The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) hosted a signing ceremony in The Hague, Netherlands, to kick off the two multiple award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with King ICT Croatia and IBM Belgium signed in December 2022.
The signing ceremony was supported by NCI Agency Chief of Acquisition Jennifer Upton, Chief Information Officer Carol Macha, Head of the Cyber Security Programme Delivery Branch at the NATO Cyber Security Center Frederic Jordan and Principal Contracting Officer Rebecca Benson. The occasion also counted with the representation of executives from King ICT Croatia and IBM Belgium.
The Cyber Security Services Framework (CSSF) contracts are part of the smart sourcing spirit and intent that drives the Agency's endeavour to provide CIS services to NATO missions in the most efficient ways.
"This framework vehicle allows us to collaboratively and efficiently partner with industry for those skills which they can readily provide to us, while differentiating the skills that make the Agency the primary service provider to the Alliance", said Carol Macha, NCI Agency Chief Information Officer.
As part of NATO's focus to increase crisis preparedness and response, the CSSF leads the way in that culture change that re-imagines how the Agency writes requirements and ensures quality assurance.
NCI Agency Chief of Acquisition Jennifer Upton highlighted: "With the CSSF we are looking into the future, estimating enterprise level requirements, and establishing a procurement tool with the right level of flexibility and agility, offering the necessary manoeuvrability to the Alliance in meeting its dynamic mission."
For more information about the agreements, read here.