Republic of the Gambia
West Africa Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (WARCIP)
The Gambia Project
Kairaba Avenue, The Gambia
Phone: (220) 4399908
Request for Expressions of Interest
Financing: World Bank/ Government of the Gambia
Abstract: Consultancy Services for Internet Exchange Point Study for WARCIP
Country: The Republic of the Gambia
Project ID No: P122402
Grant IDA H713-GM
Project Title: West Africa Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP)
Contract Ref: WARCIP12/CS/03
Procurement Method: Selection Based on the Consultants' Qualifications (CQS)
Procurement Category: Consultancy Services
Deadline: 22 March 2012 at 12:00 GMT
The Government of The Gambia has received a grant from IDA for the West African Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP). The government has also received financing fromthe Islamic Development Bank for the implementation of the ECOWAS Wide Area Network (ECOWAN). An IDA grant was approved to support connectivity in Gambia especially the funding of ACE project. The proposed project is part of the West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP). The ECOWAN project would also complementarily link directly with the ACE landing station to leverage international bandwidth capacity to the hinter land The IDA grant includesa number of studies including the development of a broadband & demand strategy and a study to determine the open access principles for access to both the national and international telecommunications backbone of the country. To take advantage of the ACE opportunity, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was established between private operators and the incumbent state owned company, Gamtel.
The Project Implementation Unit of The West African Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP) therefore wishes to recruit an eligible consultant to conduct a study on Internet Exchange Point.
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the study is to carry out in-depth analysis of existing & future domestic Internet traffic, its routing trends and propose a roadmap andimplementation strategy for establishing Internet exchange point (IXP) to handle the local Internet traffic and its associated logistics. The scope of work will consist but not limited to the following;
I. Requirement Analysis: access the need for an IXP in The Gambia
II. Determine the technical features and specifications for a fully functional IXP in the country
III. Design the model and structure of IXP that suits the country's requirement
IV. Determine the administrative and management process and procedures
CONSULTANT'S QUALIFICATIONS:
- The consultant should be a firm experienced inICT policy development, regulatory and operational aspects of telecommunications.
- Members of the firm should have proven experience on ICT infrastructure exploitation strategy, broadband developmentand demand simulation strategies, traffic assessment and forecast with experience in ISP, price regulation and competition issues.
- Experience working in developing countries in general and in Africa in particular is an added advantage. Consultants with prior experience in The Gambia or neighbouring countries would have anadvantage.
- At a minimum the team should contain ICT infrastructure specialist,regulatory experts, policy experts with advanced qualifications plus a minimum of 10 years experience in the ICT sector.
- Interested firms must provide information indicatingthat they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, CV's, description of similar assignments, relevant experiences, etc).
SELECTION METHOD:
Eligible consulting firms are invited to indicate their interest in providing the required services. Shortlisted consultants will be selected on the basisof Expressions of Interest submitted; selection shall be based on theQuality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method in accordance with theguidelines "Selection and Employment of Consultants Under IBRD Loans And IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011".
SUBMISSION:
Expressions of interest shall be submitted to the undersigned on 15 March, 2012 at 12:00 GMT, clearly marked "Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) Consultancy for Internet Exchange Point Study for the West Africa Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (WARCIP). Interested firms may obtain further information at the address below during this period from 0800 to 1600 GMT Mondays to Thursdays and 0800 to 1230 GMT Fridays.
Project Coordinator
West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP)
14 Kairaba Avenue
Tel: 4399908