Contractor Support for Strategic Alternatives (SALT) and Strategic Partnership (SPART) Branches

Period of Performance: 15 February 2019 (Estimated) - 31 December 2019, with a 12-month option period in 2020, and two six-month options in 2021. Through the ongoing Functional Adaptation of the NATO Command Structure (NCS), two new branches under Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) for Strategic Plans & Policy (SPP) were created: Strategic Partnerships Branch (SPART) and Strategic Alternatives (SALT) Branch. SPART Branch advises SACT on all partnership matters in support of NATO's readiness to execute collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security. The Branch provides strategic military advice to shape long term vision and policy on future partnerships and military cooperation with partners, and develops relationships with International Organizations (IOs), Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations (GOs/NGOs) using topics of mutual interest to build trust and promote interaction, and enhance SACT's vision and understanding of the broader strategic environment. It conducts open dialogue at the strategic military level with counterparts from the IS, IMS, ACO and non-NATO actors, specifically IOs, GOs/NGOs, Academia and the private sector; undertakes comprehensive analytical studies, identifies gaps in policy, provides regional and functional approaches for future interaction, cooperation, and partnerships. The Branch leads the coherence efforts of internal ACT work strands pertaining to NATO partnership issues, including support to ACO in the execution of Individually Tailored Roadmaps (ITRs); supports the development of SACT's Direction and Guidance and supports Command Group-related engagements regarding strategic partnerships and the Comprehensive Approach. It is responsible for the coordination of ACT's NATO Strategic Direction (South) staff contributions to ACT strands of work, in close interaction with other SPP Branches. In the execution of its work, the Branch integrates Lessons Learned (LL) in terms of requests, planning, creation, collection, staffing and handling in accordance with the NATO LL Process. The Branch consist of the Strategic Military Partnerships Section and the Comprehensive Approach Section. SALT operates under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) for Strategic Plans & Policy (SPP). It studies complex challenges relevant to the security domain and in areas beyond NATO's traditional geographic and functional expertise. The Branch uses advanced research to improve rigour and responsiveness of transformational work. It provides scientific analysis to improve the depth and diversity of NATO's situational awareness and understanding, risk assessment, strategy, and decision making over the mid- to long-term horizon. The Branch coordinates with internal and external stakeholders including NATO Headquarters, Allied Command Operations, the public and private sectors, international and non-governmental organisations, civil society, and academia to ensure that latest concepts, technologies, and processes are applied to relevant work. The Branch is responsible for all outputs pertaining to the Command's Strategic Alternatives Programme of Work. This requirement is for a minimum of one SPART data analyst (with the small possibility of two extra personnel) and a minimum of three SALT data scientists (with the high likelihood of two extra personnel).