NATO Request for Information: Provision of Commercial IP Transport
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI), RFI-42603961, to conduct market research for the provision of a commercial IP Transport Service between NATO and Partner Nations. This RFI is for planning purposes only and is not a request for bids. The NCIA seeks to understand the marketplace, available capabilities, and potential acquisition strategies. Responses are due by 12:00 Central European Time (CET) on May 16, 2026.
Scope of Work
The objective is to gather industry input on draft requirements (Annexes A and B) for a commercial IP transport service. This service will facilitate the exchange of NATO Unclassified (NU) data, including Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE), aiming to improve interoperability, resilience, and cost efficiency while adhering to NATO security standards. Key requirements include site-to-site VPN connectivity, VoIP services, a minimum of 10 Mbps symmetric bandwidth with scalability, defined pricing models (setup and recurring), and transition assistance. Performance expectations include 99.9% availability, end-to-end latency not exceeding 150 ms, jitter below 30 ms, prioritized traffic (QoS), end-to-end encryption (IPsec or equivalent), and 24/7 monitoring with a recovery time objective of less than 4 hours for major outages. Deliverables encompass technical documentation, service implementation and performance reports, monitoring logs, training materials, and transition assistance plans.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice / Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None specified (market research)
- Response Due: May 16, 2026, 12:00 CET
- Published: March 19, 2026
Submission & Eligibility
Responses to Annex A and comments on Annex B should be submitted in PDF or Word format (excluding cover page, brochures, or product literature) via email to the address specified in Section D of the RFI Instructions. The subject line must be "Response to RFI [RFI Number] - [Company Name]". The NCIA will analyze responses to inform future solicitations, treating them as confidential commercial information. Only companies from NATO member countries are eligible to participate. Vendors may need to handle NATO Restricted (NR) information, requiring appropriate security clearances and adherence to strict safeguarding procedures.
Additional Notes
This RFI is solely for planning and market research purposes and does not constitute a commitment to issue a future solicitation or award a contract.