Pilot Study: Improving Strategic Foresight Analysis (SFA) Using Data Science Tools and Techniques, Automation and Software Support to Analyst

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Headquarters (HQ SACT) intends to issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for the performance of a pilot study on improving Strategic Foresight Analysis (SFA) methodology using computing power. Potential prime contractors must 1) be pre-approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), 2) be nominated to the bidders list by the U.S. Government, and 3) be companies that have performed two similar contracts within the last five years substantially similar in scope to the requirement described in the solicitation. Contractor personnel performing services under the contract must be citizens of a NATO nation, must have committed no criminal offences, and must have appropriate professional training and experience in a related field(s). The reference for this project is IFIB-ACT-SACT-18-75. Award Type: Lowest Price, Technically Compliant Partial bidding will be considered. REQUIREMENT This pilot study aims to provide a proof of concept to outline how computing power and data analysis tools could be used to support different aspects of strategic foresight analysis methodology. The deliverables of the SFA Pilot Study will be in two parts: the first, a report on how political trends will evolve over the next two decades and shape the future security context; the second, a report on the lessons learned using computing power in development of the SFA research, trend analysis and scenario development. NATO ACT will conduct a pilot study by incorporating computing power and tools in the research, trend analysis, and scenario development parts of its methodology in the development of SFA reports. This pilot study encompasses three different but interrelated tasks: Task 1: Research/Large Data Ingest Tool(s): Contractor is expected to reach out and access different web pages and other data sources that are identified by the requirements holder. Should contractor identify any additional data sources, those will be coordinated with the requirements holder. The use of commercial sources of information will be coordinated with the requirements holder to avoid duplicate payments. Data sources will be aligned with the SFA themes: Political-Human-Technology-Economics/Resources-Environment. The contractor will use a much larger data set and data analytics to extract data from multiple sources. In this context, a wide variety of reports and media/social media sources will be included. Crowd sourcing techniques will also be used as part of data collection and verification. The tool(s) should enable machine learning as data collection continues. The contractor will be responsible for the storage of the collected data. This data will not be shared with any other entity without authorization of HQ SACT. The data derived from multiple sources as an outcome of search will be stored, indexed, cleaned, and be ready for further analysis. Data will categorized and classified to allow the analyst access without any restrictions. The data will be structured in a common and usable format. It must also be possible to reliably automate structuring and formatting conversions. The origin and source of the data should be available to COTR to make sure sources are known so that credibility and reliability can be evaluated. The contractor will provide insights on how data is collected, categorized, cleaned, verified, and validated. Task 2: Trend Analysis Tool(s): The contractor will use prepared data to further analyze trends, cause and effect relations and cluster trends to reduce the number of trends to a comprehensible level by the analysts. In order to analyze trends, the contractor will install/allow use of tool(s). The contractor will provide descriptive analytic tools, such as mind maps, to visualize the data and provide insights on the evolution and trajectory of the trends. the contractor will also provide tools for trend management and support for development of the reports that will provide insights on the trends and their associated implications. Task 3. Scenario Development Tool(s): Based on the outcome of research, the contractor will provide a scenario development tool(s) that will be used to gain further insights, inform and/or validate trends and implications. The scenario tool(s) should allow - what if' analysis for exploration of certain hypotheses. As a result, scenario analysis tool(s) will increase the ability to provide in-depth analysis of different situations and to identify indicators, trends, and associated defense and security implications. BIDDING PROCEDURE NATO ICB requires that the U.S. Government nominate U.S. prime contractors to the bidders list. Before the U.S. Government can nominate a U.S. prime contractor to the bidders list for this procurement, the U.S. firm must be approved 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 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: http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities 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 company employee who should receive the bid documents Upon approval of the one-time NATO ICB application, the Department of Commerce will then know to issue a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE), which is the document used to nominate an approved facility to the bidders list for a particular NATO ICB project. IMPORTANT DATES Firms should request a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit a completed one-time NATO ICB application) by: 08 November 2018 HQ SACT issues IFIB (target): 13 November 2018 Procurements (RFP, IFIB, NOI): https://www.act.nato.int/budfin Bid closing (target): 03 January 2019 Period of performance: 20 January 2019 (estimated) - 31 October 2019 (estimated)