Request for Proposal for the Supply, Maintenance and Support of Failover Network
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE SUPPLY, MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF FAILOVER NETWORK FOR THE ESWATINI REVENUE AUTHORITY RFP No: SRA2020/006 RFP Name: SUPPLY, MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF FAILOVER NETWORK Tender Closing Date: 27th MARCH 2020 CONFIDENTIALITY No part of this document may be disclosed verbally or in writing, including by reproduction, to any third party without the prior written consent of Eswatini Revenue Authority. This document, its associated appendices and any attachments remain the property of SRA and shall be returned upon request. SCHEDULE INDEX SECTION A - INTRODUCTION SECTION B - TENDER OBJECTIVE – TERMS OF REFERENCE SECTION C - INSTRUCTIONS TO TENDERERS SECTION D - TENDER EVALUATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA SECTION E - CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS - FINANCIAL PROPOSAL & DECLARATION FORM SECTION F - SRA REMOTE SITES SECTION A - INTRODUCTION Tenderers are requested to complete their proposals following the outline indicated in this document: 1. BACKGROUND The Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) is a semi-autonomous revenue administration agency which has taken over this responsibility from Government. A lot has been done towards building the Organization into a sustainable one and more is still being done. The SRA plays a significant role in revenue mobilization for the Country and as such the need to ensure its continued efficient and effective operation is critical This Tender is seeking reputable company or vendor to submit proposals to the SRA for supply, maintenance and support of a failover network to all SRA remotes offices including border posts. Participating Companies All interested companies that have relevant experience and capacity to supply the goods or services as specified. Tenderers are requested to complete their proposals following the outline indicated in this document. SECTION B: TENDER OBJECTIVE – TERMS OF REFERENCE The primary objective of this RFP is to select a vendor that will build, supply and support a failover network to all SRA remote sites/ offices and border posts from the SRA head office by entering into a supply and maintenance contract that will be for a period of 3 years. However, SRA reserves the right to award the tender to more than one (1) supplier. SRA’s goal is to create and implement a relationship with the selected supplier(s) based on mutual benefits and long-term advantages that are reasonable to both parties. Commitment to after sales service and support by the selected vendor is of utmost importance. Introduction The SRA has an urgent need for an alternate network that will act as a failover network to the primary network. To fulfil this need, the SRA is looking for reputable vendor to deliver and support an independent network from the primary network in terms of infrastructure that will save as a failover network in order to achieve high availability on the SRA ICT systems and services. The SRA is hereby inviting reputable suppliers for supply and support of a failover network to all SRA remote sites as outlined on the scope of work below. Scope of Work The scope of work for this bid comprises supply, maintenance and support of a failover network to all SRA remote sites for the duration an initial contract period of 3 years with possibility of extension depending on the quality of service and performance experienced. The successful bidder/ Vendor shall have to supply and provide maintenance and support for the failover network as the specifications mentioned below. Bidder should submit data sheets with detail technical specification. Specification for the desired failover network The failover network should meet the following specifications: Bandwidth requirements on each link connecting remote sites to headquarters 2 MB – 4 MB (Point-to-Point). Bandwidth requirements on internet link 5 MB - 10 MB (Dedicated). Bandwidth requirement on internet exchange point link 5 MB – 10 MB (Dedicated). Failover network should be independent from the network currently used as primary network. Proposals should also include supply and maintenance of the following services: Internet with minimum bandwidth of 5 MB and maximum 10 MB, dedicated. Quote for both bandwidth sizes IXP with minimum bandwidth of 5MB and maximum 10 MB, dedicated. Quote for both bandwidth sizes Note: Service provider may be required to provide a proof of concept to verify that their proposed solution meets SRA’s requirements for the failover network. Building, implementation and Support of the Failover network The successful bidder/vendor shall be responsible for setting up the failover network using reliable and maintainable technology of their choice that will ensure that the SRA mandate on ICT systems with regard to high availability is achieved seamless. The successful bidder/vendor shall provide comprehensive hands-on training on use of the supplied network and provide support for minimum (3) three-year contract period. The Bidder should ensure no network components are declared end-of support by the respective OEM during the contract duration. If, the OEM declares components end of support within the contract period, bidder shall replace it with an equivalent or better substitute without any additional costs to SRA and without impacting the performance/specification of the network in any manner. Any additional hardware, software's that would be required to meet the requirements will have to be provisioned by the Bidder at no additional cost to SRA and without any project delays. The successful bidder/ Vendor shall also ensure that the failover network has adequate back up power supply to ensure high availability even during power outages. As such costs for setting up back up power equipment may form part of their RFP. The Request for proposal should explicitly include schedule of pricing indicating the following among other items: i) Implementation costs ii) Monthly rental costs per link per site in relation to the bandwidth sizes iii) Give pricing options on build to own by the customer versus build to rent by the customer. SECTION C: INSTRUCTIONS TO TENDERERS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TENDER 1. The SRA is seeking reliable, financially stable vendors who can meet its stringent cost, quality and service requirements. 2. The tender document as well as all other correspondence and documents relating to the tender exchanged by the tenderer and the SRA, shall be written in the English language. 3. Tenderers should double check the prices quoted for accuracy before submitting their tender documents. Under no circumstances will the SRA accept any request for price adjustment on grounds that a mistake was made in the tendered prices. 4. To assist in the examination, evaluation and comparison of tenders, the SRA may, at its discretion, ask the tenderer for a clarification on any part of its tender. The request for clarification and the response shall be in writing, and no change in the prices or substance of the tender shall be sought, offered, or permitted. 5. By submission of the tender, the Tenderer implicitly certifies that: the prices in the tender have been arrived at independently without consultation, communication or agreement for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices, with any other Tenderer or competitor; Unless otherwise required by law; the prices quoted in the tender have not knowingly been disclosed by the Tenderer and will not knowingly be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other Tenderer or competitor until he has been informed of the results of the Tender. no attempt has been made or will be made by the Tenderer to induce any other tenderer or competitor to submit or abstain from submitting a tender for the purpose of restricting competition. 6. The SRA does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender nor give any reason for the acceptance or rejection of a tender. The SRA may accept a tender for a part of the quantity offered or reject any tender without assigning any reason. 7. Acceptance or rejection of tender offer will be communicated by a formal acceptance or rejection letter sent by fax, email and or normal post, directly to the tenderer. An acceptance by such letter will not mean the SRA is binding itself to an agreement. The SRA shall only be bound under the agreement once the terms and conditions of the contract are agreed between the parties. Failure to agree thereto for a period exceeding thirty (30) days will render the whole tender transaction void ab initio. 8. The offers shall be deemed to be under consideration immediately after the tender closing date until the SRA makes an official award of contract. Whilst the offers are under consideration, Tenderers and or their representatives or other interested parties are advised to refrain from contacting the SRA by any means. If necessary, the SRA will obtain further clarifications on the offers by requesting for such information from any or all the tenderers, either in writing or through personal contacts, as may be considered necessary. The SRA reserves the right to eliminate from the evaluation a tenderer contravening this provision. 9. Tenderers will not be permitted to change the substance of their offers after the tender box has been opened. Tenders may modify or withdraw their bids after submission, provided that written notice of the modification is received by the SRA prior to the deadline for its submission. A withdrawal notice may also be sent to [email protected], but followed by a signed confirmation copy. The changes or modifications shall be initialled in black ink. No Bids may be modified after the deadline for submission of Bids. No Bids may be withdrawn in the interval between the deadline for submission of Bids and the expiration of its validity. 10. SRA reserves the right to modify, or change the specifications or even cancel the tender before the tender opening and such modifications or changes will be communicated to the tenderers in advance as and when decided.