NATO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: SHAPE RADIO OVERHAUL

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) intends to issue a solicitation for the provision of a modern, secure, interoperable, and future-proof mission-critical voice communication System based on the Astrid TETRA network.

To bid on this contract, potential U.S. prime contractors must 1) maintain a professionally active facility (office, factory, laboratory, etc.) within the United States, 2) hold a Facility Security Clearance at the level of SECRET or higher, 3) be pre-approved for participation in NATO Competitive Procurement (NCP), 4) be issued a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) by the Department of Commerce (DOC), and 5) register with NCIA’s eProcurement tool, Neo: https://www.ncia.nato.int/business/procurement/neo-eprocurement 

The reference for the solicitation is CO-424388-SHAPE and all correspondence concerning the solicitation should include this reference.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) currently operates an aging Very High Frequency (VHF) radio system that no longer meets operational, security, interoperability, and lifecycle requirements. The system forms a key element of the command, control, and security communication environment for SHAPE personnel operating across the SHAPE compound, the SACEUR Residence, and associated buildings.

Moreover, SHAPE operations require seamless communication with the Belgian national emergency services network (Astrid TETRA) and the U.S. P25 system used at Chievres Airbase. The existing infrastructure cannot support the reliability, cryptographic management, indoor coverage, and capacity needs expected for modern mission-critical communications.
The communication System delivered under this contract will constitute the initial phase of a broader strategic roadmap foreseeing a progressive migration toward Mission Critical Services (MCX) over a private 4G/5G network to be procured under a separate procurement process once the related technology more mature.

The system delivered under this contract shall therefore be designed to support this future evolution and shall not introduce technical, architectural, or contractual constraints that would prevent or hinder such migration.

The objectives of the Radio Overhaul Project are:

1.    Replace the existing VHF radio system with a new mission-critical communication system ensuring secure and reliable voice services.

2.   Phase out and decommission the existing VHF radio system in a controlled and validated manner.

3.     Provide full outdoor coverage across the SHAPE compound and SACEUR Residence and indoor coverage in selected operationally critical buildings.

4.     Ensure seamless interoperability with the Belgian Astrid TETRA network, including secure communications with Belgian public safety and governmental users through authorized Astrid operational arrangements.

5.     Ensure long-term system operability over a 5-year period through the provision of lifecycle upgrades, maintenance, and support for a controlled future migration toward MCX over a private 4G/5G system procured separately.

6.     Enable centralized crypto management, including secure remote programming and rekeying.

7.     Facilitate operational continuity during the construction and later commissioning of the new SHAPE headquarters buildings (2029–2030), through indoor coverage extensions.

8.     Enable interoperability with the U.S. P25 system at Chievres Airbase, including basic voice interoperability as a minimum requirement and optional secure interoperability as Contractor-Proposed Optional Enhancements where supported by the proposed System.

BECOMING ELIGIBLE TO BID

NCP 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 NCP.  U.S. firms are approved for NCP on a facility-by-facility basis. 

The U.S. NCP 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.

The U.S. Government continues to accept the legacy NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB) application for participation in NCP. U.S. firms can download a copy of the legacy ICB application from the following website:

https://www.bis.gov/about-bis/bis-leadership-and-offices/SIES/business-opportunities-nato 

DOC is the U.S. Government agency that approves NCP applications. Please submit to the email address provided your application and supporting documentation (as attachments). If your firm is interested in a specific NCP 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 NCP 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 NCP, submit the one-time NCP application): 18 August 2026

NCIA distributes the solicitation (planned): 21 August 2026

Bid closing (anticipated): 15 October 2026

Contract Award (estimated): 20 November 2026