NATO is set to put 40 contracts out to tender in the next 18 to 24 months, as part of a 3 billion EUR tech refresh.
The Alliance's tech and cyber arm, the NATO Communications and information Agency, will be previewing details of these business opportunities at
its annual industry conference #NITEC17 (www.nitec.nato.int) next month.
Service Line Chiefs and Programme Managers will discuss tangible opportunities coming to market during the event including international competitive bids in the following areas:
- The expansion of satellite communication bandwidth which is vital for deployed forces (1.7 billion EUR),
- A refresh of NATO's cyber shield as part of investments in Cyber Security Services (71 million EUR),
- Command and Control software (800 million EUR),
- A
continuing upgrade of NATO's networks (220 million EUR),
- Advanced software improving NATO's situational awareness and command and control in operations (180 million EUR).
A key aim of the Ottawa conference will be to further expand NATO's Industry partnerships to engage small and medium enterprises, innovative, cutting-edge businesses, particularly in the light of cyber threats (a process that began at the 2014 Wales Summit, and was strengthened at 2016 Warsaw Summit).
The three-day event will offer participants a unique opportunity for one-on-one meetings with our NCI Agency acquisition experts.
Workshops on common mistakes in bid proposals, and the fundamentals of doing business with the NCI Agency will be run throughout the conference to encourage greater industry participation and competition.
The 3 billion EUR opportunities are part of NATO's common funding, which is financed by all 28 Nations. The current business opportunities represent an increase over what was announced in 2015 (at that time some 800 million EUR), and are similar to those announced in 2016 (also about 3 billion EUR). They represent a steady, continuing and significant investment in maintaining NATO's technological edge, the ability to rapidly deploy and sustain forces and to address new threats and challenges (such as cyber threats).
This flagship conference is held in cooperation with AFCEA Europe and the Department of Defence, Canada.