NATO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: VENDOR-AUGMENTED NEXT-GEN GUIDANCE AND RESPONSIVE DEVELOPMENT (VANGARD)

Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) intends to issue an Invitation for International Bidding (IFIB) for establishment of a Framework Contract for specialized support and deliverables.

Potential prime contractors must 1) hold a DOD Facility Security Clearance at the level of SECRET or higher, 2) be pre-approved for participation in NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB), 3) be issued a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) by the U.S. Government, and 3) have performed similar contracts within the last three 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. Any contractor personnel who need access to HQ SACT must possess a clearance at the level of SECRET or higher. All contractor personnel must have appropriate professional training and experience in related fields. 

The reference for this contract is IFIB-ACT-SACT-26-01 and all correspondence concerning the contract should include this reference. 

Type of Contract: Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Framework Contract

The contract award will be determined based on Best Value criteria. 

Partial Bidding is authorized.

REQUIREMENT

HQ SACT is seeking contract support to enable HQ SACT timely access to leading-edge capabilities necessary to tackle challenges and problems whose size and complexity defy solutions by solely using existing staff or tools with NATO’s established organization.

BIDDING PROCEDURE

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 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:

https://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

Firms should request a DOE (and, for firms new to NATO ICB, submit a completed one-time NATO ICB application): 27 August 2025

HQ SACT issues IFIB (estimated): 04 September 2025

HQ SACT will post the IFIB on its website: https://www.act.nato.int/contracting 

Bid closing (estimated): 20 October 2025

Period of Performance: 01 January 2026 – 31 December 2026 with the possibility of two 12- month option periods; 01 January – 31 December 2027 and 01 January – 31 December 2028