Expression of Interest at National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
Expression of Interest
Expression of Interest to Apply for Type Approval Certification for the Manufacture or Dealership Permit for Set Top Boxes in the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Purpose of Digital Terrestrial Television Operations in Nigeria.
1. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the regulatory authority for the broadcasting Industry in Nigeria. The Commission is mandated by Section 2 (1) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap, N11, laws of the Federation, 2004 to, amongst others, regulate and control broadcasting in Nigeria. The NBC is also responsible for managing the spectrum allocated by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) for the broadcasting sector in Nigeria.
- In furtherance of the deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) of 17 June, 2015 for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands iv and v, the Federal Government of Nigeria set up the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in 2007. The recommendations of the committee were largely approved and a draft white paper released by the Government leading to the setting up of Digiteam Nigeria under the supervision of the Commission to implement the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in Nigeria.
3. In its White Paper, the Federal Government approved the grant of three licences tor Broadcasting Signal Distribution (BSD) services, one of which is to be reserved for the infrastructure entity that will mainly be carved out of the existing Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). A second licence is to be awarded in the coming months through a bidding process which is ongoing to stimulate competition in the broadcasting signal distribution market segment.
a. The third licence will be issued at some time in the future based on market developments. The BSD Licensees shall deploy digital terrestrial broadcasting system complying with ETSI EN 302 755 (DVB-T2), MPEG4 standards and formats or any other later standards or enhancements the Commission may specify for provision of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services. The NBC has adopted the ECOWAS specifications on Set Top Boxes with some Country Specific Modifications. The ECOWAS specifications for the Set top Boxes are available online on the DigiTeam website www.digiteam.gov.ng .
5. In addition to the ongoing process to award the BSD Licence, the Commission has now commenced the process for authorising suitable companies to apply for type approval certification and Dealership permit of Set Top Boxes and other Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) equipments that will be manufactured, deployed and distributed/sold throughout the country to ensure that existing viewers with analogue TV receivers are able to receive digital television signals.
6. The Commission is of the view that with a guaranteed market of more than 24million viewing homes, translating into over 40 million television sets requiring Set Top Boxes and other DTT components, Nigeria presents a good case for local manufacturing, sale and distribution of Set Top Boxes and other Digital Compliant broadcast equipments. This would stimulate the local electronics industry and create jobs
7. In this respect, the Commission hereby invites Expression of Interest (EoI) from interested, suitably qualified, experienced and competent local and/or international Companies, registered in Nigeria to apply for type approval certification or Dealership permit of set up boxes and other Digital broadcast equipment that will meet the minimum specifications adopted by the NBC
8. An authorization for type approval certification for the manufacture of Set top boxes granted by the Commission shall be valid for a period of five years in the first instance, subject to renewal.
9. An authorization for Set top boxes or other digital equipment dealership permit (wholesale or retail) granted by the commission shall be valid for a period of two years in the first instance, subject to renewal.
10. This Expression of interest does not apply to Set Top Boxes that are intended for limited use in the country, for example, for pilot projects for which authorisation shall be sought separately from the NBC.
- Interested Companies are expected to provide the following information.
Company General Information
i. Name of Company and contact details – physical address, telephone, functional email address and website address.
ii. Company Profile (company history, contacts, services, affiliation, etc ).
iii. Certificate of Incorporation.
iv. Certified copy of Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association which must include manufacture, distribution, supply or dealership of broadcasting or communication equipment among its object clause.
Relevant Experience
i. Details of experience in the manufacturing, assembly of Set Top Boxes or similar equipment or distribution of same, as the case maybe.
ii. Demonstration of technical capacities to engage in the manufacturing, assembly or retail and distribution of Set Top Boxes.
Technical Documentation (Manufacturers only)
i. Copy of the Standards and Specifications of the Set Top Boxes that are Intended to be manufactured, including any special features and technical references such as ITU.
ii Sample of the Set Top Box; however, NBC is not obliged to return the equipment that has been submitted for evaluation, since some of the tests to be carried out could be destructive.
iii. Indication of Anti-counterfeit device put in place.
Statement of Compliance (Manufacturers only)
i. Cross referenced statement of compliance or otherwise with the minimum DTT receivers’ standards approved for the ECOWAS sub- region, please provide any reasons for non-compliance.
ii. Certificate of equipment compliance issued by an NBC appointed Test Laboratory Comments on the modified ECOWAS minimum specifications and proposals for modifications based on relevant industry knowledge and technological developments, with justifiable reasons for each modification proposed; (note that NBC will consider all proposals but is not obliged to accept any proposals).
Production Plans (Manufactures Only)
i. Description of proposed premises for the Manufacturing or assembly plant, number of expatriate and local staff proposed as well as plans to develop and tram local staff NBC reserves the right to inspect these premises as part of the evaluation to assess their suitability, in terms of workshop facilities and technical personnel.
ii. Evidence of machineries to be imported into the country for the purpose of setting up and operating a manufacturing or assembly plant and approvals obtained or to be obtained from the Ministry of Trade & investment, Ministry of finance and relevant agencies.
- Type of production – whether manufactured or assembled in Nigeria and country of import of components or whole equipment.
- Time frame within which the manufacturing or assembly plant can be setup and commence operations in Nigeria including number of boxes that can be manufactured on a monthly basis for the next 3 years.
Implementation Plan (Dealership only)
A proposed retail distribution plan and structure of implementation within one year of Certification.
Financial and Business Plan
3 year Financial Plan including projected income and cost of each STB, estimated end user cost in Nigerian Naira of the Set Top Boxes.
Others:
- Undertaking to pay authorization fees.
- Incentives that may be required within the existing Nigerian legal framework to drive down the end user prices quoted above and by how much.
iii. A letter of reference from the Company’s Bankers.
- Interested companies shall be required to fulfill the following conditions.
- Is a company duly registered in Nigeria under the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
- Is not adjudged bankrupt or has entered into a composition or a scheme of arrangement with creditors.
- Successful applicants shall be Invited to formally apply for the appropriate authorization to manufacture Set Top Boxes which are compliant with the specifications approved by the NBC and to pay the authorization fees of two Hundred million Naira only (N200,000,000.00) while a dealership permit for Set Top Boxes and other digital equipment shall pay (a) wholesale= Ten Million Naira (b) Retailer = Two Million Naira.
Expression of Interest (EoI) should be forwarded in one sealed envelope marked at the top left corner and boldly written “NBC/288/VOL XXI/41 – Type Approval Certification for Set Top Boxes Manufacture in Nigeria or Dealership Permit for Set top Boxes and other digital equipment in Nigeria, (wholesale or retail), and hand delivered, posted by registered mail or sent by courier to reach the address below on or before Friday 27, June 2014 by 2.00pm. Opening of the Expression of Interest shall take place immediately after at the NBC Headquarters.
The Secretary
Tenders Board
National Broadcasting Commission
Plot 20, Ibrahim Taiwo Street
(by Aso Villa) Asokoro, Abuja
P.M.B 5747, Garki Abuja
15. For enquiries on issues pertaining to this EoI, write to the above contact or send an email to info@digiteam.gov.ng , foukwela@nbc.gov.ng .
- The sealed envelope referred to above shall contain the original in one (1) envelope and clearly marked “Original” and 4 copies, each of them clearly marked “Copy” in another envelope. In the event of any discrepancy between the original and the copies, the original shall prevail.
Additional Information
NBC shall reserve the right to verify the authenticity of claims made by the interested companies and to disqualify any company based on false or unverifiable claim or information.
- NBC shall not be liable for any expenses incurred by interested companies in preparing the Expression of Interest. This advert serves as invitation to the representatives of the companies that are submitting EoI as well as any interested Non-governmental Organisation and members of the general public who may wish to witness the EoI opening exercise.
- The NBC reserves the right to inspect or verify claims/information submitted as it deems necessary. Similarly, the Commission is not bound to shortlist any company and reserves the right to annul the process when unforeseen and justifiable developments warrant such action, without incurring any liability and assigning reasons thereof.
20. That at arty time the Commission discovers that the information submitted for pre-qualification is false, the Commission reserves the right to disqualify the company.
