Description
Deadline Date:
Wednesday 3 July 2024
Requirement:
MMS System Engineer
Location:
Mons, BEFull time on-site: YesTime On-Site: 100%Period of Performance: 2024 BASE: As soon as possible not later than 19th August 2024 – 31st December 2024 with possibility to exercise the following options:2025 Option: 1st January 2025 until 31st December 20252026 Option: 1st January 2026 until 31st December 20262027 Option: 1st January 2027 until 31st December 20272028 Option: 1st January 2028 until 31st December 2028Start date is as soon as possible but not later than 19th August 2024
Required Security Clearance:
NATO SECRET
1 INTRODUCTION
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) located in Mons (SHAPE) ‐ Belgium is currently implementing the New NATO Messaging System while continuously supporting the existing ACP127‐based Messaging Capability. There is as substantial effort required to migrate the legacy ACP127 Messaging System to a X400 based‐system. In the light of these activities, the C2 Service Centre is looking for an experienced system engineer to accommodate for smooth transition of the current Formal Messaging capability to the next‐ generation platform.More specifically, the system engineer will support the day‐2‐day maintenance of a Windows based message information system deployed on several NATO sites.
2 OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this statement of work is conduct in‐depth analysis of existing legacy Formal Messaging Capability and derive configuration for the next generation system. The scope of activities may include traffic analysis, configuration template analysis and creation.
3 SCOPE OF WORK
Under the direction / guidance of the NCIA Point of Contact or delegated staff, the system engineer will maintain the assigned messaging system and support the migration of users / organizations from the legacy system to the new capability based on Thales Norway product called XOmail. This includes the following activities:• Analysis of Legacy system Message service configuration and preparation of deployment of the modern capability in coordination with the Service Delivery team. This may include the coordination activities with remote IT support teams, aimed at the deployment of client SW packages.• Maintain the configuration management database of the software updates delivered by the vendor.• Debug and troubleshoot Message delivery issues, identify software issues and report it to the vendor.• Coordinate and execute installation of operating system patches as well as Messaging software updates.• Coordinate change requests and follow‐up on incidents request in order to ensure high service availability.• Conduct scripting on Windows powershell, python to automate administrative tasks and information collection.• Attend virtual and in‐person meetings.The contractor will be part of a Service Delivery Team consisting of Military and Civilian personnel.
4 DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT MILESTONES
The following deliverables are expected from the work on this statement of work:
BASE 2024:
Deliverable 01: 17 sprints – each sprint has duration of one week, and it is deemed “delivered” when migration activities planned for the specific week are accomplished.Payment Milestones: Upon completion of each fourth sprint and at the end of the work.The contractor shall submit the certificate of acceptance of sprint (see Annex B) upon completion of each fourth sprintThe NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of options, based on the same scrum deliverable timeframe and cost, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements
OPTION 2025:
Deliverable 01: 46 sprints – each sprint has duration of one week, and it is deemed “delivered” when migration activities planned for the specific week are accomplished.Payment Milestones: Upon completion of each fourth sprint and at the end of the work.The contractor shall submit the certificate of acceptance of sprint (see Annex B) upon completion of each fourth sprintThe NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of options, based on the same scrum deliverable timeframe and cost, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements
OPTION 2026:
Deliverable 01: 46 sprints – each sprint has duration of one week, and it is deemed “delivered” when migration activities planned for the specific week are accomplished.Payment Milestones: Upon completion of each fourth sprint and at the end of the work.The contractor shall submit the certificate of acceptance of sprint (see Annex B) upon completion of each fourth sprintThe NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of options, based on the same scrum deliverable timeframe and cost, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements
OPTION 2027:
Deliverable 01: 46 sprints – each sprint has duration of one week, and it is deemed “delivered” when migration activities planned for the specific week are accomplished.Payment Milestones: Upon completion of each fourth sprint and at the end of the work.The contractor shall submit the certificate of acceptance of sprint (see Annex B) upon completion of each fourth sprintThe NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of options, based on the same scrum deliverable timeframe and cost, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements
OPTION 2028:
Deliverable 01: 46 sprints – each sprint has duration of one week, and it is deemed “delivered” when migration activities planned for the specific week are accomplished.Payment Milestones: Upon completion of each fourth sprint and at the end of the work.The contractor shall submit the certificate of acceptance of sprint (see Annex B) upon completion of each fourth sprintThe NCIA team reserves the possibility to exercise a number of options, based on the same scrum deliverable timeframe and cost, at a later time, depending on the project priorities and requirements
5 COORDINATION AND REPORTING
The contractor shall participate in status update meetings, sprint planning, sprint retrospectives and other meetings, physically in the office or in person via electronic means using Conference Call capabilities, according to project manager’s instructions.For each milestone to be considered as complete and payable, the contractor must report the outcome of his/her work during the related sprints, first verbally during the retrospective meeting and then in written within three (3) days after the sprint’s end date.
6 SCHEDULE
This task order will be active immediately after signing of the contract by both parties but not before required starting date in 2024.It is expected the Base service starts as soon as possible but not later than 19th August 2024 and ending not later than 31 December 2024.If the 2025 option is exercised, the period of performance is 01st January 2025 to 31st December 2025.If the 2026 option is exercised, the period of performance is 01st January 2026 to 31st December 2026.If the 2027 option is exercised, the period of performance is 01st January 2027 to 31st December 2027.If the 2028 option is exercised, the period of performance is 01st January 2028 to 31st December 2028.
7 CONSTRAINTS
All the deliverables provided under this statement of work will be based on NCI Agency templates or agreed with the project point of contact.All documentation will be stored under configuration management and/or in the provided NCI Agency tools
8 SECURITY
The security classification of the service will be up to NATO SECRET.The contractors is required to hold a valid NATO SECRET security clearance
9 PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
The contractor will be required to work on site. The location is NCIA MONS, Belgium.Access to the NCIA code repositories will be provided in coordination with the NCIA Point of Contact or delegated staff.The contractor may be required to travel to NATO sites for completing these tasks. Travel expenses will be reimbursed to the individual directly (outside this contract) under NATO rules.This work must be accomplished by ONE contractor.
10 QUALIFICATIONS
[See Requirements]
Requirements
8 SECURITY
- The contractors is required to hold a valid NATO SECRET security clearance
10 QUALIFICATIONS
The consultancy support for this work requires a software developer with the following qualifications:
- Ability to communicate with external users / customers and translate their requirements in development tasks for the team.
- Skill in migrating legacy systems to modern platforms and integrating them with current technologies.
- A minimum of Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field.
- Proficiency in latest Windows Server OS, administration and maintenance.
- Prior experience in similar roles, preferably in system deployment projects at customer premises.
- Experience in managing and configuring virtual environments such as VMware or Hyper‐V.
- Experience in analysing datasets to drive project decisions and optimize system deployment strategies.
- Recent experience in powershell and python scripting for task automation.
- Solid knowledge in diagnosing and resolving network issues.
- Capability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
- [Desirable] Previous experience in managing Thales XOmail products
- Excellent verbal and writing communication skills in English language.
- Nationality of one of the NATO nations.
