NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB): Tactical Deployable Communications and Information System (TDCIS) for the Portuguese Army

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) intends to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) for the procurement of a Tactical Deployable Communications and Information System (TDCIS) for the Portuguese Army.  The TDCIS shall provide the Portuguese Army with a secure, modular, sustainable, and interoperable means of communications and information exchange with deployed Portuguese Army units connected to the Portuguese National Defense Network, or with deployed elements of mission partners connected to the NATO Federated Mission Network.

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), and 3) be issued a Declaration of Eligibilty (DOE) by the U.S. Government.  

Please note that the execution of the proposed contract may require unescorted access and work of contractor personnel at NATO Class I and II security areas.  Personnel of the successful bidder will be requiredto hold individual security clearances at the level of SECRET. Only companies maintainingsuch appropriate personnel clearances will be able to perform the resulting contract.

The reference for the RFQ is RFQ-CO-115363-PRT-TDCIS and all correspondence concerning the IFB should reference this number.

The successful bid pursuant to the RFQ will be the bid that is the lowest price and technically compliant in accordance with the evaluation criteria prescribed in the RFQ. It is planned to award a single firm-fixed price contract for the entire scope of work. No partial bidding will be accepted 

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:

http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities   

The Department of Commerce (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 from DOC that a DOE be issued (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit the completed one-time NATO ICB application): 26 April 2021

NCI Agency distributes RFQ (planned): Q2 2021                                 

Bid Closing Date (anticipated): Q3 2021

Contract Award (anticipated): Q4 2021