Bids for International Competitive Bidding

NATO Notification of Intent to Invite Bids for International Competitive Bidding for Provision of Deployable Ground-Air-Ground (G/A/G) Communications & Deployable Ground-Maritime (G/M) Communications

The NATO Air Command & Control System Management Agency (NACMA) intends to advertise for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) on works and services within the framework of the NATO Security Investment Program. Eligible firms will be invited to bid for the Provision of Deployable Ground-Air-Ground (G/A/G) Communications and Deployable Ground-Maritime (G/M)Communications.
The procurement will include Technical and Logistics Services, i.e., engineering, implementation, equipment testing in the factory and on-site, DARS integration testing, Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), spares, training, documentation, and warranty.
NACMA is serving as the Host Nation for this project, which was authorized by the NATO Infrastructure Committee. The envisaged method of bidding will be in accordance with the one envelope procedure. Contractor selection will normally results in contract award to the lowest compliant bidder.
NACMA has requested that the estimated value of this project not be disclosed at this time. The Invitation for Bids (IFB) to be issued for this acquisition is identified as IFB-CO-12108-ACCS and all correspondence concerning this solicitation should reference this number. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be using the same reference.
The IFB package, including technical specifications applicable to the bidding and the contractual documents is NATO UNCLASSIFIED. Please note, however, that the successful contractor will be required to handle and store classified information up to the level of NATO SECRET and only companies maintaining such a facility clearance will be eligible to bid on this project. In addition, contractor personnel working on NATO sites will be required to hold individual security clearances of NATO SECRET.
The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) forwards to the Host Nation the NATO clearance certifications for all personnel assigned to the contract.
BACKGROUND
The NATO Air Command and Control System (ACCS) aims to provide NATO with a fully integrated Air Operations and Airspace Management System to replace the existing range of outdated and inflexible systems currently being employed throughout the NATO region. The development program is extremely challenging, both in terms of technical complexity and time scale of implementation. It requires the development of a significant amount of software and, due to the distributed nature of the system, has many interoperability and system integrity challenges. ACCS is too large and embracing to be developed through a single implementation project and hence is being procured as a series of projects, each building on the previous to develop the overall planned capability.
The NATO ACCS Management Agency (NACMA) exists to ensure system integrity, provide central planning, system engineering, implementation and configuration for ACCS, without prejudice to the existing configuration control responsibilities of the operational commanders for in-service systems. Such activities may include improvements to existing systems, design studies on future systems, and the development of new systems through projects assigned to it. The role of NACMA can thus be summarized as threefold: global ACCS planning, ensuring interoperability and integrity, and the implementation of ACCS projects.
Deployable ARS (DARS) is an element of the Deployable ACCS Component (DAC) and is designed to augment or reinforce parts of the static ACCS structure or to be deployed as a stand-alone unit. A DARS will be fielded with the complete functionality of an ACCS ARS with its own organic ground/air, data link and deployable bearer communications. In addition, DARS Quick Reaction Package (QRP) is being implemented to support smaller scale NRF deployments.
G/A/G & G/M Communications Project:
The project comprises five systems: three (3) Deployable G/A/G and two (2) G/M systems. Each system will include a vehicle, Power Generation System (PGS) and a cabin installed with all communications equipment, spares and antennas. The systems shall be dismountable from the host vehicle to permit operation without the vehicle or transportation via other flatbed trucks.
The G/A/G system will be organic to the DAC elements in order to provide a communications capability to provide the DARS with Ground to Air, ECM resistant, secure V/UHF communication (voice & data) with friendly aircraft within the coverage of associated conventional active sensors.
The G/M system will be organic to the DAC elements in order to provide a communications capability to provide the DARS with resistant, secure U/HF communication (voice & data) with maritime forces operating within the DARS Area of Operation.
SCOPE OF PROJECT
In order to achieve commonality with the Deployable Air Control Center, the Recognized Air Picture (RAP) Production Center, and the Sensors Fusion Post (DARS), the procurement of the following items will be directed by the purchaser. The bid prices for the directed purchases will be part of the bid evaluation to establish the lowest compliant bid:
V/UHF Saturn/Havequick II: The contractor will be directed to procure radios from the supplier delivering Saturn/Havequick II radio to the DARS QRP to ensure interoperability and compatibility.
HF Radios: The contractor will be directed to procure HF radios from the supplier delivering HF radios to the DARS/DARS QRP to ensure interoperability and compatibility.
L16 MIDS LVTs: The contractor will be directed to procure the MIDS LVTs 4 to ensure commonality of logistics support with the one implemented for DARS. The associated crypto chip will be procured by the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) and integrated into the terminal.
L11A Equipment Suites (ES): The contractor will be directed to procure these suites to ensure compatibility and to enable interoperability with the L11A ES implemented for DARS.
The procurement will include an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) integrated into the IETM provided for the ACCS LOC1 and present within the DARS-Entity content.
The bidders will also be required to quote for additional quantities of the G/A/G system only. This option will not be evaluated in the determination of the lowest apparently compliant bidder.
In order to retain flexibility with other NATO programs, achieve standardization, commonality in deployment and reduce procurement and O&M cost, the following items, will be provided to the contractor as Purchaser Furnished Equipment (PFE):
Link 16 Equipment Suites (L16 ES): NACMA will procure these from the ACCS LOC1 prime contractor, Air Command Systems International (ACSI), under the existing LOC1 contract. This approach will ensure schedule compatibility, cost-efficient O&M and reduced technical risk for interfacing with the DARs, especially for complex configuration, i.e. remote configuration over SATCOM.
BME: NACMA will request NC3A to procure this equipment.
Crypto Devices: NATO standard crypto equipment that will be procured by NC3A.
The IFB will include a requirement for prospective bidders to demonstrate their ability to undertake this project and a requirement to demonstrate experience of recent provision of similar types of systems.
PROCUREMENT TABLE:
Equipment / Total Quantity:
Cabin Assembly (incl. Utilities: UPS, cooling system, Air Filtering System) / 5
Special cabin integration support / 5
Vehicle / 5
Power Generating Set (PGS) / 5
NDN/PTT Connectivity Kit / 5
PABX/telephone sets / 3
Local sensor connectivity (Data Communication System) / 3
Cryptographic Equipment / 37
BME / 5
Radio Communication / Total Quantity:
VHF/UHF Saturn/HQII transceiver / 12
200W UHF/AM Saturn/HQII transceiver / 6
V/UHF ancillaries (filtermastantenna) / 5
Link 16 Equipment Suite / 3
Link 16 MIDS LVT / 6
Link 16 MIDS LVT crypto chip / 6
Link 11 Equipment Suite (DTS, Control Unit) / 2
1kW HF transceiver / 4
HF ancillaries (filtermast-antenna) / 2
Services:
Implementation, Test, Evaluation and Acceptance on site
Technical Support
System Engineering
Program Management
Integrated Logistic Support (ILS)
Supply Support (including support equipment)
Training
Technical Data and Documentation
Warranty
BIDDING PROCEDURE
Before a firm can be nominated to the bidders list for this procurement, it must be approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB). The U.S. Department of Commerce is authorized to approve for participation in NATO ICB those firms with a facility located within the United States. Once approved, the firm will be nominated to the bidders list. Please visit the following website for instructions on applying for approval to participate in NATO ICB:
http://www.bis.doc.gov/defenseindustrialbaseprograms/OSIES/NATOprograms/index.htm
A firm that has been approved for participation in NATO ICB 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 U.S. Embassy, which uses the DOE to nominate the firm to the bidders list. The Host Nation will not accept requests for nomination received directly from firms.
Firms that the U.S. Embassy nominates to the Bidders List will be contacted directly by the Host Nation when the IFB has been issued.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
1. Final date to request a Declaration of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Commerce: 15 November 2007
2. Anticipated date that the Host Nation will forward the Invitation for International Bidding (IFB) to those on the Bidders List: November 2007
3. Anticipated closing date for receipt of bids: February 2008
4. Anticipated contract award date: September 2008
5. Estimated completion of project: 3rd quarter 2012

Place of performance:
 unspecified
 LAND ISLANDS
Contact: Lee Ann Carpenter, Trade and Industry Analyst, Phone 202-482-2583, Fax 202-482-5650, Email Lcarpent@bis.doc.gov - John Isbell, Program Manager-NATO, Phone 202-482-8229, Fax 202-482-5650, Email jisbell@bis.doc.gov

Link to FedBizOpps document.


Updated on 2007/10/23