Deadline Date: Monday 8 December 2025
Requirement: Data Analytics Solution Project Support
Location: Wiesbaden, DE
Full Time On-Site: Yes (See 5 PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS)
Time On-Site: 100%
Period of Performance: 2026 Base: As soon as possible but not later than 12 January 2026 – 31 December 2026, with the possibility to exercise following options:
• 2027 Option: 01 January 2027 – 31 December 2027
• 2028 Option: 01 January 2028 – 31 December 2028
Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET
1 PROJECT SPECIFICS
Background
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has been established with a view to meeting the collective requirements of some or all NATO nations in the fields of capability delivery and service provision related to Consultation, Command & Control as well as Communications, Information and Cyber Defence functions, thereby also facilitating the integration of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition functions and their associated information exchange.
NCIA is dedicated to acquiring, deploying, and defending communication systems for NATO’s political decision-makers and Commands. It operates on the frontlines against cyber-attacks, collaborating closely with governments and industry to prevent future debilitating attacks. NCIA plays a crucial role in maintaining NATO’s technological edge and ensuring the collective defence and crisis management capabilities of the Alliance. In pursuit of our mission, we require specialized advisory services to enhance our interim workforce capacity.
Introduction
In response to the North Atlantic Council (NAC) decision to establish NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), a Deployable Communications and Information System (DCIS) asset was delivered to Wiesbaden DEU to enable personnel to plan and conduct security assistance and training activities in support of Ukraine.
Within the NCIA Chief Technology Office, the Exploiting Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (EDS&AI) Team has as primary goal to ensure that Big Data and AI can be used to make better and faster decisions. In leveraging the volume of big data, EDS&AI team aims to turn data overload into decision dominance.
Inside NATO, leaders in different functions need support for their decision making. EDS&AI brings the expertise to exploit the vast and varied data available for extracting insights, and we achieve that by using both cloud computing and the Agency’s high performance computing sandbox.
The EDS&AI team provide the core data science skills and technology needed for big data analysis and AI.
The EDS&AI team applies innovative technology to data whenever it is not possible to extract value with conventional approaches.
Problem Statement
• NSATU lacks the proper tools to collect, collate, analyse, and portray NSATU and stakeholder data that are necessary to enable data-informed decision-making in a timely manner.
• Although KOROVAI is one of the main pillars for data extraction, NSATU is struggling to collect data from the multiple data sources (excel sheets, SkyBlue, EDMS, Common Drives, etc.) to analyse information (movement logistics, training, LENs operations, FLOe’s activities, ammo stockpiling, equipment ETRs, nation pledges, etc.) to establish the minimum required level of visualisation and dashboards to enable informed decisions.
• Although GBR is assisting NSATU with in-kind national solutions (Palantir), the provided solution is still limited in functionalities ( limited to charts presentation mode only) due to network domain difference and accessibility.
• NSATU lacks the analytics tools to transition from its current “crisis mode” reporting that is solely focused on feeding the Cooperation and Interoperability Groups (CIGs) with fragmented data into a “campaign mode” that will focus on establishing mid-term forecasting and projections. The transition will allow NSATU to not limit its analytics to descriptive products that can be interpreted differently, but also to exploit data to service further analytical requirements.
2 SCOPE OF WORK
The contractor will deliver TWO resources (One Senior Data Engineer and One Senior Data Analyst) that will provide comprehensive project support services for the NSATU Data Fusion Cell team located at Wiesbaden, Germany under the direction / guidance of the NCIA The Hague Exploiting Data Science & AI team and NSATU Data Analytics Project Management Team. The resources will support the following activities:
1. Data Engineering Activities:
Data engineering
• Designs and implements data pipelines and data stores to acquire and prepare data.
• Applies data engineering standards and tools to create and maintain data pipelines and extract, transform and load data.
• Carries out routine data quality checks and remediation Programming/software development
• Designs, codes, verifies, tests, documents, amends and refactors moderately complex programs/scripts.
• Applies agreed standards and tools to achieve a well-engineered result.
• Proposes practical solutions to resolve issues.
• Collaborates in reviews of work with others as appropriate.
Systems integration and build
• Defines the software modules needed for an integration build and produces a build definition for each generation of the software.
Data management
• Assesses the integrity of data from multiple sources.
• Provides advice on the transformation of data from one format/medium to another.
• Enables the availability, integrity and search ability of information through the application of formal data and metadata structures and protection measures.
Data modelling and design
• Applies standard data modelling and design techniques based upon a detailed understanding of requirements.
• Establishes, modifies and maintains data structures and associated components.
• Communicates the details of data structures and associated components to others using the data structures and associated components.
2. Data Analysis Activities:
Data analysis
• Designs, implements, and maintains complex data analytics solutions to acquire and prepare data.
• Creates and maintains data pipelines to connect data within and between data stores, applications and organisations.
• Carries out complex data quality checking and remediation.
Data visualisation
• Applies a variety of visualisation techniques and designs the content and appearance of data visuals.
• Operationalises and automates activities for efficient and timely production of data
visuals.
• Selects appropriate visualisation approaches from a range of applicable options.
• Contributes to exploration and experimentation in data visualisation.
Business intelligence
• Supports business intelligence needs of specific management or governance processes or operational areas.
• Investigates the need for business intelligence reporting and analysis where there is some complexity and ambiguity.
• Selects and applies non-standard business intelligence tools and techniques to provide insights and aid decision-making.
• Selects, acquires and integrates data for analysis.
• Identifies opportunities to digitise and streamline operational data handling and optimize business intelligence capabilities.
Data modelling and design
• Investigates enterprise data requirements where there is some complexity and ambiguity.
• Plans own data modelling and design activities, selecting appropriate techniques and the correct level of detail for meeting assigned objectives.
• Provides advice and guidance to others using the data structures and associated components.
Technical Leadership and Stakeholder Support:
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to support project teams and decision- making
• Support multidisciplinary teams and technical and operational stakeholders
• Participate in meetings with technical and operational experts, offering advice and seeking/applying solutions
• Liaise with Chief Technology Office (CTO), engineering, project management, and operational teams
3 SPRINT MANAGEMENT
The measurement of execution for this work is sprints, with each sprint being planned for a duration of 1 calendar month. The specific deliverables and associated acceptance criteria will be defined for each sprint between NCIA and the contractor. This includes sprint planning, execution and review processes, which are detailed below:
1. Sprint Planning:
• Objective: Plan the objectives for the upcoming sprint.
• Planning meeting: Conduct a weekly meetings with the contractor to plan the sprint tasks for the upcoming week and review contractor’s manpower to meet the agreed deliverables.
• Set sprint goals: Define clear, achievable sprint goals and associated acceptance criteria, including specific delivery targets, quality standards and KPIs.
• Backlog Review: Review and prioritise the backlog of tasks, issues, and improvements from previous sprints.
2. Sprint Execution:
• Objective: Contractor executes the agreed sprint with continuous monitoring and adjustments.
• Regular meetings (physical or virtual, according to NCIA Point of Contact instructions) between NCIA and the contractor to review sprint progress and address any issues.
• Progress Tracking: Contractor to maintain a shared tool or dashboard to track sprint deliveries and issues.
• Quality Assurance/Quality Check: Contractor shall ensure agreed quality standards throughout the sprint.
3. Sprint Review:
• Objective: Review the sprint performance and identify areas for improvement.
• At the end of each sprint, there will be a meeting between NCIA and the Contractor to review performance and progress of the sprint.
• Define specific actions to address issues and enhance the next sprint.
4. Sprint Payment:
• Payment milestones are monthly. At the end of each month, the contractor must submit a Delivery Acceptance Sheet (Annex B) report summarizing completed sprints and confirming acceptance.
• Payments will be made upon successful acceptance of deliverables as documented in the monthly report.
• If agreed acceptance criteria are not met for any task or sprint, NCIA reserves the right to withhold payment for that task/sprint.
4 DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT MILESTONES
The following deliverables are expected from the work on this statement of work:
2026 BASE period: from 12 JANUARY 2026 to 31 DEC 2026:
Deliverable: 12 sprints of project support
Payment Milestones: Payment at month-end upon completion of the monthly sprint.
The payment shall be dependent upon successful acceptance of the Delivery Acceptance Sheet (DAS) – (Annex B).
Invoices shall be accompanied with a Delivery Acceptance Sheet (Annex B) signed by the Contractor and the project authority.
2027 and 2028 OPTION: from 01 JAN to 31 DEC
Deliverable: Up to 24 sprints of project support
Cost Ceiling: Price will be determined by applying the price adjustment formula as outlined in CO‐115786‐ AAS+ Special Provisions article
Payment Milestones: Payment at month-end upon completion of all weekly sprints.
The Purchaser (NCIA) reserves the right to exercise a number of options of one or more sprints based on the same deliverables, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements .
5 PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Coordination and reporting
• The contractor shall participate in weekly planning and progress meetings with the NCIA Point of Contact, either physically or virtually, to discuss sprint tasks for the upcoming week, according to the NCIA Point of Contact instructions.
• Progress on sprint tasks will be reviewed verbally during these meetings and confirmed by email at the end of each week.
• For payment purposes, a formal Delivery Acceptance Sheet (Annex B) report covering all completed sprint deliverables shall be submitted monthly.
• This monthly report must be signed by both the contractor and the NCIA project authority to confirm acceptance.
Place of Performance: Work will be conducted primarily on-site in Wiesbaden, Germany. However, if the NIMSC Project Management team requires it, the contractor may be asked to work on-site at other NCIA locations within the designated Class II Security Area.
Travel Requirement: Initially there will be 3 days in The Hague, then 2 days every 3 months. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the contractor and should be included in the offer.
Travel may also be required to other Purchasers’ locations, including destinations in European countries and the US. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the contractor.
To be eligible for reimbursement, the contractor must submit a TDY (Temporary Duty) request.
Hours of Operation: The Contractor is expected to follow the Purchaser’s working hours—Monday to Thursday from 08h30 until 17h30 and Friday from 08h30 until 15h30.
Safety and Compliance and other arrangement:
• Follow all safety protocols to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Ensure compliance with agency, industry standards and regulations.
• The Contractor shall manage and be responsible for all activities mentioned in the Section 2.
• The Supplier shall strive to lower the rotation of Contractor’s personnel and maintain the same staff Contractor working under this SoW.
• The Purchaser will support the Contractor with access to the IT systems as required.
• The Contractor shall install and operate the equipment following the manufacturer’s requirements.
• The Contractor shall minimize the impact to the service during the execution of the work.
• The Contractor shall bring immediately to the attention of the NCIA Point of Contact on-site any issues preventing the execution of the work.
6 SERVICE DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS
[See Requirements]
7 SECURITY REQUIREMENT FOR NATO RESTRICTED (NR) PROJECTS WITH UN-ESCORTED ACCESS
These requirements are to be take in addition to all other security requirements outlined in the Contract and Statement of Work (SOW)
The security classification of this contract is "NATO Restricted (NR)". "NR" level is the highest access to NATO classified information given, for the implementation to this project. For this reason, the Contractor shall have the appropriate Facility Security Clearance (FSC), for NR Level, if necessary, by the respective National Security authority, under National laws and regulations. A Certificate of Security Obligation (CSO) shall be signed by all Contractor's staff, which will have access to NR information, under this contract.
Nevertheless, under the NATO Physical, Personnel and Industrial Security Directives, Contractor's personnel visiting or working, unescorted, at NCI Agency/NATO premises in connection with this Contract shall hold a NATO S#CRET security clearance valid for the duration of the Contract. For this reason, the Contractor shall have the appropriate facility Security Clearance (FSC) and obtain the necessary Personnel Security clearances (PSC). This requirement applies to all subcontracts issued by the Contractor for the effort under this prime Contract.
It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that his personnel obtain the required security clearances and transmit this information (Request for Visit process) to the sites to be visited in adequate time, (usually two (2) to three (3) weeks) that the site may perform the appropriate administration. The Contractor shall submit visit requests (RFVs) for the sites trough his National Security Authority. More details can be found in the NCIA Guidance for RFVs and CSOs and can be requested from the contracting authority.
The Contractor is advised that the personnel security process may be lengthy. The Purchaser bears no responsibility for the failure of the Contractor to secure the required clearances for its personnel within the necessary time.
The Contractor bears full responsibility and liability under the contract for delays arising from the failure of the Contractor to adhere to the security requirements.
Delay caused by non-compliance of the Security clearance requirements under this Contract, may not be used by the Contractor as the basis for a claim of adjustment or an extension of schedule nor can the denial of access be considered a mitigating circumstance in the case of an assessment of penalties or a determination of Termination for Default by the Purchaser.
In the absence of valid facility and personnel security clearances for the Contractor's personnel during the performance of the Contract, as per para and above, the Purchaser reserves the right to terminate the Contract for "Default" as per Clause 39 of the NCIA Contract General Provisions.
The Contractor shall comply with the security measures prescribed in NATO Security Policy, by the Purchaser and as applicable, by the National Security Authority (NSA) or Designated Security Authority/Agency (DSA), of each of the NATO Member nations, in which the Contract is being performed and/or in which the Company is Contractor shall be responsible for the safeguarding of information that is indicated as “NATO classified" (“NATO classified information") such as NU, NR, NC, NS and CTS, under the ''need to know'' principal, as well as NATO classified and '' In Confidence'' documentation, material and equipment entrusted to them or generated by them in connection with the performance of the Contract. Further Information can be provided, in more details within the Statement of Work (SOW), Contract Security Clause (CSC), Security Aspect Letter (SAL), Project Security Instructions (PSI), as applicable within this contract and according to contract/project classification given.
Contractor's personnel acting as Privileged Users shall also be required to comply with the regulations described under the Code of Conduct and directives for NATO CIS Privileged Users.
The Contractor shall note that there are restrictions regarding the carriage and use of electronic devices ( laptops) in Purchaser secured locations. The Contractor shall be responsible for satisfying and obtaining from the appropriate site authorities the necessary clearance to bring any such equipment into the facility.
Although the security measures as mentioned in this clause deemed sufficiently clear, the Contractor should request more detailed information in case of doubt.
The Contractor shall ensure that the substance of this clause is incorporated into all subcontracts arising under this contract, and shall ensure compliance by its subcontractors.
Requirements
6 SERVICE DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS
The Contractors shall fulfil the following:
Data Engineer Requirements
1. Security Clearance: The Contractor shall possess valid NATO-Secret Personal Security Clearances for the duration of the Contract performance
2. Language Proficiency: English: C1
Qualifications:
3. Ability to design, build and manage data pipelines for data structures encompassing data transformation, data models, schemas, metadata and workload management in an on premise environment.
4. At least four years' experience planning and maintaining data lakes, databases and pipeline processes, both batch-wise and (near) real-time;
5. Experience in working with large, heterogeneous datasets in building and optimizing data pipelines, pipeline architectures and integrated datasets using data integration technologies on premise.
6. Experience in using of data engineering tools to support data science, data analytics and data visualisation (KNIME, SQL Server, Power BI is the preferred toolset)
7. Experience with state-of-the-art data engineering, analytics, data integration and pipeline tools/programming language (Python).
8. Solid understanding of data security best practices, including data encryption, access controls, authentication/authorization mechanisms, and compliance requirements.
9. Experience with monitoring and logging tools to ensure the reliability and performance of data pipelines.
10. Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes is a plus
11. Knowledge of best practice of software development. CI/CD pipelines, unit/funct ional testing, following styling guides is a plus.
12. Familiarity with KNIME Analytics Platform and Server is preferred
Desired Qualifications:
13. Experience working within NCIA or similar defence-related environments
14. Knowledge of NATO Communication and Information Systems Infrastructure
15. Prior experience working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.
Data Analyst Requirements
16. Security Clearance: The Contractor shall possess valid NATO-Secret Personal Security Clearances for the duration of the Contract performance
17. Language Proficiency: English: C1
Qualifications
18. A minimum requirement of a relevant degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in a related discipline and 4 years post-related experience. 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 6 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.
19. Demonstrable experience as a Data Analyst, Data Scientist, or similar role, or experience performing these functions roles as part of another job.
20. Demonstrable experience with at least one programming language or tools, such as KNIME and Python.
21. Experience with commercially available or open source data visualization tools, such as Power BI.
22. Experience with SQL and relational databases, such as SQL Server.
23. Experience in working with on premise environments.
Desired Qualifications:
24. Experience working within NCIA or similar defence-related environments
25. Knowledge of NATO Communication and Information Systems Infrastructure
26. Prior experience working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.