Requirement: Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Feasibility Study
Location of Performance: Off-Site
Cost Not to Exceed: 2026 BASE NTE: 171,900 EUR.
Period of Performance: 2026 BASE: 18 June (tentative) 2026 to 31 December 2026
Evaluation Methodology: Lowest Priced Technically Compliant
Required Security Clearance: No Security Clearance Required
Please do NOT apply for any NATO contract positions unless you meet ALL the following criteria:
- Current National or NATO SECRET clearance
- Nationality of one of the NATO member countries
- Current work visa for the specific location if applying for an in-country position
Statement of Work:
- The team of contractors will contribute to the NCIA Ballistic Missile Defence Programme Office (BMD PO) led activities on exploring and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts and solutions within the BMD domain. This work builds on the foundations established by ACT's comprehensive Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) studies completed at the end of 2025, and supports the transition into the benefit-realisation phase.
- The aim of this work is to expand the ambition of the Emerging Concepts and Technologies work package for BMD by conducting a multi-year Feasibility Study on the application of advanced AI/ML approaches to (T)BMD use cases and operational challenges. The study will be executed at NATO UNCLASSIFIED level to enable broad academic engagement, with subsequent outcomes and software prototypes intended to be leveraged by the ACT BMD POW Team and subject-matter experts for implementation at NATO CLASSIFIED level.
- NCIA BMD PO will work with a team of expert AI strategists and technologists. The Bidders shall submit their proposals, according to the Bidding Instructions above, by providing technical design, team composition and schedule.
- To strengthen the Alliance through connecting its forces, NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) delivers secure, coherent, cost effective and interoperable communications and information systems in support of consultation, command and control and enabling intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, for NATO, where and when required.
- The Ballistic Missile Defence Programme Office (BMD PO), as part of the NCIA, ensures the harmonised planning, implementation, deployment, evolution and support of the BMD capability, in a way that satisfies the operational requirements and minimises the military risk, taking into account the NATO political, economic and schedule requirements and using the most suitable industrial and technological solutions.
- ACT has completed a comprehensive series of IAMD studies and is now transitioning into the benefit-realisation phase. Building on these foundations, ACT intends to initiate a two-year Feasibility Study to expand the ambition of the Emerging Concepts and Technologies work package already defined in the BMD PRD 2026. The first year will focus on (T)BMD use cases and operational challenges, examining innovative concepts and emerging technological approaches from leading industry and academic institutions.
- The team of contractors will be producing deliverables as part of the NCIA project team that executes the Allied Command for Transformation (ACT) Programme of Work (PoW) 2026 for BMD. The academic partner will contribute to deliverables with his/her AI research expertise and scientific rigour to the feasibility study, ensuring state-of-the-art approaches are considered and responsibly evaluated.
- The team of contractors will apply AI and ML principles together with the NCIA project team and will regularly engage with the operational user community.
- The team of contractors will hold 2 (two) skill sets:
- AI Strategist
- AI Technologist
- The size of the team will be determined by the Bidder. Each contractor in the team shall possess only one skill set and it is not possible to combine more than one skill set within one contractor.
- The team of contractors will work on following tasks to produce deliverables listed in section 2.5:
- Leading the identification and scoping of AI/ML use cases applicable to (T)BMD fire-control coordination and IAMD operational challenges.
- Reviewing existing NIAG SG300 reports and TBMD simulation data to establish baseline knowledge and identify relevant datasets.
- Designing a baseline data architecture and methodological framework for the responsible use of advanced AI technologies within the BMD domain, informed by NATO's current AI architecture and near-term plans.
- Conducting feasibility studies on emerging AI/ML computational techniques (such as machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and large language models) and assessing their potential operational benefit for identified use cases.
- Developing and evaluating AI/ML software prototypes and demonstrators for selected BMD use cases at NATO UNCLASSIFIED level in the NATO Software Factory (NSF). All development to take place in NSF and to use existing LLMs where needed (to make it easier to migrate to NS).
- Preparing and providing subject matter (BMD AI) briefings, expert reports, and feasibility study documentation related to the project work.
- Developing and documenting a responsible AI framework aligned to the NATO Principles of Responsible AI Use (PRU), as outlined in the NATO AI Strategy, but specifically tailored to the BMD context. This work should follow NATO ambition and align with existing work on the topic as required.
- Planning and delivering subject matter (BMD AI) training and knowledge transfer sessions to the NCIA project team and a wider NCIA community, focusing on the BMD case. NCIA will share currently available AI training material with the contractor team.
- The deliverables will be:
- Baseline Data Architecture (in archimate format)
- Identified BMD use-cases for AI/ML techniques Report (in word format)
- A software prototype (alpha version) as the demonstrator for the use-cases and data architecture captured in previous deliverables.
- The deliverables will be required by various dates, as identified in Section 5, throughout the contract execution.
- All deliverables are to be peer reviewed within their delivery cycle. Input and guidance will be provided by NCIA in written form and during targeted review meetings.
- During the period of performance a Delivery Acceptance Sheet shall be provided to the Purchaser for each scheduled delivery, as identified in Section 5. The Purchaser will confirm the acceptance by signing the Delivery Acceptance Sheet.
- The classification level of the deliverables is NATO UNCLASSIFIED.
- Work is to be performed on UNCLASSIFIED networks. NSF access will be arranged by the Contractor.
- The contract will have annual optional scope extension work packages to be executed in 2027 and 2028 should NCIA choose to exercise them.
- The Agency Point of Contact for the daily execution of the contract is the NCIA Project Manager (PM).
- The team of contractors will carry out tasks and will issue deliverables as described below.
The team of contractors will apply AI research and engineering principles in BMD domain. They will investigate and evaluate advanced AI and machine learning techniques applicable to the BMD domain, with a focus on use cases identified in the NIAG SG300 report. Contractors will lead feasibility studies, develop scenario definitions, design baseline data architectures, and produce software prototypes. The academic partner will provide AI research expertise and support, while the AI Technologists will implement and demonstrate the concepts.
Deliverable D1: The team of contractors will deliver the following services and products for the BMD AI feasibility study (Year 1 - Feasibility and Architecture Definition phase): Review of existing SG300 reports and TBMD simulation data, and identification of relevant datasets; Scenario and use-case definitions (e.g. target characterisation, trajectory estimation, engagement coordination); Feasibility Study Report v1 - documenting assessed AI/ML approaches and their applicability; Kick-off and Review Meeting Minutes; System Architecture Document - defining a baseline data architecture and methodological framework for responsible use of advanced AI technologies; AI/ML algorithm evaluation and benchmarking report for identified use cases; Software prototype - alpha release for at least one identified use case; Progress briefing to NCIA project team.
Deliverable D2: The team of contractors will deliver the following services and products (prototype validation, knowledge transfer and roadmap phase): Updated Feasibility Study Report v2 - incorporating findings from prototype testing; Software prototype - beta release with demonstrated performance against identified scenarios; Technical expert report documenting evaluation results and recommendations; Supporting and participating in product demonstrations at relevant meetings and conferences; Final Feasibility Study Report - with conclusions and recommendations for implementation at NATO CLASSIFIED level; Technology Roadmap document for further development and integration of AI solutions in BMD capability; Aligning to NCIA's Principles of Responsible AI Use framework documentation, covering ethics, explainability, and governance considerations; Training session on AI concepts and solutions for NCIA project team and a wider NCIA community.
Constraint C1: Expert products are produced in the Agency provided environment and they are maintained in the project collaboration portal. The team of contractors will work with NCIA team and regularly engage with the operational user community and the academic partner.
Acceptance Criteria A1: Deliverables are reviewed by the project team and the contractor will update them based on NCIA feedback/correction. For acceptance, each deliverable has to be approved by the project manager.
Additional Notes: Deliverables will be maintained in NCIA provided technical repositories and portals. The team of contractors will regularly work with NCIA team in NCIA, The Hague, The Netherlands. Research and feasibility work will be partly conducted at an academic facility. Software prototypes and demonstrators will be developed in an agile fashion and incrementally under full control of the NCIA project. The team of contractors will ensure that AI solutions reflect responsible AI principles and are relevant to the operational BMD domain.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The work shall be conducted in close collaboration between the Contractor and NCIA BMD Programme.
ACT POW BMD Project: Project Manager
Team of Contractors: To provide deliverables and inputs identified under work packages above, including academic support.
Coordination and Reporting:
- The contractors shall participate in a kick-off and task planning meeting within one working week after the signing of this contract.
- This will be a virtual meeting executed via electronic means using Conference Call capabilities or in person in the NCIA offices in The Hague, The Netherlands.
- During the kick off meeting, the contractors will provide and discuss a plan for executing the tasks under this statement of work. Purchaser and Contractor will discuss the plan and confirm amendments where appropriate.
- The contractors will provide email minutes containing decisions and actions decided during the meeting.
- The contractors shall participate in regular status meetings, either in-person (where possible) or via electronic means using Conference Call capabilities.
- The rhythm for these meetings will be decided at the kick-off meeting.
- The contractors will initiate these meetings and provide email minutes containing at least decisions and actions decided during the meeting.
- The contractor shall follow all general rules, terms and conditions as applicable for working in NCIA offices in The Hague, The Netherlands.
This Contract requires a team of contractors with highly specialist and complementary skills to execute and complete the work. There are 2 (two) skill sets required in the team: AI Strategist and AI Technologist. The size of the team will be determined by the Bidder.
AI Strategist Skill Set — Mandatory Requirements:
- University degree (at minimum Master's level) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field. A PhD in a relevant AI/ML discipline is strongly preferred.
- More than 15 years of professional experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, signal processing, or related fields, including direct experience in research and development of AI/ML systems.
- Demonstrated expertise in deep learning science and technology, including architectures such as DNNs, CNNs, RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers, and generative models, with application to real-world problems.
- Strong track record of managing and leading AI/ML research projects, including coordination of proposal writing, project management, supervision of researchers, and engagement with industry and public-sector partners.
- Experience in conducting feasibility studies, state-of-the-art technology assessments, and technology roadmapping for AI/ML solutions in a research or applied context.
- Proven ability to translate complex AI/ML concepts into actionable recommendations for non-specialist audiences, including military and defence-sector stakeholders.
