NATO Business Opportunity: Private Cloud Installation, Operation and Maintenance as a Managed Service

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) intends to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the the implementation and management of a disconnected deployment of an Azure Stack Hub infrastructure (private cloud). Please note that it is anticipated that the IFB will contain provisions requiring bidders to clearly demonstrate in their bid their qualfications as - Microsoft Certified: Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate and years of experience with Azure Stack Hub on-premise installations and service provision. Potential U.S. prime contractors must 1) maintain a professionally active facility (office, factory, laboratory, etc.) within the United States, 2) be pre-approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), 3) hold a current Facility Security Clearance at the level of SECRET or higher, and 4) be issued a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) by the Department of Commerce (DOC). In addition, execution of the proposed contract may require, in accordance with NATO Security Policy C-M(2002)49, personnel of the successful bidder to hold individual security clearances of COSMIC TOP SECRET. The reference for the IFB is IFB-CO-115722-PRVCLD and all correspondence concerning the IFB should include this reference. The NCI Agency will evaluate the bids based on Lowest Priced Technically Compliant criteria. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS Please see attached. BECOMING ELIGIBLE TO BID NATO ICB requires that the U.S. Government issue a DOE for potential U.S. prime contractors interested in this project. Before the U.S. Government can do so, however, the U.S. Government must approve the U.S. firm for participation in NATO ICB. U.S. firms are approved for NATO ICB on a facility-by-facility basis. The U.S. NATO ICB application is a one-time application. The application requires supporting documentation in the form of 1) a company resume or capability statement indicating contracts completed as a prime contractor and 2) an annual report or set of financial documents indicating compilation, review, or audit by an independent CPA. U.S. firms can download a copy of the U.S. NATO ICB application from the following website: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities DOC is the U.S. Government agency that approves NATO ICB applications. Please submit to the email address provided your application and supporting documentation (as attachments). If your firm is interested in a specific NATO ICB project at this time, please also include the following in the text of your email: - the title and/or solicitation number of the project - the name/phone/email of the company employee who should receive the bid documents After approval of your one-time NATO ICB application, DOC will then know to follow up by issuing a DOE for the project. DOC will transmit the DOE to the NATO contracting agency. IMPORTANT DATES: Request a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit the completed one-time NATO ICB application): 27 July 2023 NCI Agency distributes the IFB (planned): Q3 2023 Bid closing: 35 days following the release of the IFB Contract Award (estimated): Q4 2023 Period of performance: a. Base Period i. Installation, configuration and implementation period (Q1 2024) ii. Service operations, 3 years, following security approval of implementation b. Optional Periods i. Two 1-year options for continued service operations