R -- NATO Notification of Intent (NOI) to Issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for Contractor Support in Research and Development (Norfolk, VA)

The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) intends to advertise for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) on works and services within the framework of the NATO Military Budget Committee (MBC). Eligible firms will be invited to bid to provide contracting support in research and development at Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Headquarters (HQ-SACT) in Norfolk, VA. HQ SACT is serving as the Host Nation for this project, which was authorized by the MBC. HQ SACT intends to use the bidding procedure of a sealed bid involving possible pre-award discussions. Partial bidding may be allowed at the discretion of HQ-SACT. The estimated value of this project is not available at this time. The period of performance is the base year of 1 January 2007 ? 31 December 2007 with four option years from 2008 to 2011. The reference for this project is ACT-SACT-06-53 and all correspondence in relation to this procurement shall refer to this reference. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be using as its reference IFIB-ACT-SACT-06-53. SCOPE OF PROJECT HQ SACT is soliciting contractor support in the following areas: Purchasing and Contracting Administration - Includes internal acquisition procedures: contract reviews/analysis, performance reviews, memoranda of understanding/agreement (MOU/MOA), and technical reviews. Assist with pre-award duties to develop documents for determinations and findings, acquisition plans, justifications and approvals. Statement of Work (SOW) Development - Work with customers to develop SOWs covering technical requirements, deliverables/schedules, personnel requirements and other information. Primary areas of contracting work will include research and development, contractor support, information technology, communications, training, experimentation and doctrine development. Contract Development, Negotiation Award and Maintenance - Includes soliciting legal, financial, technical and related information from subject matter experts to complete negotiations with contractors. Maintain contract files and conduct periodic reviews as needed. Contractors primary day-to-day function location will be HQ SACT. ELIGIBILITY Contractor personnel performing services under the contract must be citizens of a NATO nation and possess at least a valid NATO SECRET level security clearance. They must have as a minimum three years (five years desirable) experience in the acquisition, procurement or contracting field. Formal acquisition, procurement, or contracting training required. 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 Host Nation. The Host Nation will not accept requests for nomination received directly from firms. Those firms that are nominated to bid will be added to an electronic distribution list of firms eligible to bid on this ICB project. When the Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) is issued, those firms will be notified electronically and will be instructed to download the tender documents on the following website: http://www.act.nato.int/budfin/rfpmain.htm. As provided for under MBC rules, however, nominations from interested firms will continue to be accepted by the Host Nation after the IFIB is issued and until the bid closing date. Personnel working on this project, or visiting installations and/or working at NATO sites, are required to have a NATO SECRET security clearance. 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. IMPORTANT DEADLINES 1. Deadline to be placed on the electronic bidder distribution list: 6 October 2006 2. Planned Release Date of the Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB): 9 October 2006 3. Planned Bid Closing Date: 20 November 2006