Invitation to Tender for the Establishment of a Project Monitoring Center at the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Secretariat Under the Bandwidth Aggregation Project
Universal Service Provision Fund
Invitation to Tender for the Establishment of a Project Monitoring Center at the USPF Secretariat Under the Bandwidth Aggregation Project
“To establish a Project Monitoring Centre (PMC), in order to ensure all USPF assisted projects are monitored real-time”
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 Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in rural, un-served and under-served areas in Nigeria. In fulfilment of its mandate, the USPF has over the years provided grants/subsidy towards the establishment of Community Resource Center (CRC), School Knowledge Center (SKC), Tertiary Institutions Knowledge Center (TIKC), E-library, Bandwidth Connectivity project, etc.
In order to sustain these projects and ensure that the desired impact is realized, there is need to regularly monitor the availability and performance of these projects. Hence, our desire to establish a project monitoring center. Consequently, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) hereby invites interested companies to submit tenders for the establishment of a Project Monitoring Center (PMC) at the USPF Secretariat.
(1) Objectives of the Assignment
The main objective is to establish a robust enterprise center which will enable the USPF to monitor availability of services, performance and quality of these projects. The PMC will also act as a one stop shop application for monitoring of projects and should be capable of interfacing with the primary Network Operating Center (NOC) of the different bandwidth providers currently engaged by the USPF.
(2) Scope of Work
(i) Design and establish a PMC at the USPF Secretariat for the purpose of integrating and monitoring USPF projects.
(ii) Supply and install all the necessary hardware and software that will ensure optimal functionality of the PMC.
(iii) The PMC should be capable of integrating and monitoring a minimum of 3000 project locations through their IP addresses.
(iv) Integrate the various primary NOC of bandwidth providers engaged by the USPF to the PMC.
(v) The PMC should be established in a manner that will make it capable of providing real time data/information that will enable generation of reports that will facilitate decision making and management reports.
(vi) Provide on-the-job training for three (3) USPF staff.
(vii) Provide one (1) years management and technical support.
(viii) Provide one (1) year warranty and insurance on all deployed hardware’s and software’s.
NB: Proponents are advised to conduct a site visit to the designated PMC location at the USPF office
(3) Eligibility
(a) General Conditions
(i) Evidence of incorporation 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) Must have 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) Provide verifiable evidence of financial capacity to execute the project.
(vii) Have a proper understanding of telecommunication solutions for rural areas.
(viii) Show verifiable evidence of similar works.
(ix) Company profile and organizational structure, including names and resume of key personnel and technical staff with addresses and phone numbers.
(x) Detail evidence of compliance with Pension Act, 2004 including evidence of remittances and ITF contribution.
(xi) Evidence of compliance with the Employee’s Compensation Act which stipulates a remittance of 1 % of the total annual emolument of workers to NSITF.
(xii) 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.
(xiii) 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:
The Consultants shall be required to demonstrate the following minimum competencies:
(i) An understanding of the ICT industry in Nigeria or worldwide.
(ii) Experience in operational approaches to mobile network roll-out.
(iii) Experience in ICT / Telecom Infrastructure deployment.
(iv) Experience in RF Design, Planning and Implementation.
(v) Experience in establishment of Network Operating Center.
(vi) Evidence of relevant technical experience with reference to similar projects deployed on a national scale.
(vii) Relevant academic qualifications.
(viii) Basic Corporate Information including expertise to deliver on the project.
(ix) Measurable indicators and mechanism for verifying the indicators.
(x) Demonstrate or show evidence of similar assignments carried out in the past.
(4) 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 PMC project, answer questions, exchange ideas and obtain feedback as follows:
Date: Thursday, July 30th 2015
Venue: NCC Conference Hall
Time: 12 Noon
Minutes of pre-bid meeting would be issued within five work-days after the meeting.
(5) Tender Delivery Instructions
Qualified Companies wishing to bid for this project must purchase a copy of the Tender Document from the Procurement Department, USPF Secretariat by payment of a non-refundable tendering fee of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000:00) 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.
(a) The Proponent shall prepare three copies each of the Technical and Financial Proposals, clearly marking the first copy “Original Proposal” the 2nd and 3rd copies as “Copy of Proposal”.
(b) The Proponent shall also prepare one electronic copy of the Technical Proposal (in CD or USB in a format readable by Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat software).
(c) A copy of the tender fee receipt endorsed by Head, Procurement Department must be submitted in a separate envelope and marked TF/PMC
(d) All copies of the Proposals shall be clearly marked with the name of the Proponent and duly signed by its authorised representative. In the event of any discrepancy between copies, the original shall govern. The original and all copies of the Proposal shall be packaged together in a single box or container, which shall be sealed so that it is not possible to open it without visual evidence of such tampering. USPF will assume no responsibility for the content of tamper evident proposals or for non-compliance with this instruction. Proposals that do not comply with this section may be rejected.
Each Proposal Package shall be clearly marked with the following information:
- (Part 1) Technical Proposal
- (Part 2) Financial Proposal
- Name of Proponent:
- Local Contact Name, Phone Number and E-Mail Address.
- Each envelope must be clearly marked “USPF/PMC” at the top right hand corner.
All tender documents must be Hand Delivered and should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, September 9th 2015 by 3.00pm.
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.
(6) 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 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
