Cotract Opportunity – Overseas Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Dedicated Internet Services

Overseas Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Dedicated Internet Services

RFQ Number: 636-22-012R

Date: 19th August, 2022

Peace Corps Sierra Leone has a need for Dedicated Internet Service. Peace Corps is soliciting fixed-price  quotations from the vendor community for the supplies and/or services detailed below.

If you are interested in submitting a quotation, please do so by sending your completed and signed  Attachment 1—Vendor Quotation Form by mail OR by e-mail to:

Name: Kyle Jessop

Address: 34 Old Railway Line, Signal Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

E-mail: [email protected] 

Quotations are due no later than 5.00pm on Friday September 2nd, 2022. Late quotations will not be  accepted.

Written questions about this Request for Quotation (RFQ) may be sent in the same fashion to the individual  noted above in advance of the RFQ due date. No phone calls please.




Peace Corps will evaluate all quotations received by the deadline based on the minimum requirements  and/or evaluation factor(s) shown below. Contingent on the availability of funds and continued need for  the supplies and/or services, at the end of the evaluation process, Peace Corps intends to award a firm fixed-price contract for the purchase of the required supplies and/or services to the selected vendor.

Peace Corps will only shortlist Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who have joined Metro Cable with the  ability to add fiber to any of the locations listed below at the residence request. The resident will be  responsible for the cost of installation, but the ISP should provide evidence of membership / or partnership with Metro Cable.

1. Statement of Work/Description of Requirements : 

Pease Corps Sierra Leone Requires dedicated internet service for its office and four other locations as  follows;

1. Mbps downstream and upstream to the following location

∙ Location 1 – 20/20Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 34 Old  Railway line Signal Hill, Freetown.

∙ Location 2 – 6/6Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 50 Old Railway Line off Signal Hill, Freetown.

∙ Location 3 – 4/4Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 36B Wilkinson  Bye Pass Road, Spur View Estate, Freetown.

∙ Location 4 – 4/4Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 107 Motor Main  Road Wilberforce, Freetown

∙ Location 5 – 4/4Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 34 Old Railway  line Signal Hill Freetown.

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∙ Location 6 – 4/4Mbps Bandwidth (including 1 Public/static IP address) – 52 Main Motor  Road, Wilberforce, Freetown.

∙ The Internet Service Provider (ISP) must guarantee full contracted bandwidth availability  24/7/365 from the originator side to the ISP’s internet gateway. Bandwidth sharing between  others customers is not allowed. Connection Ratio must be 1/1.

Bandwidth testing/measurement will be using the public domain throughput test tool  https://www.speedtest.net, with a maximum acceptable negative variance on the contracted bandwidth of  10%.

NOTE 

Peace Corps reserves the right to award contract for individual locations or grouped  locations for the different internet services required at the six locations indicated above  (Peace Corps reserves the right to award contract to the requirements listed above to  single Internet Service Provider or to multiple Internet Service Provider). 

ITEM 01 

Location 1 34 Old Railway line Signal Hill, Freetown.

ITEM 02 

Location 2 – 50 Old Railway Line off Signal Hill, Freetown.

ITEM 03 

Location 3 – 36B Wilkinson Bye Pass Road, Spur View Estate, Freetown.

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ITEM 04 

Location 4 – 107 Motor Main Road Wilberforce, Freetown.

ITEM 05 

Location 5 – 34 Old Railway line Signal Hill Freetown.

ITEM 06 

Location 6 – 52 Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Freetown..

Place of Performance: Service should be provided at the address of the various locations  indicated in Section A above.

Delivery Schedule: 

September 26th 2022 through September 25th 2023 

Contract Terms and Conditions :

As an Agency of the United States Government, Peace Corps has an approved contract template that it  intends to use for the award. Peace Corps reserves the right to deny making a contract award to a vendor  should they refuse to sign the Peace Corps approved contract template.

Minimum Criteria:

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A quotation will not be considered further if it does not meet the following minimum criteria: ∙ Proof of membership with Metro Cable

∙ Separated price quoted for each requirement.

∙ Should be able to complete all set-up and testing by September 25th 2022.

∙ Vendor should be willing to accept payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). ∙ Quotation should include contact details (name of client, mobile phone number and email address)  of at least four (4) referees for which similar services have been provided.

∙ Meeting the requirements of the appendix I

∙ Completing the self-certification in appendix II of this RFQ

∙ Quotation should include documents of existence (incorporated in Sierra Leone) and eligibility to  provide such service example includes;

o Tax Clearance

o Business registration certificate/certificate of incorporation.

o NASSIT registration

∙ Any required registration with the National Telecommunication

Evaluation Factors: 

Quotations that meet the minimum criteria listed above may be further evaluated based on the following  factors:

∙ Price

∙ Delivery Timeframe

∙ Past Performance

Award may be made with or without negotiations between the Peace Corps and the selected vendor.  Award may be made to a vendor that provided the lowest priced technically acceptable quotation, or to a  vendor other than the one that provided the lowest priced quotation, should that vendor be determined to  have provided the best value quotation to the Peace Corps taking technical and cost factors into account.

All vendors that submit quotations in response to this RFQ will be notified of the results. [End of RFQ]

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ATTACHMENT 1 – VENDOR QUOTATION FORM 

RFQ Number: 636-22-012R

Vendor:

Authorized Representative:

Name:

Position/Title:

Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

Quoted Prices (Inclusive of Administrative and/or Overhead Costs

Location 1 34 Old Railway line Signal Hill, Freetown.

Location 2 – 50 Old Railway Line off Signal Hill, Freetown.

Location 3 – 36B Wilkinson Bye Pass Road, Spur View Estate, Freetown.

Location 4 – 107 Motor Main Road Wilberforce, Freetown.

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Location 5 – 34 Old Railway line Signal Hill Freetown.

Location 6 – 52 Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Freetown..

Items/Services Included in Total Quoted Price Above but Not Indicated in Chart:

Quoted Work or Delivery Schedule (If Any):

Quoted Payment Terms:

Quoted Warranty Terms (If Any):

Quoted Additional Terms and/or Conditions:

SUPPLIER AUTHORIZED REPSENTATIVE 

Signature: _______________________________

Date: _______________________________

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Appendix I: National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 

As prescribed in 4.2105(a):

52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video  Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)  

The Offeror shall not complete the representation at paragraph (d)(1) of this provision if  the Offeror has represented that it “does not provide covered telecommunications  equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in  the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument” in the  provision at 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services— Representation, or in paragraph (v) of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations  and Certifications-Commercial Items.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision—

Backhaul, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology,  interconnection arrangements, reasonable inquiry, roaming, and substantial or essential  component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on  Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or  Equipment.

(b) Prohibition.

(1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for  Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after  August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to  procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered  telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any  system, or as critical technology as part of any system. Nothing in the prohibition shall be  construed to—

(i)Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to  provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul,  roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii)Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data  traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment  transmits or otherwise handles.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization  Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on  or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract or extending or renewing a  contract with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered

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telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any  system, or as critical technology as part of any system. This prohibition applies to the use  of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in

performance of work under a Federal contract. Nothing in the prohibition shall be  construed to—

(i)Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to  provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul,  roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii)Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data  traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment  transmits or otherwise handles.

(c) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for  Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving  federal awards for “covered telecommunications equipment or services”.

(d) Representation. The Offeror represents that—

(1)It □ will, □ will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services  to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual  instrument resulting from this solicitation. The Offeror shall provide the additional  disclosure information required at paragraph (e)(1) of this section if the Offeror responds  “will” in paragraph (d)(1) of this section; and

(2)After conducting a reasonable inquiry, for purposes of this representation, the  Offeror represents that—

It □ does, □ does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any  equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or  services. The Offeror shall provide the additional disclosure information required at  paragraph (e)(2) of this section if the Offeror responds “does” in paragraph (d)(2) of this  section.

(e) Disclosures. 

(1) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision. If the Offeror  has responded “will” in the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision, the  Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i)For covered equipment—

(A)The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment  (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the  original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a distributor, if known);

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(B)A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered  (include brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or  wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); and

(C)Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications  equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible  under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(ii)For covered services—

(A)If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered  telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand;  model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number;  and item description, as applicable); or

(B)If not associated with maintenance, the Product Service Code (PSC) of  the service being provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered  telecommunications services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be  permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(2) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision. If the  Offeror has responded “does” in the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision,  the Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i)For covered equipment—

(A)The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment  (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the  OEM or a distributor, if known);

(B)A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered  (include brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or  wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); and

(C)Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications  equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible  under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(ii)For covered services—

(A)If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered  telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand;  model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number;  and item description, as applicable); or

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(B)If not associated with maintenance, the PSC of the service being  provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications services  and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the  prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(End of provision)

As prescribed in 4.2105(b):

52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video  Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)  

 (a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Backhaul means intermediate links between the core network, or backbone network,  and the small subnetworks at the edge of the network (e.g., connecting cell phones/towers  to the core telephone network). Backhaul can be wireless (e.g., microwave) or wired  (e.g., fiber optic, coaxial cable, Ethernet).

Covered foreign country means The People’s Republic of China.  Covered telecommunications equipment or services means–

(1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company  or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(2) For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical  security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video  surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications  Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology  Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(3) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities  or using such equipment; or

(4) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or  provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of  National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably

believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the  government of a covered foreign country.

Critical technology means–

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(1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United States Munitions  List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of  chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to  part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of  title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and controlled-

(i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons relating to national  security, chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or  missile technology; or

(ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious listening;

(3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and components,  materials, software, and technology covered by part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal  Regulations (relating to assistance to foreign atomic energy activities);

(4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part 110 of title 10,  Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and import of nuclear equipment and  material);

(5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal  Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or

(6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant to section 1758 of  the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4817).

Interconnection arrangements means arrangements governing the physical connection of  two or more networks to allow the use of another’s network to hand off traffic where it is  ultimately delivered (e.g., connection of a customer of telephone provider A to a  customer of telephone company B) or sharing data and other information resources.

Reasonable inquiry means an inquiry designed to uncover any information in the  entity’s possession about the identity of the producer or provider of covered  telecommunications equipment or services used by the entity that excludes the need to  include an internal or third-party audit.

Roaming means cellular communications services (e.g., voice, video, data) received  from a visited network when unable to connect to the facilities of the home network  either because signal coverage is too weak or because traffic is too high.

Substantial or essential component means any component necessary for the proper  function or performance of a piece of equipment, system, or service.

(b) Prohibition.

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(1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for  Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after  August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to  procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered  telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any  system, or as critical technology as part of any system. The Contractor is prohibited from  providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered  telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any  system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph  (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are  covered by a waiver described in FAR 4.2104.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization  Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on  or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract, or extending or renewing a  contract, with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered  telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any  system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph  (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are  covered by a waiver described in FAR 4.2104. This prohibition applies to the use of  covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in  performance of work under a Federal contract.

(c) Exceptions. This clause does not prohibit contractors from providing—

(1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul,  roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or  permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise  handles.

(d) Reporting requirement.

(1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered telecommunications equipment or  services used as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical  technology as part of any system, during contract performance, or the Contractor is  notified of such by a subcontractor at any tier or by any other source, the Contractor shall  report the information in paragraph (d)(2) of this clause to the Contracting Officer, unless  elsewhere in this contract are established procedures for reporting the information; in the  case of the Department of Defense, the Contractor shall report to the website at  https://dibnet.dod.mil. For indefinite delivery contracts, the Contractor shall report to the  Contracting Officer for the indefinite delivery contract and the Contracting Officer(s) for  any affected order or, in the case of the Department of Defense, identify both the  indefinite delivery contract and any affected orders in the report provided at  https://dibnet.dod.mil.

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(2) The Contractor shall report the following information pursuant to paragraph  (d)(1) of this clause

(i) Within one business day from the date of such identification or notification:  the contract number; the order number(s), if applicable; supplier name; supplier unique  entity identifier (if known); supplier Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code  (if known); brand; model number (original equipment manufacturer number,  manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number); item description; and any readily  available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended.

(ii) Within 10 business days of submitting the information in paragraph  (d)(2)(i) of this clause: any further available information about mitigation actions  undertaken or recommended. In addition, the Contractor shall describe the efforts it  undertook to prevent use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or  services, and any additional efforts that will be incorporated to prevent future use or  submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services.

(e) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including  this paragraph (e) and excluding paragraph (b)(2), in all subcontracts and other  contractual instruments, including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items.

(End of clause)

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Appendix II: Self-Certification Form Template 

Dear Sir/Madam,

(Company Name) being one of our service providers on (Contract or  Agreement) contract to the United States Peace Corps in Freetown, Sierra  Leone. We have been pleased with the quality of service we have received from  you and we look forward to continuing to do business with you in the future.

Pursuant to some regulatory changes that have been enacted in the United  States that govern the transport of United States Government data, we need to  confirm that (Company Name) does not utilize any equipment produced by  Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, or any subsidiary or affiliate  of those companies; and that your organization does not utilize any video  surveillance or telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera  Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company  or Dahua Technology Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of those companies;  in the internal infrastructure of (Company Name) that transports data between the United States Peace Corps and (Company Name) through our (Contract or  Agreement Description) contract together.

Please let the Contracting Officer know if your company is, or is not, utilizing  equipment from these manufacturers on or before (Receipt Date). We greatly  appreciate your prompt response to this inquiry, and we are standing by to  discuss the issue with you further if you so desire.

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