Invitation to Tender; Universities Inter-Campus Connectivity (UnICC) Project at Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)
Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)
Invitation to Tender; Universities Inter-Campus Connectivity (UnICC) Project
Introduction
(1) The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was established to facilitate rapid achievement of national policy goals for universal service and universal access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
In recognition of the critical role that research and development plays in the evolutionary path of an educational system, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in conjunction with the National Universities Commission (NUC) is seeking to establish a foundation that will enable and ensure that universities could communicate, collaborate, access and share knowledge across national and international boundaries.
This project is designed to key into the NUCs’ Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) project. The primary purpose of the project is to deliver broadband infrastructure and access to facilitate research and learning using state of the art technology.
The UnICC Project is therefore designed to seamlessly connect the networks of the main campuses of selected universities to the networks of their corresponding annex campuses through the deployment of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) and its associated equipment. Consequently, USPF has provided funds in the 2015 Appropriation to facilitate the project implementation of interconnecting the universities under its University Inter-campus Connectivity Project (UnICC).
(2) Objectives of the Project
The UnICC project is designed to link 9 selected University main campuses listed below to their corresponding annex campuses through the deployment of OFC and associated equipment.
The project will:
(a) Seamlessly connect the main campuses of these universities to their annex campuses to achieve bi-directional communication for the purpose of sharing and accessing information.
(b) Provide a platform for sharing bandwidth resources and creating a reverse path for backup m the event of downtime.
(c) Provide the requisite link for voice, data, video and other multimedia services (including conference facilities).
(3) Roll-Out Locations-Lots
The optic fibre infrastructure to be deployed in this phase of the project would be implemented in nine (9) Lots as stated below. Hence selected bidders will be required to conduct surveys and roll-out Optic Fibre Cable in the locations. Table 1; List of lots.
| LOT | MAIN CAMPUS | ANNEX CAMPUS | APPROXIMATE DISTANCE (KM) |
| 1 | Federal University of Technology, IleshaRoad, Akure | Town Campus, Annex Building, Ibule Soro, Akure | 4 |
| 2 | Federal University of Technology, Gidafi Kwano, Minna | Rosso Campus, Rosso Road, Minna | 31 |
| 3 | Michael Okpara Uni. of Agric., Ikot Ekpene Road, Umudike | Umudike Campus, Isiala | 13 |
| 4 | Modibbo Adama University of Technology,Mubi Road, Yola | Centre for Distance Learning, Opp. Lamido ZubairuCentre, Yola Town | 30 |
| 5 | Nigerian Defence Academy, Airport Road,Kaduna | Post Graduate School, Unguwan Dosa | 43 |
| 6 | federal University of Agriculture, AlgbataRoad, Camp Junction. Abeokuta | Institute for Human Resource Department. AlgbataRoad, Camp Junction. Abeokuta | 23 |
| 7 | University of Agriculture, North Bank,Makurdi | University of Agriculture, Annex Building, Katsina Street from Aliade Road. Makurdi | 22 |
| 8 | National Open University. 14-16 Ahmadu Hello Way Victoria Island Lagos | Study Centre, No 38 McCarthy Study Centre Victoria Island, Lagos. | 5 |
| 9 | Enugu Campus, Annang Street, Enugu | University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu – Oturkpo Road, Nsukka. | 68.9 |
(4) Additional Information
(A) Whilst fiber optic connectivity is the preference of the project, bidders are required to propose back-up connectivity solution of similar capacity as the primary link.
(B) We are keen to have diverse ducts to form a ring which will deliver resilience in the event of a fiber cut. Bidders are invited to propose this as an option titled diverse routing option.
(C) It is important to note that it is a strategic decision of the project to install and own ducting and fibre optic assets, connecting these federal institutions rather than acquiring IRU’s (Indefeasible Right of Use) or leasing fibre pairs.
(5) Eligibility Criteria
Interested Companies/Consortium must have necessary competences and possess the following:
(A) General conditions;
(I) Evidence of incorporation and or registration with Corporate Affairs Commission, Companies must enclose Certificate of Incorporation and Form C07.
(ii) Memorandum and Articles of Association of their Company, which must show that the Company has ICT related activities as part of its objectives
(iii) Three year Tax Clearance Certificates (2012, 2013 and 2014).
(iv) Evidence of Value Added Tax (VAT) registration certificate and past remittances.
(v) Audited accounts for the last year 2014.
(vi) Verifiable evidence of financial capacity to execute the project.
(vii) Evidence of proper understanding of telecommunications solutions for rural areas.
(viii) Company profile and organizational structure, including names and resume of key personnel and technical staff with addresses and phone numbers.
(ix) Evidence of compliance with Pension Act, 2004 including evidence of remittances and ITF contribution.
(x) Evidence of compliance with the Employee’s Compensation Act which stipulates a remittance of 1 % of the total annual emolument of workers to NSITF.
(xi) Evidence of registration on the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service providers. Bidders are requested to submit an Interim Registration Report as the evidence of compliance with this requirement.
(xii) A sworn affidavit that the firm is not bankrupt, in receivership or under liquidation or involved in any litigation which can potentially affect the company’s ability to conclusively participate in this engagement.
(B) Specific conditions:
(i) Bidders must be appropriately licensed to provide services in these areas of assignment.
(ii) Bidders must have at least 3 years’ experience in the area of provision of connectivity and ICT related solutions, demonstrable by providing three reference sites, with the most recent completed within the last 6 months. At least three of such reference sites must have covered 5 km of fiber optic cable each.
(iii) Bidders must show evidence of financial stability and in addition must show proof of at least a turnover of N75m per annum in each of the last two financial years.
(iv) Bidders must provide manufacturers authorization in respect of ALL products that will be supplied and installed as part of this OFC connectivity project.
(v) Bidders must demonstrate and prove experience in connecting local area networks to switches, routers and other components required to deliver Wide Area Networking capabilities, and must have at least three years’ experience of doing same.
(vi) Where the use of radio is proposed within solution, bidders must be in possession of the appropriate license and frequency band to support radio connectivity able to effectively cover the distance between the two locations at which it is proposed, and must provide evidence of same.
(6) Pre-Bid Meeting
Potential bidders are encouraged to study these documents and submit any questions/clarifications that they might require.
A pre bid meeting will be held to highlight the UNICC concept, answer questions, exchange ideas and obtain feedback as follows:
Date: Wednesday, July, 29, 2015
Venue; NCC Conference Hall
Time: 12 Noon.
Minutes of pre-bid meeting would be issued within five work-days after the meeting.
(7) Tender Delivery Instructions
Interested proponents are required to collect detailed tender documents from the procurement department of the USPF secretariat upon the payment of a non-refundable tendering fee of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) issued in bank draft in favour of the Universal Service Provision Fund per Lot. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security (Bid Bond) of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) per lot and validity period of 180 days.
The tendering fee receipt and Bid Bond must be submitted in separate envelopes for each lot and marked TF/UnlCC/LOT/No and BB/UnlCC/LOT/No respectively. (Please insert appropriate lot number).
The Technical and Financial proposal must also be in separate envelopes and must be marked clearly USPF/TD/UNICC/2015/TECHNICAL/LOT/No and
USPF/TD/UNICC/2015/FINANCIAL/LOT/No respectively. (Please insert appropriate lot number). All tender documents must be Hand Delivered and should reach the undersigned on or before Tuesday, September 8, 2015 by 3.00 pm (KINDLY NOTE THAT BIDS WILL BE OPENED IMMEDIATELY ON THE SAME DAY)
The Secretary
Universal Service Provision Fund
Universal Service Provision Secretariat
Nigerian Communications Commission Head Office
9th Floor, 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama District, Abuja.
Failure to comply with the tendering instructions shall lead to disqualification.
(8) Disclaimer
(a) Late submissions shall be rejected.
(b) The USPF 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 USPF 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 for 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 this advertisement, please email: uspfbids@ncc.gov.ng or uspfprocurement@ncc.gov.ng
Signed:
Secretary,
Universal Service Provision Fund
Nigerian Communications Commission Head Office, 9th Floor, Plot 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama District, Abuja, FCT. www.uspf.gov.ng
