SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Fiber Optic Backbone Network Deployment Project - Afghanistan
- Notice Date
- 8/9/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 221119
— Other Electric Power Generation
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, TDA, USTDA, Ministry of Communicaitons of Afghanistan, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Atten: Fiber Optic Backbone Network Deployment Project - Afghanistan, Arlington, VA, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-0380025C
- Response Due
- 9/24/2004
- Archive Date
- 10/9/2004
- Point of Contact
- Evangela Kunene, Procument Data Manager, Phone 703-875-4357, Fax 703-875-4009,
- E-Mail Address
-
ekunene@tda.gov
- Description
- POC: Evangela Kunene, Procurement Data Manager, Tel: 703-875-4357, Fax: 703-875-4009, E-mail: ekunene@ustda.gov : PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT CONTRACTS OFFICE : Proposal Submission Place: Ministry of Communications of Afghanistan, c/o U.S. Trade and Development Agency, 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Fiber Optic Backbone Network Deployment Project of Afghanistan : The Ministry of Communications (MoC) of Afghanistan invites submission of Proposals from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to conduct technical assistance in the deployment of a fiber optic backbone network in Afghanistan. The chosen Contractor will provide technical assistance to MoC in refining the network specifications, securing the financing, and managing the tendering process for the Fiber Optic Backbone Network project. Afghanistan has one of the weakest telecommunications systems in the world. Immediately after the fall of the Taliban, only one out of every 625 Afghans had access to telephone service, yielding a ?teledensity? of 0.16 telephone lines for every 100 people. This level is far below the developing country average of 2.6 lines per 100, and well below the World Bank?s targets for effectively stimulating economic growth. The use of ICT is similarly underdeveloped, while the pent-up demand is overwhelming. Currently two cell phone systems are offering limited service in Kabul and MoC has ambitious plans for developing the country?s overall telecommunications infrastructure. As this is an essential component for the development of a modern economy, USTDA has been supporting these efforts and previously provided an advisor to MoC and funded a Feasibility Study (Study) on a Telecommunications Backbone in Afghanistan. Upon completion of the Study, MoC requested assistance with the tendering process for this project, at which point USTDA funded a Definitional Mission to scope out this request and identify other ICT project opportunities. The recent Definitional Mission confirmed that MoC considers the implementation of this project to be a priority and that MoC indeed requires technical assistance for the implementation process. As currently envisioned, this fiber optic ring would connect the country?s major cities (Kabul; Kandahar; Herat; Mazar e Sharif; and Baglan), paralleling the national roadway network wherever possible. When completed, the ring would be capable of serving as a telecommunications backbone for approximately 90% of the country?s population. The U.S. firm selected to conduct this technical assistance will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $219,550 grant to MoC from USTDA. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP) is available from USTDA, at 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209. Requests for the RFP should be faxed to the IRC, USTDA at 703-875-4009. In the fax, please include your firm?s name, contact person, address, and telephone number. Some firms have found that RFP materials sent by U.S. mail do not reach them in time for preparation of an adequate response. Firms that want USTDA to use an overnight delivery service should include the name of the delivery service and your firm's account number in the request for the RFP. Firms that want to send a courier to USTDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to USTDA before scheduling a pick-up. Please note that no telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. Please check your internal fax verification receipt. Because of the large number of RFP requests, USTDA cannot respond to requests for fax verification. Requests for RFPs received before 4:00 PM will be mailed the same day. Requests received after 4:00 PM will be mailed the following day. Please check with your courier and/or mailroom before calling USTDA. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this USTDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under USTDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the USTDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the USTDA-financed activity. All goods and services to be provided by the selected firm shall have their nationality, source and origin in the U.S. or Afghanistan. The U.S. firm may use subcontractors from the host countries for up to 20 percent of the USTDA grant amount. Details of USTDA's nationality requirements and mandatory contract clauses are also included in the RFP. Interested U.S. firms should submit their Proposal to Ministry of Communications of Afghanistan c/o USTDA by 4:00 P.M. September 24, 2004, at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal are included in the RFP. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, and therefore, cost proposals should NOT be submitted. MoC reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. MoC also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. MoC is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.
- Record
- SN00640048-W 20040811/040809212844 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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