NATO - RFI - deployable communication and information systems agile multi domain

Description

The goal of the Deployable Communication and Information Systems Agile Multi Domain (DCIS AMD) capability development programme is to get an agile, scalable, modular and resilient DCIS capability to support NATO Command Structure (NCS) and NATO Force Structure (NFS) in alignment with the current NATO Levels of Ambition (LoA).

The vision's 4 pillars are:

Agility:

DCIS AMD will efficiently support rapid changes in scales of effort, operational tempo, posture, relocation and outages.

Scalability:

DCIS AMD will be able to accommodate changes in required capacity and quality. DCIS AMD’s scalability allows adopting to a continuum in the size of operations that can be supported by a number of core and augmentation DCIS AMDs.

Modularity:

DCIS AMD will provide the maximum flexibility in support of Alliance Operations and Missions (AOM). For each C2 mission template and C2 entity function, a tailored DCIS AMD will be set up on a common standardised platform.

Resilience:

DCIS AMD will withstand major disruptions in an austere and/or contested, congested, degraded and disconnected (C2D2) environment and to recover within acceptable timelines and minimum operational impact.

Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to engage with nations, industry and academia.

The intention is to establish the art-of-the-possible and state-of-the-art technologies and products in the area of NATO Deployable Communication and Information Systems Agile Multi Domain (DCIS AMD) capabilities. This is to support NATO Governance decision-making on Common-Funded Capability Development (CFCD).

This request for information does not constitute a commitment to issue a future request for proposal (RFP).

The purpose of this request is to involve nations, industry and academia through collaboration, in an examination of future capabilities related to the DCIS AMD with a focus on the technologies and products.

HQ SACT has not made a commitment to procure any of the items described herein, and release of this RFI shall not be construed as such a commitment, nor as authorisation to incur cost for which reimbursement will be required or sought.

Further, respondents are advised that HQ SACT will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this RFI.

The costs for responding to this RFI shall be borne solely by the responding party.

Not responding to this RFI does not restrict participation in any subsequent RFP is issued in the future.

DCIS AMD is envisaged to be flexible enough to adapt to operational missions in terms of size and configuration.

To meet those requirements, DCIS AMD shall be built on a core standardised architecture that, through its modularity, may be scaled and configured to efficiently support different number of users in accordance with the operational requirements. Additionally, the DCIS AMD capability shall include a user-portable light platform to support a small team deployment.

The DCIS AMD programme is currently at the stage to develop a consolidated, comprehensive programme plan that will deliver a required capability. This plan will direct the necessary actions across the NATO-recognised lines of development including doctrine, organisation, training, materiel (including software), leadership, personnel, facilities and interoperability. This is NATO’s capability programme planning stage within the NATO Common-Funded Capability Delivery Governance Model (CFCDGM).

The capability programme plan (CPP) will determine alternatives through an analytical comparison of the operational effectiveness and life cycle costs of different alternatives under consideration to satisfy the requirements.

The Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) also includes consideration of the possibility of “Adopting” a solution (from Nations), “Buying” (acquiring a solution from Industry), or “Creating” (developing a solution bespoke to NATO). The AoA assists decision makers by identifying alternatives that offer the Alliance value for money.

To achieve the aims of the CPP, a RFI is necessary to determine relevant technologies and products existing within Commercial market (as part of the consideration of “Buy”). This request intends to identify prospective (sub-) systems or products, for which the team may need to conduct additional in-depth discussions. This is not a formal request for submissions as part of a procurement; it is intended to conduct an additional in-depth survey to determine possible systems or products, which should be identified in the development of the CPP.

Intent:

The information collected with the survey (in the Excel spreadsheet which is provided to enquirers) will be used in support of the AoA for DCIS AMD capability programme that will be conducted by HQ SACT's Analysis of Alternatives Branch.

Responses to this RFI should be in the survey format as provided with the Excel spreadsheet. Your solution may not cover all of the requirements, please answer the questions that are applicable to your solution/organisation.

To enhance understanding of NATO needs, HQ SACT will conduct 2 GoToWebinar collaborative question and answer (Q&A) sessions. This Q&A sessions will enable participants to interact with the contributing NATO subject matter representatives through webinar application to better understand the requirements.

Opportunity closing date

13 May 2022

Value of contract

to be confirmed

The buyer is happy to talk to

manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, agents, consultants