NHQC3S-0009 Cyberspace Operations and Doctrine Support (NS) - WED 23 Aug

Deadline Date: Wednesday 23 August 2023

Requirement: Cyberspace Operations and Doctrine Support

Location: Brussels, BE

Full time on-site: No

Not to Exceed Rate: 97 EUR

Total Scope of the request (hours): 456

Required Start Date: 25 September 2023 (Or earlier if available)

End Contract Date: 31 December 2023

Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET

Annex A – Special Terms and Conditions

1. The contractor will be responsible for complying with the respective national requirements for working permits, visas, taxes, social security etc. if or when working on site at NATO HQ Brussels, Belgium.

2. No special status is either conferred or implied by the host organisation, NATO HQ Brussels, Belgium to the contractors whilst working on-site.

3. If the successful candidate is allowed to work remotely, travel to NATO HQ for meetings, while expected to be infrequent, will be at his/her expense. Travel to other locations will be reimbursed as if the travel originated in Brussels. Attendance at meetings is mandatory

1. INTRODUCTION

The NHQC3S supports the Consultation, Command and Control Board (C3B) as the technical governance authority for NATO Cyber Defence, the Military Committee (MC) in its implementation of Cyberspace as a domain of operations, and the NATO Agencies in numerous technical Cyber Defence functions.

The ever increasing speed of advancement in Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations coupled with the limited qualified manpower to retain and develop this expertise within the Staff, puts NATO at risk of falling behind adversaries. The recent developments in the Cyberspace Domain that can be observed from the conflict in the Ukraine and NATO efforts to enhance the civilian-military integration in Cyber Defence require development and maintaining the relevancy of doctrines and concept papers on Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations.

To support this effort, NHQC3S requires services that will leverage knowledge of the NATO environment (International Staff, International Military Staff and NATO Command Structure), military expertise on Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations and practical experience in drafting of Doctrines and Concepts on a National level at the operational level, and at the political or strategic level in NATO or a similar international environment.

The project will support the NATO Cyber Defence military governance and implementation of Cyberspace as an Operational Domain.

2. TASKS

The contractor (senior expert) will provide, effectively and efficiently, the following services, under the strategic direction of the NHQC3S-CDO but with minimal practical supervision, with a special focus on the application of military operations to Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations Doctrine and concepts:

2.1 Provide continuous and quality subject matter advice to the NHQC3S-CDO on the development of options for further civilian-military integration, on the base of both a deep knowledge and experience in military Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations. This should include drafting recommendations, documents, plans and papers, reflecting current NATO policy on Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations;

- Measurement: Confirmation by the CDO, concerning the positive impact of the advice provided on the achievement of the CDO strategic goals and objectives;

2.2 Provide support to the revision of Cyberspace Domain Doctrine within the responsibility of the NHQC3S, to include authoring initial draft inputs and revisions and possibly briefing at relevant MCWG(CIS) meetings;

- Measurement: Confirmation by the CDO, concerning the quality of the produced documents and subsequent endorsement by respective committees, working groups and Enterprise fora;

2.3 Provide expert written advice regarding Cyber Defence and the Cyberspace Domain on the political military level to fulfil tasking requirements of the NHQC3S;

- Measurement: Confirmation by the CDO, concerning the quality of the product and ensured alignment within the NMAs. ;

2.4 Provide continuity of knowledge within the Branch through attending assigned Cyber Domain related meetings by providing written reports within 48 hours of attendance;

- Measurement: Confirmation by the CDO on the quality of the product and ensured distribution within the Branch.

2.5 Provide expert advice and support to training and exercises, providing the Cyberspace Domain perspective into MDO;

- Measurement: Confirmation by the CDO on the quality of the support and continuity within the branch regarding exercise outcomes.

3. PROFILE

[See Requirements]

4. LOCATION OF DUTY

The service will be executed on site as well as through teleworking. Regular presence on site at the NATO HQ offices in Brussels, Belgium will be required inter alia for meetings, access to classified information or as dictated by security regulations. Teleworking can be foreseen if classification levels allow.

5. TIMELINES

The services of the contractor are required for the period starting 25 September 2023 (or earlier if possible) until 31st December 2023.

SPECIFIC WORKING CONDITIONS

Secure environment with standard working hours. Occasional non-standard hours may be required in support of the NATO HQ urgent tasks.

6. TRAVEL

Occasional business travel may be required. Travel expenses will be reimbursed to the individual directly (in addition to the hourly rate) under NATO rules.

7. SECURITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

The contractor must be in possession or capable of possessing a security clearance of NATO SECRET.

A signed Non-Disclosure Agreement will be required.

Requirements

3. PROFILE

• The contractor must be in possession or capable of possessing a security clearance of NATO SECRET.
• The contractor must have practical experience in the field of Cyber Defence and Cyberspace Operations.
• The contractor must have specific experience with writing (support) within NATO, preferably on Cyber Defence doctrine or concepts.
• The contractor must have experience in planning and conducting defensive or offensive cyberspace operations
• The contractor must have General experience in IT operations
• The contractor must have Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of computer and communications security, networking, and the vulnerabilities of modern operating systems and applications.
• The contractor must have Practical experience in the implementation and integration of cyber defence measures.
• The contractor must be able to display a thorough understanding of NATO committees, working groups and technical authoring teams and how they work and interact.
• The contractor must have excellent English writing skills and the ability to brief on their work in English (NATO equivalent SLP 4343).
• The contractor must have: Project management education; Experience in writing strategies, concepts or doctrine; Full mastery on MS Office package;
• Previous knowledge or experience with structures of Cyber Defence governance within NATO is desirable.
• Operational experience in planning and conducting military operations from a J3 perspective is desirable.
• It is desirable for the contractor to have: Experience with knowledge management; Competency with Microsoft SharePoint front end;