Requirement: Full-stack Software Development and Product Engineering Support
Location: Off-Site
Not to Exceed: 54,000 EUR
Period of Performance: As soon as PO is received until 31 July 2026
Required Security Clearance: No Security Clearance Required (See section 9 Security and Non-Disclosure Agreement)
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
Purpose:
- This Statement of Work (SoW) defines the activities and deliverables for providing full-stack software development and product engineering support for the further development and enhancement of an existing web-based digital platform used by NATO.
- The purpose of this engagement is to support the implementation, improvement, and integration of software components required to extend the platform's capabilities and improve its usability, reliability, and performance.
- The contractor will contribute to the design, development, testing, and deployment of platform features across both the frontend user interface and backend services, working in close coordination with the platform's technical leadership.
- Development activities will follow an agile methodology, enabling iterative delivery of functional components, rapid feedback cycles, and continuous improvement of the system.
The contractor shall provide full-stack development support covering frontend development, backend services development, system integration, testing, and deployment. Considering the required scope of work, the requestor estimates that the work will cover approximately 3 months of work.
The work will support the continued evolution of the platform through the implementation of new features, improvements to existing components, and integration of services across the application stack.
Activities shall include:
Software Development:
- Enhanced and development of frontend user interfaces and reusable UI components
- Enhanced and development of backend services and APIs
- Implementation of new platform functionality according to defined requirements
- Enhancement and optimization of existing system components
- Integration of frontend and backend services
- Integration with external APIs and platform services
- Implementation of data processing and storage mechanisms
- Support for platform interoperability and service communication
- Functional testing of developed components
- Debugging and issue resolution
- Performance improvements and system optimization
- Support for deployment of developed features to development and production environments
- Assistance with containerized deployments and infrastructure configuration
- Monitoring and resolving operational issues during development cycles
- Participation in development planning sessions
- Regular synchronization meetings with the project team
- Iterative development cycles with continuous delivery of working components
NCIA staff will provide oversight and inputs that shall be taken into account in the conduct of the work but which shall not waive the contractor's responsibility for the deliverables.
Period of Performance:
The period of performance shall be three months, starting not later than 31 March 2026 and ending not later than 30 July 2026.
Reporting and Coordination:
Regular reporting mechanisms will be defined at the Kick-Off Meeting. As a minimum, the contracted team lead must provide to the NCIA:
- Meeting minutes from progress meetings via email to the NCIA Project Manager concisely describing the discussed topics, pending actions, and an outline of the activities for the following period.
- Weekly progress updates describing completed work and planned activities.
- Meeting minutes shall summarize discussions and agreed actions.
- Project Closure Report that is summarizing the activities during the period of performance at high level.
- Coordination between the contracting authority and the contractor will primarily take place electronically using email and video teleconference meetings.
In submitting their bids, bidders shall:
- Submit documents including presentations, technical reports, CVs, and any other relevant material demonstrating bidder's fulfilment of the required competencies.
- Submit a compliance matrix referring how the specific personnel who will be involved in the delivery of this project have relevant experience for the required competencies in the last 3 years.
- Clearly indicate if the specific personnel who will be involved in the delivery of this project have security clearances or, if not, if the team lead will obtain a security clearance.
The work will be conducted at the unclassified level. It is desirable but not mandatory to have the team lead ideally be in possession of NATO security clearance, to facilitate follow-on engagements and coordination at NATO venues. The signature of a Non-Disclosure Agreement between the contractors contributing to this task and NCIA will be required prior to execution.
Special Terms and Conditions:
- All products delivered under this contract shall be property of NATO. Travel costs are not to be included if anticipated. Any travel costs shall be incurred only with prior approval from the NCIA Project Manager and will be reimbursed by NCIA.
- The contractor shall ensure that all software components and documentation are delivered in a form suitable for operational use and further development.
Points of contact for project management and for technical leadership at NCIA will be provided with contract award.
Requirements:
Required Competencies:
The bidders must highlight their credibility and track record in the development and delivery of software through:
Overview of key personnel who will be involved in the execution of the contract including:
- Curriculum vitae of key personnel
- Sufficient and relevant expertise and experience in the relevant domain
- 8+ years of relevant in web software development, 5+ years of experience in product engineering and web platform development.
- Extensive experience designing and developing user-centric digital products, combining product design and full-stack software development.
- Proven experience developing API-based systems.
- Proven experience building interactive user interfaces and dashboards
- Experience deploying applications in cloud or containerized environments.
- Experience working within agile development environments
- Languages and Frameworks: Python, TypeScript / JavaScript, modern frontend frameworks (Vue.js, React, or similar).
- Experience with FastAPI or comparable backend frameworks, REST API design and development.
- Experience with database integration and data modelling, PostgreSQL / SQLite or similar databases.
- Docker-based development and deployment environments
- Reverse proxy configuration (nginx / Traefik).
- Search and Data Processing, search engines such as Elasticsearch or Meilisearch.
- Experience implementing efficient data querying and indexing strategies.
- Proven design and product development experience via UI/UX design tools (e.g., Figma), design systems and reusable UI component and product-oriented development workflows.
