2024-0244 GIS/IMINT- Data Systems Specialist (NS) - MON 11 Nov

Time On-Site: 100%

Period of Performance: 2025 BASE: As soon as possible but not later than 01 January 2025 – 31 December 2025 with the possibility to exercise the following options:

• 2026 Options: 01 January 2026 until 31 December 2026
• 2027 Options: 01 January 2027 until 31 December 2027
• 2028 Options: 01 January 2028 until 31 December 2028

Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET

Bidding Instructions:

1. 1. Technical Proposal

Bidders shall include in the Technical Proposal:

1. CVs and Attestations of candidates of the proposed team, clearly indicating relevant experience for the requirements, section 11 and qualifications, section 12 in the Statement of work (SoW).
2. Compliance matrix referring how each candidate meets each of the stated requirements, section 11 and qualifications, section 12 of the SoW, justified by relevant (project) experience.

1 Introduction

The JISR Centre’s Vision is to assure information superiority for NATO. Our Mission is to deliver, support and protect valued Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, expertise and services, to maximise operational effectiveness for NATO.

This role requires in-depth knowledge of ESRI software suite and the skills needed to effectively share Space-based ISR data with NATO systems.

2 Scope of Work

Scope of this project is to deliver relevant GIS/IMINT services that facilitate the integration and dissemination of Space-based ISR data across the NATO systems. Within this context, the applicant will be assigned to the GeoMetOc Image Provisioning Team and will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Operate established multi-source imagery provisioning service including trouble shooting;
• Integration geospatial data (e.g. imagery) into NATO systems.
• Manage all relevant imagery and other data;
• Suggest improvements, discuss with supervisor and implement as agreed;
• Maintain provisioning environment;
• Exploitation of current Core GIS Software baseline components, including Arc GIS Portal and operational dashboards in support of ACO’s Community Of Interest (COI)/ Functional Area Services (FAS) geospatial requirements;
• Development and implementation, configuration and management of tailored GIS web services and (semi-) automation of GIS production workflows in support of ACO’s COI/FAS requirements;
• Development and implementation of Core GIS image services and its integration with other users in NATO’s IMINT community;
• Generation of 3D services for regional/continental areas;
• Support multidisciplinary teams of users and technical and operational stakeholders;
• Participate in technical and operational meetings, offering advice and seeking solutions;
• Support NATO in the development of recommendations for updates to current services;
• Provide meaningful input to envisioning IT solutions that fit best NATO requirements.
• The list of activities may expand as urgent operational requests emerge and qualification of the candidate allows.

3 Roles and Responsibilities

This work will be carried out at the NATO premises in The Hague. The work will be conducted during normal office hours following the NCIA The Hague calendar, as well as outside office hours and on weekends, if necessary.

The Contractors will be part of a team under the supervision of the GeoMetOc Image Provisioning Team Chief and will provide services using an agile and iterative approach using multiple sprints.

Each sprint is planned for a duration of 1 week. The content and scope of each sprint will be agreed with the GeoMetOc Image Provisioning Team Chief and technical staff during the sprint-planning meeting.

The work shall be conducted in close collaboration between the Contractors and NCI Agency project manager as described below:

Contractor: To provide services and deliverables as identified above

4 Deliverables and Payment Schedule

Detailed resource assessments will be agreed during each sprint meeting as set out in Section 5. Payments shall be dependent upon the successful acceptance of each sprint and the validation as set out under Section 5. All Invoices shall be accompanied with a Delivery Acceptance Sheet (DAS, Annex A) signed by the Contractor and project authority.

Each sprint has a duration of one week. The content and scope of each sprint will be agreed during the sprint‐planning meetings as covered in Section 5. Each payment milestone cycle is planned for a duration of one calendar month. Upon completion and validation of each sprint and at the end of the monthly milestone, all completed sprints can be submitted for payment.

The NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of sprints at a later time in the year 2025, based on the same sprint deliverable timeframe and cost, depending on project priorities and requirements.

In 2025, the following deliverables are expected from the service as set in this statement of work:

Payment Milestones: Payment Milestones will be end of the month for all the Sprints completed and accepted within the respective month.

For the options 2026, 2027 and 2028, the NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of sprints

at a later time during those years, based on the same sprint deliverable timeframe and cost, depending on

project priorities and requirements.

5 Coordination and Reporting

Due to the AGILE approach of this project, there is a need to define a set of specific arrangements between the NCI Agency and the contractor that specifically defines the deliverables to be provided for each sprint as well as their associated acceptance criteria. This includes sprint planning, execution and review processes, which are detailed below:

1. Sprint Planning:

Objective: Plan the objectives for the upcoming sprint

Kick-off meeting: Conduct a monthly meeting with the contractor to plan the objectives of upcoming sprints and review contractor`s manpower to meet the agreed deliverables.

Set sprint goals: Define clear, achievable goals for the sprint and associated acceptance criteria, including specific delivery targets, Quality standards as well as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each task to be recorded in the sprint meeting minutes.

Agree on the required level of effort for the various sprint tasks.

Backlog Review: Review and prioritise the backlog of tasks, issues, and improvements from previous sprints

1. Sprint Execution

Objective: Contractor to execute the agreed “sprint plans” with continuous monitoring and adjustments.

Regular meetings between NCI Agency and the contractor to review sprint progress, address issues, and make necessary adjustments to the processes or production methodology. The Meetings will be physically in the office, or in person via electronic means using Conference Call capabilities, according to the NCI Agency project manager’s instructions.

Continuous improvement: Contractor to establish a continuous feedback loop to gather input from all stakeholders for ongoing improvements and their subsequent implementation depending on NCIA approval.

Progress Tracking: Contractor to use a shared dashboard or tool to track the status of the sprint deliveries and any issues.

Quality Assurance/Quality Check: Contractor shall ensure that the quality standards agreed for the sprint deliverables are maintained throughout the sprint.

1. Sprint Review

Objective: Review the sprint performance and identify areas for improvement.

At the end of each sprint, there will be a meeting between the NCI Agency and the Contractor to review the outcomes against the acceptance criteria comprising sprint goals, agreed quality criteria and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

1. Sprint Payment

A report must be sent by email to the NCI Agency project manager, listing all the work achieved against the agreed tasking list set for the sprint.

The contractor's payment for each sprint will be depending upon the achievement of agreed Acceptance Criteria for each task, defined at the sprint planning stage. This will include specific delivery targets, quality standards as well as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each task.

The payment shall be dependent upon successful acceptance as set in the above planning/review meetings. This will follow the payment milestones that shall include a completed Delivery Acceptance Sheet (DAS) – (Annex A) including the EBA Receipt number

Invoices shall be accompanied with a Delivery Acceptance Sheet (DAS) – (Annex A) signed by the Contractor and project authority.

If the contractor fails to meet the agreed Acceptance criteria for any task, the NCI Agency reserves the right to withhold payment for that task/sprint.

6 Schedule

This task order will be active immediately after signing of the contract by both parties.

The BASE period of performance is as soon as possible but not later 01 January 2025 and will end no later than 31 December 2025.

If the sprints of the annual options are exercised, the period of performance is within 01 January to 31 December of the relevant year.

1. All Contractors/Sub-contractors shall be aware of all security rules pertaining to the handling of NATO classified information.

For this particular SOW the contractor will be required to access to NS level information.

1. The work will be carried out at NCI Agency`s facilities in The Hague, but with potential meetings at NATO Command Structure Sites.
2. NCIA will provide access to relevant networks and resources as required by the project

8 Constraints

All the documentation provided under this statement of work will be based on NCI Agency templates and/or agreed with the GeoMetOc Image Provisioning Team Chief (NCIA project manager).

All support, maintenance, documentation and required code will be stored under configuration management and/or in the provided NCI Agency tools.

All developed solutions, tools and code under this project will be property of the NCI Agency.

9 Travel

The contractor will provide the services under this SOW at their own premises but may need to travel to NATO sites in support of the project including the NCI Agency in The Hague, NL as needed. The vendor may also host coordination meetings as required at its facility.

Once defined, travel costs will be set as a separate PO line with a not to exceed value to cover and reimburse of actual expenses upon submissions of all receipts and invoices in line with NCIA processes.

10 General requirements

Working environment is at NCI Agency’s office environment. Working environment is normal office environment. Technical configurations should be performed at NCI Agency’s premises.

All normal NCI Agency Terms and Conditions apply.

The contractor will work on-site at the NCI Agency premises and will access the networks of the NCI Agency as a member of the JISR Centre under the supervision of the GeoMetOc Image provisioning Team Chief or delegated staff.

The contractor shall be able to work in a team approach synchronised by the providing company. The GeoMetOc Image Provisioning Team Chief or delegated staff, will interact primarily with the Manager/Support-Coordinator as the main Point of Contact.

11 Specific requirements

The GeoMetOc Services Branch requires an individual to enhance ACO common operational/intelligence picture with the full spectrum of operationally critical GIS web services and Core GIS applications with benefit for NATO. This role requires in-depth knowledge of ESRI software suite and the skills needed to effectively share Space-based ISR data with the NATO systems.

Under the direction of the GeoMetOc Image provisioning Team Chief, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Operate established multi-source imagery provisioning service including trouble shooting;
• Integration geospatial data (e.g. imagery) into NATO systems;
• Manage all relevant imagery and other data;
• Suggest improvements, discuss with supervisor and implement as agreed;
• Maintain provisioning environment;
• Exploitation of current Core GIS Software baseline components, including Arc GIS Portal and operational dashboards in support of ACO’s Community Of Interest (COI)/ Functional Area Services (FAS) geospatial requirements;
• Development and implementation, configuration and management of tailored GIS web services and (semi-) automation of GIS production workflows in support of ACO’s COI/FAS requirements;
• Development and implementation of Core GIS image services and its integration with other users in NATO’s IMINT community;
• Generation of 3D services for regional/continental areas;
• Support multidisciplinary teams of users and technical and operational stakeholders;
• Participate in technical and operational meetings, offering advice and seeking solutions;
• Support NATO in the development of recommendations for updates to current services;
• Provide meaningful input to envisioning IT solutions that fit best NATO requirements.

The list of activities may expand as urgent operational requests emerge and qualification of the candidate allows.

Close coordination of all activities with the NCI Agency Project Manager (PM) as well as strict adherence to agreed timelines is mandatory.

12 Required Qualifications

[See Requirements]

13 Desirable Skills/Experience:

[See Requirements]

14 General Provisions

NCIA Hours of Operations: Monday to Thursday 0830 – 1700 and Friday 0830 – 1500 (CET)

Contractor Furnished Services: Contractor shall furnish everything required to perform the contract except for the items specified and covered under NCIA Furnished Property and Services below.

NCIA Furnished Property and Services: Access to relevant Geospatial data processing networks can be provided by NCIA as agreed in sprint meetings.

Requirements

• Nationally recognized/certified university qualification in a geospatial domain (Geography, Geology, Geodesy, etc.)
• Or exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate’s particular abilities or experience that is/are of interest to NCI Agency, that is, at least 3 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post;
• Valid security clearance as from contract start date at minimum NATO SECRET level;
• Excellent knowledge of Esri ArcGIS Enterprise;
• Excellent knowledge of Esri ArcGIS Portal and components;
• Proven experience on the development and implementation of Core GIS image services and its integration with other users in NATO’s IMINT community.
• Proven experience in the Integration geospatial data (e.g. imagery) into NATO systems.
• Proven experience in the he exploitation of current Core GIS Software baseline components, including Arc GIS Portal and operational dashboards in support of ACO’s COI/FAS geospatial requirements
• Proven experience in the development and implementation, configuration and management of tailored GIS web services and (semi-) automation of GIS production workflows in support of ACO’s COI/FAS requirements.
• Knowledge of NATO Communication and Information Systems Infrastructure
• Proven experience in the generation of 3D services for regional/continental areas.
• Excellent knowledge of Esri ArcGIS Server, advanced publishing mechanisms and best practices;
• Good knowledge of Commercial Satellite Imagery, formats and metadata;
• Excellent knowledge of vector data manipulation;
• Good knowledge of data management in a complex multi-network/multi-user environment;
• Experience in automating GIS workflows;
• Solid experience in working in a Microsoft environment with shared data access;
• Ability to independently plan and execute assigned project tasks under guidance, taking into account policies, programme goals, priorities, funding and other planning constraints;
• Ability to receive and execute tasking in accordance with direction from NCI Agency staff;
• Ability to work on its own and as part of a team;
• Highly motivated, good communication skills, team player;
• NATO and/or military experience;
• Fluent in Business English;

13 Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Basic python scripting skills;
• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization;
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Excel, PowerPoint