to hold individual security clearances of at least NATO SECRET. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) forwards to the NATO contracting agency the NATO clearance certifications needed for performance of the contract.

BIDDING PROCEDURE

Before a firm can be nominated to the bidders list for a NATO 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

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 DOE (and, for U.S. facilities not yet approved for NATO ICB, to submit a completed NATO ICB application): 10 July 2009

2. Anticipated date that the contracting agency will distribute the IFB: July 2009   (A bidders' conference will take place a few weeks after the issuance of the IFB.)

3. Anticipated closing date for receipt of bids: October 2009

4. Anticipated contract award date: April 2010