SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- West Bank - Internet Data Center Feasibility Study
- Notice Date
- 12/23/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- 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
- 0821008B
- Archive Date
- 2/24/2009
- Point of Contact
- Paul Cecchini,, Phone: 703-875-4357
- E-Mail Address
-
pcecchini@ustda.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- West Bank - Internet Data Center Feasibility Study 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: Ibrahim Barham,Chairman and CEO, Sharekat Safad Engineering & Electronics Ltd., P.O. Box 1811, Ramallah, West Bank, Phone: 970 2 295-7229, Fax: 970 2 298-0142. West Bank - Internet Data Center 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 Sharekat Safad Engineering & Electronics Ltd. (Safad) for deployment of the first dedicated Internet Data Center (IDC) facility in the West Bank. Safad is a major systems integrator and IT solutions provider with principal offices in Ramallah, West Bank. The firm was founded in 1992 and has three principal lines of business: equipment distribution; systems and solutions integration; and services and support. Technicians at Safad are certified in Oracle, Red Hat ITIL, PMI and other advanced technology environments. Safad clearly has the technical expertise to own and operate an advanced data center and web hosting facility but it needs assistance with an operational plan for an IDC. The services the new IDC may offer, following the recommendations of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) study, include: web hosting, co-location, application hosting, virtual dedicated servers, managed security, shared storage, disaster data recovery, real-time data replication, network and application outsourcing, internet services (ISP), e-mail and database services, software as a service, internet exchange point, voice peering (for VOIP conversations), and other professional services. The implementation of this project would allow for domestic Internet hosting services, which is currently supplied only as an ancillary service by a Palestinian Internet Service Provider. Today local companies have no choice but to seek hosting solutions in other countries, leading to an outflow of capital. Furthermore, a local data center provider would lower telecommunications connectivity charges. The proposed grant for the IDC will combine technological planning with management consulting and specialized advisory on service definition, marketing, customer care, and business operations. The specific objective of the project will be to: 1)Assess market demand for advanced data center services by conducting empirical interviews with enterprises, and creating a market segmentation and forecast model; 2)Develop a reference architecture for Safad’s planned IDC, including refining the scope and functional parameters of the IDC as well as operational procedures; 3)Define products and services for the IDC including service definitions, functional parameters, marketing materials, and other supporting information to enable Safad to quickly introduce advanced web services to the market; 4)Introduce Safad to vendors and operators of data centers through an orientation visit to the U.S. to become familiar with international best practices and latest technological innovations; and 5)Formalize the business plan¸ including business description and risk analysis, long term development options, pro forma financial forecasts, and related metrics, to help ensure that the Safad IDC becomes a commercial success. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $412,093 grant to the Grantee from USTDA. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background definitional mission/desk study 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/USTDA/FedBizOpps/RFP/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 directly to the Grantee by 4:00 pm, February 9, 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.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=2233e064cd6ba1508c88d46c6ea2f2c4&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Record
- SN01723791-W 20081225/081223220121-2233e064cd6ba1508c88d46c6ea2f2c4 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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