On 30 and 31 March 2023, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) held the first pre-solicitation conference for the concept stage of the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC). The event brought together over 20 companies across the rotorcraft industry. NSPA Presentations focused on the procurement strategy for the concept stage studies and on Study #1 / novel power plant solutions. This first study shall analyse and compare novel power plant solutions for rotorcraft based on Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat analysis-like for capability, availability, cost and logistic footprint. Study #1 also aims at building information and inputs for the NGRC Concept Reviews to be run in 2024 – 2025.
The publication of the Request For Proposal (RFP) is expected for the Summer 2023. A significant amount of the current helicopter fleets in service with Allies will reach the end of their life cycle in the 2035-40 period and beyond, with the subsequent need for replacements. NGRC offers a multinational framework under which its participants can combine efforts towards the design, the development and eventually the acquisition of the next generation of medium multi-role rotorcraft capabilities. NSPA will act as the Executing Agent for the Concept Stage, as tasked by NGRC Participating Nations: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Canada (to join by Summer 2023).
NATO Support and Procurement Agency Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NSPA NGRC) Technical Section Leader, Mr Kevin Luxford, commented: “A pre-solicitation conference is a key milestone into the preparation of a best value competition. It creates the necessary awareness through potential bidders and enhances the quality of the competition”. Mr Ravindranath Dourgah, interim NGRC Procurement Officer from the surge cell, added: “This pre-solicitation conference has enabled NSPA to highlight expectations and requirements and move to the next phase of the Programme”.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (French: Agence OTAN de soutien et d’acquisition), abbreviated to NSPA, is the main logistics and procurement agency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and is the executive branch of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), formerly NATO Maintenance and Supply Organization (NAMSO). Until 2012, the tasks were organised with the NATO Supply Agency and other institutions. On 1 April 2015, organisation and structure of NSPO and NSPA changed. This change marks the expansion of Agency capabilities to include all aspects of systems procurement from initial acquisition throughout sustainment. The headquarter of NSPA is situated in the town of Capellen, in the commune of Mamer, in south-western Luxembourg.
