SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Niger: National ICT Backbone Network Feasibility Study
- Notice Date
- 6/24/2009
- Notice Type
- Cancellation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- 2008-11024
- Archive Date
- 8/27/2009
- Point of Contact
- John Kusnierek, Phone: (703) 875-4357
- E-Mail Address
-
jkusnierek@ustda.gov
(jkusnierek@ustda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- POC John Kusnierek, USTDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600 Arlington, VA 22209-3901 Tel: (703) 875-4357 Fax: (703) 875-4009 ***Please do not contact contracts office*** Proposal Submission Place: Raphael Nbogni Managing Director Seaquest Infotel Niger, S.A Boite Postale 817 Niamey, NIGER Phone: (227) 2073 96 02 Fax: (227) 2073 96 03 Niger: National ICT Backbone Network Feasibility Study The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the "Proposal") from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study for Seaquest InfoTel Niger, S.A. Niger has a severe lack of telecommunications backbone capacity, as well as a lack of affordable connectivity to neighboring countries and to the international undersea cable, the SAT-3, off the coast of West Africa. Lack of a backbone means that Niger is forced to rely on expensive satellite connections resulting in high local and international telecommunications costs, limited bandwidth capacity, and inter-operability problems among local carriers. Niger has a very active mobile telecommunications sector, and several operators have begun construction of limited fiber infrastructure. However, none of the local carriers has completed 1) a modern local fiber optic/wireless loop in major cities; 2) intercity landline fiber/wireless connections; or 3) a landline connection via neighboring countries to the SAT-3 cable. Seaquest InfoTel plans to build a fiber optic backbone infrastructure to support ICT infrastructure development in Niger, transport voice and data, as well as radio and television signals on a nationwide and regional basis. Seaquest InfoTel recently completed a similar project in Mali. Seaquest InfoTel intends to build a local telecommunications company in Niger on a "carrier's carrier" model, meaning other operators would route calls over the Seaquest InfoTel network. If deemed feasible, this model may utilize the fiber laid by other companies in Niger. Seaquest InfoTel would focus on the following four business segments: i) Open access wholesale capacity to support inter-connectivity between operators and to backhaul international telecom traffic to the SAT-3 undersea cable, ii) Service provision access for local businesses, iii) Provision of general telephone services, and iv) Provision of network and specialist services to national and local government. Seaquest InfoTel specifically requested the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) help in conducting a Feasibility Study and providing technical assistance related to the following key requirements for developing and deploying a fiber optic backbone in Niger: If the Project is implemented, it would provide fiber optic backbone connectivity, significantly reducing the current prohibitive cost of telephony and Internet services in Niger. The Project will also build connections to Niger's neighboring countries, enabling greater communication and trade linkages to develop throughout the region. • Verification of planned technical network design and specifications (including whether Seaquest InfoTel could use the unlit fiber laid by other operators); • Verification of estimated Project costs; • Validation of market analysis and business plan; • Evaluation of the regulatory and legal framework. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $442,000 grant to the Grantee from the USTDA. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background definitional mission report are available from USTDA, at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. To request the RFP in PDF format, please go to: https://www.ustda.gov/businessopps/rfpform.asp Requests for a mailed hardcopy version of the RFP may also 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 mail room 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 host country. The U.S. firm may use subcontractors from the host country 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 in English and French (eight (8) copies in English and eight (8) copies in French) directly to the Grantee by 4:00 p.m. on August 12, 2009 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. The Grantee reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Grantee also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Grantee is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.
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