According to a press release, the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) plans to release a formal Invitation for Bids (IFB) to procure commercially available education and training services for NATO. The NCI Agency may award multiple contracts, based on nine training lots specifically set up in the IFB, which will be released in the coming weeks. The awards could be worth up to an estimated €10M in total depending on the services offered. The agreements will include a base period of three years, followed by two optional years.
These services will be managed by the Agency’s NCI Academy, which delivers C4ISR and cyber training for NATO systems and services. Operators trained in the Academy will go on to operate and maintain NATO’s information technology and communications systems, as well as its ballistic missile and cyber defence.
The NCI Academy is particularly interested in acquiring commercial-off-the-shelf training and consultancy services to meet growing requirements for skills and knowledge. The commercial training services covered under this IFB include:
- Instructor-led training complemented by virtual training delivery capabilities
- Official examination and certification
- Online training subscriptions
- And training consultancy services
This contract is supposed to help the NCI Agency ensure NATO remains up-to-date with the latest commercial education and training solutions. Working with industry, the NCI Academy will support NATO in attracting and maintaining a tech-savvy professional workforce that is prepared for the future. The Agency plans to award a contract by the end of 2021.
JH