Deadline Date:
Friday 28 February 2025
Requirement:
Delivery of COMSEC training at multiple locations, training material update and development, and provide COMSEC Subject Matter Expert (SME) support.
Location:
Oeiras, Portugal with the possibility of travel to NATO countries within Europe
Not to Exceed:
NTE 24,390 EUR
Required Start Date:
1 May 2025
Required Security Clearance:
NATO SECRET
Introduction:
The NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy) located in Oeiras, Portugal currently delivers NATO technical and operational training on a variety of hardware and software systems. In the light of these activities, the NCI Academy is looking to outsource the delivery of Communication Security (COMSEC) training, as well as the development and updates of the training materials, the management of course iterations and to provide SME support to NATO and National Headquarters (HQ) as required. The contractor shall make available personnel capable of providing the services specified in this Statement of Work (SoW). The intent is to obtain the services of COMSEC SMEs who can deliver training, and update training materials.
The work shall involve COMSEC training delivery, iterations management, course material development, including e-learning content, and other general course updates.
Course iterations delivery shall be conducted at the NCI Academy in Oeiras, and at any of the NATO or National locations.
Objective:
The main objectives of this statement of work are to:
- Successfully deliver and manage COMSEC related training iterations at the NCI Academy in Oeiras, PT (on-site), and as Mobile Training Team (MTT) events (off-site).
- Develop, adapt, and update COMSEC training material in line with the latest NATO’s COMSEC related policies, changes in cryptographic hardware and supporting software, and any relevant developments in the COMSEC area of expertise.
The following sections describe the scope of the work to be performed by the contractor. All deliverables that are a result of that work as enunciated in these sections, shall be delivered/developed in accordance with NCI Academy Quality Assurance (QA) standards.
Training Courses
The training delivery shall be carried out at the NCI Academy in Oeiras or at NATO and National HQs with the host authority providing the training environment and access to the COMSEC hardware and software.
The portfolio of COMSEC courses (which includes the supporting Course Control Document, course schedules, training materials, and assessments) and that are covered under this agreement are as follows:
Each course delivery iteration shall include preparation and coordination, course delivery, end of training report on the course conduct, results, and recommendations for continuous improvement of the course. These activities shall be performed in accordance with NCI Academy Standard Operating Procedure (ASOP) 07.01.10 and Cyber Defence and Emerging Technologies (CDET) COMSEC section head direction and guidance
Iterations Management
Liaise with COMSEC section head, instructors, Training Event Coordination (TEC) elements, and students to ensure smooth course execution. Prepare iteration related documentations (Admin Instructor) and act as first point-of-contact for any issue related to COMSEC iterations.
Training Material Update
COMSEC training materials (including but not limited to course handbook, worksheets, lesson plans, and presentations) shall be updated and/or developed by the contractor to reflect changes in NATO’s COMSEC related policies, in the hardware and supporting software, and other relevant developments in the COMSEC area of expertise.
Course Adaptation
Review the courses’ training materials to ensure it aligns with significant changes in the courses’ Performance Objectives (POs), as well as the Enabling and Learning Objectives (ELOs). This may necessitate a major reorganization of course modules and the associated lesson schedule including a review of the Course Control Documents (CCDs).
Course Development
Develop presentations (leveraging NCI Academy templates), lesson plans, and other supporting training materials, to enable (COMSEC) instructors in delivering COMSEC courses, under the guidance of the COMSEC section head.
Coordination and Reporting:
The contractor shall coordinate the scheduling of each training delivered with the COMSEC section head or their designated representative and the LCSB point of contact. Travel arrangements should not be booked until after a course is “Confirmed” in the TMS. The contractor shall complete, and review with the CDET COMSEC section head, the Quality Assurance “Quad” report within a week after the training event.
Work on updating the training material should only commence after the COMSEC section head has authorised it. The training section head shall have at least two weeks to review and accept the updated training material prior to it being used for a course iteration.
Constraints:
All the documentation delivered under this statement of work shall be based on NCI
Agency templates or templates agreed with COMSEC section head.
All training material shall be stored in the provided NCI Academy tools.
Security:
The security classification of the service will be up to NATO SECRET.
The contractor providing the services under this SOW is required to hold a valid NATO SECRET security clearance as from the start date of the contract.
Practical Arrangements:
Any travel under this Contract requires the prior coordination with and approval of the NCIA Project Manager. Moreover, the COMSEC section head may authorise for a limited time the Contractors to work from their home location. In any case, travel arrangements shall be the responsibility of the contractor and all travel costs are included in the deliverable price.
The contractor shall provide services under the direction and guidance of the COMSEC section head or their designated representative.
The NCI Academy will provide the service contractor with access to the Academy facilities, learning environment and business tools as required.
Requirements:
Qualification:
Qualifications and Experience:
This work requires a COMSEC instructor with the following qualifications and experience:
- The candidate has a NATO SECRET security clearance, provided by the national security organization valid at the time of submission of the bid and covering the period of the contract.
- Fluent in English and must be able to read and write technical and user documentation.
- In-depth experience of COMSEC course delivery.
- Experience in update and creating training content.
- Advanced knowledge of word processing and graphics presentation tools.
- Working knowledge of spreadsheets, e-mail Clients and Web Browsers.
- Working knowledge of videoconference tool and Learning Management System.
- Deep knowledge and experience of NATO's doctrine and standards relevant to Operations Planning.
- Knowledge and experience with NATO Command Structure and NATO Force Structure.
- Experience with development of technical documentation, training materials and instructional aids.
- Experience working in an International environment with Military and Civilian elements.
- Knowledge and experience of working with NCIA.
- Knowledge and experience of working with the NCI Academy.
- NATO CIS Technical Instructor or equivalent qualification.
- Experience in delivery of live online courses.
- Knowledge of modern education technologies (e.g. electronic whiteboards, training videos) and authoring tools.
- Level 3 English language skills according to NATO STANAG 6001: Listening (3); Speaking (3); Reading (3); and Writing (3) or according to Common European Framework of Reference for Language level B2-C1/Upper Intermediate-Advanced level)