Invitation to Tender for the Provision of Backbone Transmission Infrastructure (BTRAIN) at Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)
Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF)
Invitation to Tender for the Provision of Backbone Transmission Infrastructure (BTRAIN)
(1) 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. Consequently, USPF has provided funds in the budget to facilitate the deployment of Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) and connection to the National Transmission Network.
The OFC to be deployed in this phase is estimated to cover 3000km which will be implemented in four (4) Lots covering four geopolitical zones of the country.
The Lots in the BTRAIN 2014 coverage areas and the distances are as follows:
| Lot No | Zones | Distance to be covered (in Kilometres) |
| Lot 1 | North East Zone | 600 |
| Lot 2 | South East Zone | 800 |
| Lot 3 | South-South Zone | 800 |
| Lot 4 | South-West Zone | 800 |
Objectives
The main objective of the BTRAIN project is to extend Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) backbone and associated transmission infrastructure to rural and semi-urban areas in order to achieve Goal 2 of USPF’s 5 year Strategic Management Plan (2013-2017), as well as the objectives of the National Broadband Policy, 2013 – 2018.
(3) Project Scope
The scope of work for the project is as follows:
(a) Survey and design an Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) network with capacity that meets the transmission needs of the benefitting communities and provision to accommodate requirements of other existing/future last-mile operators (for example BTS towers of MNOs – existing as well as new) as the need may arise.
(b) Deployment of Optic Fibre Cable Transmission Network to connect un-served and under-served areas to existing optic fibre networks. The optic fibre deployment shall be for routes in rural and semi-urban areas that lack such facilities and shall be built such that it can connect to businesses, commercial areas, public institutions and existing nation-wide telecom infrastructures.
(c) The routes being proposed in the OFC Network, must link, connect and/or pass through the following types of potential beneficiaries along the routes:
(i) Existing public institutions, public and private schools, universities, hospitals, etc.
(ii) Business and commercial centers.
(iii) Communities and towns.
(d) Management and operation of the built OFC infrastructure for a period of 5 years.
(4) Subsidy/Incentives
In consideration of the above, the USPF has set aside sufficient funds in the budget to provide an output based subsidy as incentive to successful proponents to fast track the achievement of the objectives of the BTRAIN project. The amount of subsidy to be provided for each lot is to be competitively determined.
(5) Eligibility Criteria
(a) General Conditions
Eligible companies must submit the following:
(i) Evidence of incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Companies must enclose copies of Certificate of Incorporation and Form C07.
(ii) Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, which must show that the Company has ICT related activities as part of its objectives.
(iii) Three year Tax Clearance Certificate for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
(iv) Certificate of Value Added Tax (VAT) and evidence of past remittance.
(v) Audited accounts for the last year 2014.
(vi) Verifiable evidence of financial capacity to execute the project, and such evidence must come from a reputable bank.
(vii) Company profile and organizational structure, including names and resumes of key personnel and technical staff.
(viii) Evidence of compliance with Pension Act 2004, including evidence of remittances.
(ix) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (1TF) 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
In addition, tenderers shall be required to demonstrate the following minimum requirements:
(a) A relevant license issued by Nigerian Communications Commission to provide service in this area of assignment.
(b) Proof of ownership, successful management and operation of an OFC network for at least the last one (1) year.
(c) Board Resolution or letter from the Chief Executive Officer of the company approving its participation in the bid process.
(6) Bid Bond
All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in line with Section 26 (1) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
(7) Collection of Tender Documents
Qualified Companies wishing to respond to this invitation must purchase a copy of the bidding document from the Procurement Department, USPF by payment of a non-refundable fee of N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira Only) per lot, 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.
(8) Pre-Bid Meeting
Potential bidders are encouraged to study these documents and submit any questions/clarifications that they might require before the pre bid meeting. All bidders are to note that a Pre-Bid Meeting will be held to highlight the BTRAIN project and to answer questions that may be there, as follows:
Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Venue: NCC Conference Room
Time: 12 Noon
Minutes of pre-bid meeting would be issued within five work-days after the meeting.
(9) Submission of Documents
(i) The Bidders shall submit three (3) copies of the Technical Bid and Financial Bid in separate sealed envelopes with the first copy marked “Original Bid” and the 2nd and 3rd copies marked “Copy of Bid”.
(ii) Each Bid Package shall be clearly marked with the following information;
- Technical Bid marked ‘USPF/TD/LOT x/ BTRAIN/2015/TECHNICAL at the top right hand corner.
- Financial Bid ‘USPF/TD/LOT x /BTRAIN/2015/FINANCIAL at the top right hand corner.
- Name of Proponent.
- Contact Name, Phone Number and E-Mail Address.
(iii) The Proponent shall also prepare one electronic copy of the Technical Bid (in CD, in a format readable by Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format).
(iv) A Certified-True-Copy of the tender fee receipt endorsed by Head, Procurement Department must be submitted in a separate envelope and marked TF/ LOT x BTRAIN/2015.
(v) All copies of the bids shall be duly signed by an authorised representative of the Proponent. In the event of any discrepancy between copies, the original shall govern.
(vi) All submissions shall be packaged together in a single container box or envelope 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 bids or for non-compliance with this instruction. Bids that do not comply with this section may be rejected.
Please note that x denotes the Lot No (1 to 4)
(10) Deadline for Submission of Proposals
All tender documents must be Hand Delivered and should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Tuesday, September 8, 2015 (6 weeks from the date of the pre bid meeting) by 3.00pm. (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 lronsi Street
Maitama District, Abuja
Failure to comply with the tendering instructions shall lead to disqualification.
(11) 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
