Consultancy Services to Develop Broadband Policy Guidelines and Strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa

Transcription

1 AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA, P. O. Box 3243, Telephone: , Fax: , website: www. africa-union.org REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Consultancy Services to Develop Broadband Policy Guidelines and Strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa PROCUREMENT NO: AUC/IED/C/313 June 2018

2 22 nd June 2018 Section I: Letter of Invitation Dear Sirs, REF: Consultancy Services to Develop Broadband Policy Guidelines and Strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa 1. The African Union Commission (AUC) would like to engage the services of a Consulting firm to Develop Broadband Policy Guidelines and Strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa. The African Union Commission invites interested and eligible bidders to submit technical and financial proposals for the assignment as per attached Terms of Reference (TOR). 2. A firm will be selected under Quality and Cost Based Selection Method procedures.the TECHNICAL and FINANCIAL offers must be delivered in TWO SEPARATE envelopes enclosed in an OUTER envelopes to the address below. The deadline for submission of proposal is 27 th July, 2018 at 1500hrs East Africa Time. Late bids will be rejected and returned unopened to bidders. The Outer envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder. Language of the bid or proposal should be in English. 3. Bidders may request for clarifications no less than 7 days from the deadline for submission, from The Chairperson, Internal Procurement Committee, African Union Commission, tender@africa-union.org 4. Bidders must the following documents : (i) Certificate of Incorporation (Company Registration) (ii) At least 3 contactable references in the last five (5) years (iii) Company profile demonstrating at least five (5) years 5. The address for deposit of bids is: The Chairperson, Internal Procurement Committee, African Union Commission, Building C, 3 rd floor, TENDER BOX, Roosevelt Street, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yours sincerely, Carine Yemitia Toure Head, Procurement, Travel and Stores Division

3 Department of Infrastructure and Energy Information Society Division Consultancy Services to Develop Broadband Policy Guidelines and Strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa TERMS OF REFERENCE June 2018 Addis Ababa

4 I. Background ICTs are key to accelerating achievement of the AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The overall objective of Agenda 2063 is to chart Africa s development trajectory over the next 50 years. One of the envisaged flagship project activities is putting in place an intra-african broad band terrestrial infrastructure. The Program on Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) has also highlighted in its priority action plan, the importance of broadband connectivity. Digital transformation is enabling rapid change in every industry and across every aspect of our lives. As a direct result of three fundamental ICT forces mobility, broadband and the cloud a new service economy is emerging. Value chains are being reshaped, business models are becoming digitalized, distance is being overcome and, increasingly, people can share goods and services instead of buying and owning them. These are all examples of how the digital age is unleashing innovative new business models and changing lives. The transformative technology of broadband Internet is similar to the impact that electricity had on productivity, growth and innovation more than a century ago. Besides its potential to redefine how economies function, broadband is also proving to be a critical enabler of civic and political engagement, facilitating the exercise of fundamental right to freedom of expression, and giving users the opportunity to become content creators as well as consumers. By embracing broadband as a critical infrastructure for the 21st century, AU Member States are creating the foundations for unprecedented global social and economic progress. It is already established that a 10% increase in internet access will result in up to 1.2% increase of per-capita GDP growth. For the African Union, to be competitive in the global economy, broadband penetration rates need to increase quickly, and reliable broadband services must be made available to the majority of citizens at an affordable price. To fulfill this potential, there is need to ensure a conducive enabling environment and continued investments in the necessary networks and services to expand access to broadband for all. Therefore in order to foster broadband development in Africa, the African Union Commission seeks to develop policy guidelines and strategies to facilitate development of national broadband plans and to assist policy-makers, regulators and other relevant stakeholders as they address issues related to broadband development. This will be done through conducting of a study that will provide detailed analysis on how to facilitate broadband development in Africa

5 II. Specific Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are: 1. Conduct situational analysis of the current and planned Continental and Regional Broadband Programs/projects, taking into account existing policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, the financing and investments, demand side (user groups), supply side (networks and services availability), affordability & adoption, etc; 2. Analyze existing policy, legal and regulatory frameworks at the regional and continental levels, and draft concrete recommendations on how they can be harmonized to enhance enabling environments and attract investments to foster broadband infrastructure development in Africa; 3. Conduct a mapping exercise and develop a status list of existing national/regional broadband plans in Africa 4. Draft concise, comprehensive and action-oriented broadband policy guidelines and strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa at an affordable price; 5. Identify cross-border broadband terrestrial connectivity gaps at regional/continental level and propose regional/continental broadband implementation plan(s) that include but are not limited to targets, investment requirements and financing mechanisms to address the gaps; 6. Articulate the implementation mechanism, different stakeholder roles and the investment financing mechanisms to facilitate the realization of the broadband policy guidelines and strategies 7. Highlight the impact of broadband on productivity, social and governance sectors( Education, Health, Agriculture, Energy, Government, Business, Households, underserved, etc)

6 III. Scope of the Assignment The consulting firm shall conduct a study, research & analyze, perform a detailed situational analysis in Africa and benchmark good practices with a view to develop broadband policy guidelines and strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa at an affordable price. The assignment shall include but not limited to the following activities; a) Conduct a Situational Analysis including a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis and Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal (PESTEL) analysis taking into account the financing and investments, demand side (user groups), supply side (networks and services availability), affordability & adoption, policy framework, legal framework, institutional framework, etc and prepare & submit a situation analysis report; b) Review the existing national/regional broadband infrastructure maps and develop a comprehensive regional/continental broadband infrastructure blueprint/coverage map detailing geo-referenced infrastructure, including supportive infrastructure such as electricity grid, oil pipelines, road and railway networks, satellite stations and other utility installations; c) Identify cross-border broadband terrestrial connectivity gaps at regional/continental level and propose regional/continental broadband implementation plan(s) to address the gaps; d) Develop an investment, financing and sustainability model which defines appropriate investment, financing, business and sustainability strategies for the proposed broadband regional/continental broadband implementation plan(s) that will attract both public and private investors; e) Develop broadband policy guidelines and strategies including but not limited to Government policies, Demand side, Supply side, Regulatory Principles, Spectrum Management, Transparent Cost Model, Open Access and Infrastructure Sharing, Critical Infrastructure & Cyber Security, Broadband for different user categories ( Education, Health, Agriculture, Energy, Government, Business, Households, underserved, etc);

7 IV. Deliverables An Inception report containing the consulting firm s understanding of the assignment, the methodology to be applied. The report shall outline the work plan, strategy, methodology, and schedule. The consulting firm shall submit the inception report to the client for comments and approval A detailed Situational Analysis Report based on the SWOT and PESTEL analysis taking into account the financing and investments, demand side (user groups), supply side (networks and services availability), affordability & adoption, policy framework, legal framework, institutional framework, etc A comprehensive regional/continental broadband infrastructure blueprint/coverage map in both editable soft copy and hard copy detailing geo-referenced infrastructure, including supportive infrastructure such as electricity grid, oil pipelines, road and railway networks, satellite stations and other utility installations; List of existing national/regional broadband plans in Africa Regional/continental broadband implementation plan(s) to address the existing cross-border broadband terrestrial connectivity gaps An Investment, financing and sustainability model for the proposed broadband regional/continental broadband implementation plan(s) Policy guidelines and strategies to spur the growth of broadband penetration in Africa V. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSULTING FIRM AND KEY STAFF (i) (ii) The consulting firm shall demonstrate previous experience and expertise in developing broadband policies and strategies in assignments of similar type, scope and nature The Team Leader shall have a minimum of 10 years experience in project management with previous high level expertise advising policy makers/regulators on policy, strategy and regulatory issues. He should also have relevant experience and expertise of not less than 5 years in the area of developing and implementing broadband policies and strategies

8 (iii) The Broadband Expert should have the following experience; At least seven (7) years in ICT Infrastructure planning, development, optimization and management At least five (5) years in planning and deployment of National/Regional Broadband Infrastructure (iv) (v) (vi) VI. The Policy Development Expert is expected to have seven (7) years experience in policy and strategy development in the ICT sector with proven experience in delivery of broadband policy and strategy projects of similar nature The Economist shall have over seven (7) years experience in economic policy and planning with experience in developing financial/economic models and forecasts to value spectrum based on various licensing methods and pricing mechanisms The Legal Expert shall have at least six (6) years proven experience in providing advice in areas within the Information and Communications Technology sector. Experience in handling similar assignments in Africa is an added advantage; DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT The assignment is expected to be completed within a maximum period of four (4) months form the effective date. The consulting firm shall be required to prepare a detailed work breakdown with scheduling on the delivery of the assignment within the specified timeframe. SELECTION CRITERIA. S/N AWARD CRITERIA ALOCATED SCORES 1. Specific experience of the Consultants related to the assignment 5 2. Adequacy of the proposed work plan and 35 methodology 3. Qualification and Competence of the key staff for the 50 assignment 4. Knowledge, Language and experience of the region 10 TOTAL POINTS 100

9 Conflict Of Interest African Union policy requires consultants to provide professional, objective, and impartial advice, and at all times hold the Client s interests paramount, without any consideration for future work, and strictly avoid conflicts with other assignments or their own corporate interests. Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of not being able to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Client. Without limitation on the generality of this rule, consultants shall not be hired under the circumstances set forth below: (a) Conflict between consulting activities and procurement of goods, works or services: A firm that has been engaged to provide goods, works, or services for a project, and each of its affiliates, shall be disqualified from providing consulting services related to those goods, works or services. Conversely, a firm hired to provide consulting services for the preparation or implementation of a project, and each of its affiliates, shall be disqualified from subsequently providing goods, works or services resulting from or directly related to the firm s consulting services for such preparation or implementation (other than a continuation of the firms earlier consulting services for the same project). (b) Conflict among consulting assignments: Neither consultants (including their personnel and sub-consultants) nor any of their affiliates shall be hired for any assignment that, by its nature, may be in conflict with another assignment of the consultants. (c) Relationship with AUC staff: Consultants (including their personnel and sub-consultants) that have a business or family relationship with a member of AUC staff (or of the Client staff, or of a beneficiary of the assignment) who are directly or indirectly involved in any part of: (i) the preparation of the TOR of the contract, (ii) the selection process for such contract, or (iii) supervision of such contract may not be awarded a contract. The African Union requires that Officers of the AU, as well as Bidders/ Suppliers/ Contractors/ Consultants, observe the highest standard of ethics during the procurement and execution of such contracts.2 In pursuance of this policy the AU:

10 In this context, any action taken by a bidder, supplier, contractor, sub-contractor or consultant to influence the procurement process or contract execution for undue advantage is improper.

11 (a) defines, for the purposes of this provision, the terms set forth below as follows: (i) corrupt practice 3 is the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting, directly or indirectly, of anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party; (ii) fraudulent practice 4 is any act or omission including a misrepresentation that knowingly or recklessly misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a financial or other benefit or to avoid an obligation; (iii) collusive practice 5 is an arrangement between two or more parties designed to achieve an improper purpose, including to influence improperly the actions of another party; (iv) coercive practice 6 is impairing or harming or threatening to impair or harm, directly or indirectly, any party or the property of the party to influence improperly the actions of a party; (v) obstructive practice is deliberately destroying, falsifying, altering or concealing of evidence material to any investigation or making false statements to investigators in order to materially impede any investigation into allegations of a corrupt, fraudulent, coercive or collusive practice; and/or threatening, harassing or intimidating any party to prevent it from disclosing its knowledge of matters relevant to the investigation or from pursuing the investigation; (b) will reject a recommendation for award of contract if it determines that the bidder recommended for award has, directly or through an agent, engaged in corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, coercive or obstructive practices in competing for the contract in question; (c) will declare a firm ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to be awarded an African Union financed contract if it at any time determines that the firm has, directly or through an agent, engaged in corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, coercive or obstructive practices in competing for, or in executing, an African Union financed contract. Consultants shall not be under declaration of ineligibility for corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, coercive or obstructive practices issued by the African Union

12 3 another party refers to an officer of the AU acting in relation to the procurement process or contract execution. In this context, officer of the AU includes staff and employees of other organisations taking or reviewing procurement decisions. 4 a party refers to any officer of the AU; the terms benefit and obligation relate to the procurement process or contract execution; and the act or omission is intended to influence the procurement process or contract execution. 5 parties refers to any participants in the procurement process (including officers of the AU) attempting to establish bid prices at artificial, non competitive levels. 6 a party refers to any participant in the procurement process or contract execution. Submission of Technical Proposal The Technical Proposal shall provide the following information: (i) A brief description of the firm s organization and an outline of recent experience on assignments of a similar nature. For each assignment, the outline should indicate, inter-alia, the profiles of the staff proposed, duration of the assignment, contract amount, and the firm s involvement. (ii) Any comments or suggestions on the Terms of Reference and on the data, a list of services, and facilities to be provided by the Client. (iii) A description of the methodology and work plan for performing the assignment. (iv) The list of the proposed staff team by specialty, the tasks that would be assigned to each staff team member, and their timing. (v) CVs recently signed by the proposed professional staff and the authorized representative submitting the proposal. Key information should include number of years working for the firm/entity and degree of responsibility held in various assignments during the last ten (10) years. (vi) Estimates of the total staff input (professional and support staff; staff time) needed to carry out the assignment, supported by bar-chart diagrams showing the time proposed for each professional staff team member. The Technical Proposal shall not include any financial information. Submission of Financial Proposals 1. Financial Proposals must be sealed in a separate envelope. 2. In preparing the Financial Proposal, consultants are expected to take into account the requirements and conditions outlined in the RFP documents. 3. The Financial Proposal shall include all the costs the consultant incurs to provide the services (including travel expenses, translation, printing and the taxes the consultant pays for its business requirements by the law of the domicile country of the consultant), but shall exclude all local taxes levied within African Union Member States on the invoice issued by the consultant (such as local sales tax, services tax or withholding tax

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