70 -- NATO Notification of Intent (NOI) to Invite Bids for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for Upgrade of Hardware and Software for CC-Air and NCSA Sector, Izmir, Turkey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey (MOD-TU) intends to advertise for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) on works and services within the framework of the NATO Security Investment Program. Eligible firms will be invited to bid for the upgrade of hardware and software for CC-Air and the NATO CIS Services Agency (NCSA) sector in Izmir, Turkey. The MOD-TU is serving as the Host Nation for this project, which was authorized by the NATO Infrastructure Committee. MOD-TU intends to use the basic (one step/two envelope) ICB procedure. Contractor selection will be based on the lowest compliant bid. The estimated value of this project will not be disclosed at this time. The reference of the Invitation for International Bid (IFB) is CP5 A0050/5IS 3036. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be using the reference IFB-TURKEY-CP5-A0050-5IS-3036. SCOPE OF PROJECT Under this project, hardware and software will be procured and established at CC-Air and NCSA Izmir. The hardware and software to be procured within the scope of this project will comply with ACE ACCIS. The following components will be procured: Hardware: High Performance (HP) and General Purpose (GP) Services IP Switch System AMSG 788 Workstations (WS) AMSG 788 Network Printers, Black and White AMSG 784 Network Printers, Black and White AMSG 720 Network Printers, Black and White AMSG 788 Network Printers, Color Laser AMSG 784 Network Printers, Color Laser AMSG 788 Network InkJet Printer AMSG 784 Network InkJet Printer AMSG 788 Scanners Software: COTS Software (Windows, OS, Antivirus) Exchange Software Network Management Software IP Switch Software The hardware and software procurement shall include documentation and initial spares for hardware. The installation includes initial training for support staff and contractor support for the early months of system operation. The hardware to be procured and installed under this project are AMSG 788 WS, and AMSG 784, AMSG 788 and SMSG 720 type of peripheral equipment (printers and scanners). The Switches and Servers will be Commercial off the Shelf products. The WS will be configured in accordance with NATO parameter setting. There will no software development or modification of any kind. The contractor will be responsible for the provision, installation, configuration and integration of the equipment. The IFB package will not contain material of a classified nature. However, prospective bidders should be aware that contractor personnel called on to work at NATO HQs will be required to have security clearances at the level of NATO SECRET. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) forwards to the Host Nation the NATO clearance certifications for all personnel assigned to the contract. BIDDING PROCEDURE The U.S. Department of Commerce does not serve as the Host Nation for NATO projects. Its role is to approve for bidding those firms of NATO-member nations with a facility located within the United States. Only firms approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce will be allowed to bid. Please visit the following website for instructions on applying for approval to bid on NATO projects: http://www.bis.doc.gov/defenseindustrialbaseprograms/OSIES/NATOprograms/index.htm A firm that has been approved for bidding on NATO projects must request that the U.S. Department of Commerce issue a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) for each project on which the firm wishes to bid. The DOE is used to nominate the firm to the Bidders List for a particular project. The U.S. Department of Commerce forwards the DOE to the U.S. Embassy, which in turn forwards it to the Host Nation. The Host Nation will not accept requests for nomination received directly from firms. Firms that the U.S. Embassy nominates to the Bidders List will be contacted directly by the Host Nation when the Invitation for International Bidding (IFB) has been issued. IMPORTANT DEADLINES 1. Final date for the U.S. Department of Commerce to submit a Declaration of Eligibility on your behalf: 10 October 2006 2. Anticipated date that the Host Nation will forward the Invitation for International Bidding (IFB) to those on the Bidders List: December 2006 3. Anticipated closing date for receipt of bids: February 2007 4. Anticipated contract award date: end of March 2007