Request for Proposal (RFP) For Provision and Management of Bandwidth in e-Library Centres for USPF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROVISION FUND
Universal Service Provision Secretariat
Nigerian Communications Commission Head Office, 9th Floor, Plot 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama District Abuja, FCX www.uspf.govvng
Request for Proposal (RFP)
For Provision and Management of Bandwidth in e-Library Centres under the Bandwidth Aggregation Project
INTRODUCTION
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal service and universal access to Intonation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in rural, un-served and under-served areas in Nigeria, As part of its statutory mandate, the U SPF has over the years provided grants to facilitate access to basic ICT-enabled learning tools in several libraries across the country under its e-Library project
The e-Library project provides a platform for online cross searchable portal for accessing educational and research documents in order to ensure that the users have access to wealth of knowledge from a wide range of subjects with international quality materials.
However, to sustain this project and to ensure that its impact is realized by the beneficiaries, the USPF seeks to provide additional support in form of bandwidth connectivity,
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS
The project is to be implemented in 74 locations across the country.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the bandwidth aggregation is for the implementer to provide and manage Internet bandwidth for e-library projects in each of the 74 locations- The project will enable the USPF to have a common connectivity platform and solutions for managing bandwidth provisioning across the e-Library project locations,
PROJECT SCOPE
a) Survey and conduct site assessment to determine the equipment and associated peripherals to be replaced or provided in all the e-libraries being quoted for
b) Determine total required bandwidth and provide it via a shared link such that each location will experience a mini mum Internet upload/Download speed of 256/1024 kbps with a maximum contention ratio of 4; 1,
e) Establish a fully functional Network Operating Centre (NOC) at the implemented premises where all e-libraries/project locations are linked and integrated with a view to monitoring the utilization and generation of reports,
d) Upgrade the existing monitoring centre in the USPF to an advanced monitoring platform through supply and installation of hardware, software and other required equipment to support configuring and monitoring of 1 ink status, bandwidth utilization and uptime for a minimum of 200 clients,
e) Prepare necessary operational and technical documentation on both NOC and connectivity infrastructure at connected facilities and provide training to USPF technical personnel on operation and use of implemented NOC facilities.
t) Provide 1 year post implementation support.
DELIVERABLES
a) A comprehensive completion report of Internet bandwidth provisioning in all e~ libraries with graphic presentation of Internet usage per e-library. The report should indicate equipment provided or replaced in all the c-libraries, bandwidth utilization chart, etc.
b) A catalogue of IP addresses, names of contact persons & GPS co-ordinates of each e-library in both electronic and hardcopy format.
c) Quarterly post implementation reports detailing all the relevant statistics in the preceding period e.g, availability, usage, etc. in addition to maintenance work undertaken, equipment repaired or replaced, etc.
d) Final project report covering the entire contract duration,
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
a) General Conditions
Eligible companies must submit the following:
- Evidence of incorporation or registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Companies must enclose Certificate of Incorporation and Form cm
- Articles and Memorandum of Association of the Company, which must show that the Company has ICT related activities as part of its objects,
- Three year Tax Clearance Certificates tor the years 2011, 2012 and 2013.
- Certificate of VAT and evidence of past remittances.
- Audited accounts for the last three years.
vi Verifiable evidence of financial capacity to execute the project, and such evidence must come from a reputable bank.
vii Evidence of a proper understanding of telecommunications solutions for rural areas,
viii Evidence of similar works carried out in the past such as award letters,
- A company profile and organizational structure, including names and resumes of key personnel and technical staff with addresses and phone numbers. ,
- Submit detailed evidence of compliance with Pension Act, 2004, including evidence of remittances
- Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) contribution.
b) Specific Conditions
Tenderers shall be required to demonstrate the following minimum competencies:
- Functional NOC in its premises for similar assignments carried out in the past,
- An understanding of the ICT industry in Nigeria or worldwide.
- Experience in bandwidth supply,
- Experience in Internet service delivery:
- Experience in VSAT installation.
- Proponents must demonstrate the ability to use not less than 25% of local content in the implementation of this project.
COLLECTION OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Qualified Companies wishing to respond to this invitation must purchase a copy of the RFP document from die Procurement Department, USPF by payment of a non-refundable fee of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, which must be payable in bank draft in favour of “Universal Service Provision Fund, Abuja”, The draft should be submitted to the Funding and Subsidy Department, USPF and copy of the receipt attached to the bid document when submitting the document.
SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS
The prospective bidders shall enclose Three (3) bound copies each of detailed Technical and Financial Proposals in separate sealed envelopes, and enclose the two envelopes in one sealed outer envelope clearly marked ‘Request for Proposal for e-Library Bandwidth* on the top right hand corner which shall bear the name and address of the company on the reverse side of the envelope,
PRE BIDDERS MEETING
All bidders are to note that a Pre Bidder’s Meeting will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesday September 23,2014 Venue: NCC Conference Room Time: 2:00pm
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
All tender documents must be delivered by Hand and should reach the Office of the undersigned on or before Tuesday November 11,2014 by 5:00pm,
The Secretary Universal Service Provision Fund USP Secretariat 9th Floor Nigerian Communications Commission 423 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama – Abuja
DISCLAIMER
a) Late submissions shall be rejected.
b) The Fund will not be responsible for any cost or expenses incurred by any interested party in connection with any response to an inquiry nor shall it entitle any party submitting documents to claim any indemnity from the Fund.
c) The Fund is not bound to shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the bidding process at any time without incurring any liabilities and assigning any reason thereof
d) This advertisement is published lor information purposes only and should not be construed as a commitment or obligation on the part of the Fund to award a contract
For further clarification on the RFP. please email;
usptbids@ncc.gav.ng or uspfprocurement@ncc.gov.ng
Signed Secretary
Universal Service Provision Fund
